Renovating any kitchen is a challenge, but updating one in a historic English manor? That’s a whole different level. I always wonder, what do you keep, what do you conceal, and how do you make it all feel seamless?
Guild Anderson took on that exact challenge and absolutely nailed it. With cozy window seats, a Victorian cook’s table, and clever touches like hidden appliances, this space feels both timeless and completely livable.
Every inch feels like it belongs in a storybook, but somehow still works for real life. It’s proof that charm and function really can live side by side.
1. Hereditary Kitchen
In the heart of beachy Cornwall sits Trewithen, a rare architectural treasure that’s been home to the same family for over 300 years.
With its grand Palladian design and roots in eighteenth-century neoclassicism, the house carries centuries of history. Now, a new generation is stepping in to make it their own.
To bring the kitchen into the present while honoring the past, interior designers Salvesen Graham teamed up with Guild Anderson to create a space that feels both timeless and completely livable.
2. Kitchen Reconstruction
When the family decided to move the kitchen into a sunlit former sitting room overlooking the garden, the goal was clear, respect the home’s architecture while making it work for modern life.
“We needed to update the space in a way that honored the building rather than competing with it,” says Nick Anderson, lead designer at Guild Anderson.
Since the property is Grade I listed, changes were limited. So, they got creative and transformed the nearby lobby, once just a pass-through, into a clever, hidden storage area.
3. Traditional Design
Guild Anderson specializes in working with historic homes, so they knew exactly how to strike the right balance here.
Instead of letting modern appliances steal the spotlight, they tucked them away behind beautifully paneled doors in the adjacent lobby. The result is a kitchen that looks like it’s stepped straight out of the past—until you open a door and find state-of-the-art functionality hiding inside.
It’s a whole new take on the “invisible kitchen” trend, but with warmth, elegance, and centuries of character built in.
4. Retaining Value
On either side of the door leading out to the garden, a pair of elegant china display cabinets adds a sense of balance and lightness to the room.
They frame the space beautifully and bring a touch of refinement without feeling too formal. Along one wall, a tall glazed pantry dresser stretches all the way to the ceiling.
It nods to the home’s past as a working scullery but now serves a more relaxed purpose—holding everything from crystal glassware to gin and tonic fixings.
5. Interior Design
Step into the kitchen and it’s like walking into a scene from a Jane Austen novel—elegant, inviting, and full of charm.
At the center of it all is a stunning Victorian cook’s table, painted in Invisible Green by Little Greene. Antique brass hardware glints in the sunlight, adding just the right touch of warmth.
The tabletop is a solid slab of native elm, a beautiful and meaningful choice that quietly nods to the heritage of traditional English country homes.
6. Heart Of The Kitchen
At the heart of the kitchen sits a custom freestanding island with beautifully turned legs that give it a graceful, furniture-like feel.
Hidden within is a Sub-Zero & Wolf warming drawer, cleverly tucked away to keep the design clean and classic. Choosing a freestanding piece instead of built-in cabinetry was a deliberate move.
“You might sacrifice a bit of storage,” says Nick, “but the lightness and elegance it brings to the room is absolutely worth it.” The result feels open, timeless, and effortlessly welcoming.
7. Storage Compartments
What was once a doorway to the next room is now a charming storage cabinet, filled with everyday dishes and mugs that hint at the rhythm of family life.
It’s a lovely, unassuming corner—until you open the doors. Inside, a burst of personality awaits with Folies Bergère Paper in Blue Ribbon wallpaper, one of Nick’s favorite surprises in the entire kitchen.
“Salvesen Graham has a real gift for mixing elegance with playfulness,” Nick says, “and this felt like the perfect place to have a little fun.”