Country Kitchens - Lovely and Light
Photography by Tony Potter
Styling by Jo Forrest
Betty Richie is a self-confessed 'fusspot' – and as a result, her laid-back, stylish kitchen is hassle-free.
When Betty Richie renovated her home, she found she had room for a newer, and larger kitchen. She knew exactly what she wanted in the new one, so she put her ideas down on paper and took them to a family friend, Andrew Wyatt. Andrew happens to be a talented architect and, with Betty's help, he produced her perfect kitchen.
The criteria for the new kitchen were that it had to be open, airy and light and include an industrial oven and cooktop. But most importantly, it had to have lots of nooks and shelves for books. "I adore books," Betty admits, saying she passionately collects cookbooks as well as most other ones and has loads of them throughout her modern-country home.
Betty also likes integrating other decorative items into her cooking space. "Good quality accessories make any room look right, including the kitchen," she declares. And without cramming it full of stuff, a few items specially selected certainly complete it. One of Betty's favourites is a framed menu. "It's from a restaurant we visited in Paris," she smiles. "It's beautiful, with good food and plenty of wonderful memories." Framing a menu from a restaurant or from somewhere else on a memorable trip make a great talking point and these personal items might just inspire you to create something divine in the kitchen.
"All the accoutrements in the kitchen are significant to me," she explains, especially the three ancient pewter platters above the stove. "They survived The Great Fire of London in 1666," says Betty proudly, who was given them by English friends. They had been in the family for years and came to her because they knew she'd love and cherish them. The practical collection of cooking utensils in a variety of pots and jugs has travelled from house to house with Betty and will undoubtedly continue to stand beside her in the kitchen for many more culinary years.
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
Kitchen architect - Andrew Wyatt
Oven and stove - Fisher and Paykel
Related Articles
|
