Family Kitchen | Historic Estate | Switzerland
A Belle Époque-inspired Family Kitchen
La Belle Époque, meaning “The Beautiful Era,” was a time of high culture and artistic innovation. It also marked the rise of grand hotels such as The Ritz, which combined cutting-edge luxury with the charm of great houses.
Inspired by this elegance, Artichoke crafted the Family Kitchen as part of a broader vision for a historic estate in Switzerland, which also included a Chef’s Kitchen and a Grand Study. The Family Kitchen features a delicate three-tone palette of Snow on the Mountain, Wickham Gray, Woodlawn Blue from Benjamin Moore.
Fully panelled in bolection moulding typical of the period, the room features gently curved corner details for added softness. While functioning as the main family kitchen, its beauty is preserved through integrated appliances, discrete storage, and hidden doors, including a built-in Gaggenau fridge, freezer, wine cooler, drinks station, larder cupboard, and a jib door leading to the scullery.
Original painting by the artist Annabel Rose
The Rift Oak Island: a statement of craftsmanship
Centre stage, the island crafted from the sought after rift oak, lends warmth with its refined straight grain. It conceals practical elements while housing a double sink with a polished brass bridge tap and matching railway ring handles. Pietra Cardosa dark grey marble counters flow seamlessly throughout the kitchen, larder, drinks counter, island, and scullery.
Set within a tiled niche, the custom DeManincor range features brass accents, a teppanyaki plate, and a built-in rotisserie. Above, a polished brass rail holds copper pots and utensils alongside a built-in Westin extraction canopy. Handmade white ceramic tiles, reproducing Victorian designs, are arranged in a bias layout, each corner adorned with bespoke antique bronze floret studs for a thoughtful finishing touch.
Bespoke features: rolling ladder, drinks station, and more
A rolling ladder, also from the finest rift oak, with polished brass carriages and castor feet, provides elegant access to the top cupboards designed for less-used items. Sliding doors with brass handles conceal storage, while a central glazed cabinet displays decorative pieces.
The drinks station, set behind fully retractable restoration glass doors, features wooden glassware hangers, pull-out butlers’ trays, a Pietra Cardosa marble niche for bottles and a coffee machine, and integrated oak-fronted fridge drawers.
These storage elements sit alongside a tall built-in cupboard with custom racks for oils, spices and vinegars on the interior of the door.
The scullery: functional and beautiful adjoining space
A discrete jib door leads to the scullery, a space as beautiful as it is functional. Artichoke designed every detail, from the plaster cornice by Stevensons of Norwich to the square marble cabochon floor and the deep red Terra leather bench seat around the dining table, combining elegance with practicality.
Acting as an overflow, it includes an integrated professional dishwasher, a double sink with a stainless steel base for cleaning products, a built-in bin, and glazed wall cabinets crafted with restoration glass for displaying “best” china and glassware.
Opposite, a twin bookshelf holds cookbooks alongside a pegboard for aprons, tea towels, and brooms, with a framed blackboard adding charm.
The Artichoke Effect
The Family Kitchen is a testament to Artichoke’s mastery of timeless design and meticulous craftsmanship. Every detail, from bespoke joinery to hidden features, balances elegance and functionality, preserving the spirit of La Belle Époque while meeting the needs of modern living. This enduring space is thoughtfully crafted to serve its patrons for generations to come.
Photography Emma Lewis
Video High Water Films
