the french kitchen

Ness at Marley & Locker has asked me to show my kitchen and answer a few questions about it. One of her questions asks what is my dream kitchen? My French kitchen is my dream kitchen because it came about as a result of a 'coup de foudre' - falling in love with a property in Saint Remy de Provence and relocating myself and my family to the other side of the world. Three years of planning and restoration meant that I am fortunate to have the kitchen of my dreams - would I change anything? I don't think so.

I love the kitchen even though I am not a fabulous cook - I guess you would say I am adequate - not too many disasters but no Michelin stars either. My space makes it easy to want to cook as it is a generous room with fantastic appliances that make the job a delight rather than a chore. 

The kitchen is on the northern side of the farmhouse and divided into three separate areas, the main room, a corridor with floor to ceiling cabinets for china, glasses and linens and another passage way that has the refrigeration and pantry cupboards. The room has a vaulted ceiling and in the centre hangs a wooden gilt chandelier.

When designing the kitchen I wanted a room that was warm, cosy and welcoming. I wanted to be able to have dinners with family and friends during the winter that would be relaxed and casual; in the summer we are hardly ever indoors and eat outside morning, noon and night.

A long wooden table divides the kitchen in two and is where I do much of my cooking preparation, chat with my children when they are home, talk the farm talk with our manager Gerard, or have a drink with friends. On one side we have La Cornue, a French oven - this is my pride and joy and something I dreamt of for a long time. I have not been disappointed and often say that if I roasted a pair of old shoes they would come out tasting delicious! It doesn't seem to matter what I cook in that oven it always turns out well. (I have friends for dinner tonight so fingers crossed these are not famous last words.) On the other side of the room is a large sink, dishwasher, drawers for the normal paraphernalia and under bench baskets for the baguettes.

I am about to arrange the flowers and start preparing for tonight so everything starts out in the middle of the table - I bought several pots of thyme at the nursery yesterday and I think I will use them as the centre piece on the dining table. The phalaeonopsis orchid will probably go in the entry hall.

The cupboards at one end run the width of the room and actually divide the kitchen from the dining room. With everything in one place it makes for easy access when setting the table and it is very practical when it comes to putting it all back afterwards.

The food pantry is in a corridor on the other side of the kitchen and the overhead cupboards are full to overflowing with all the necessary and un-necessary bits. The cupboards have chicken wire fronts, all the bench tops are made from a local stone and the baskets underneath hold vegetables.

I am crazy about large sinks because I am always arranging flowers or potting plants so I like working in a generous space. I don't know what these plants are called but thought they would look interesting repotted in some terra cotta urns. I bought these, along with the herbs yesterday, and have no idea where I will put them yet - but that's me, always spontaneous and impulsive.

So I think I have answered all of Ness's questions except a couple: 

The colour of the kitchen has no proper name, it is a colour I mixed together with the painter, but I would describe it as a pinky, beigy colour...not much help, I know. The walls and the vaulted ceiling were plastered by hand and the tint was mixed into the plaster before applying to achieve the result I wanted.

Do I drink tea or coffee...I drink tea but I am really a coffee person. I gave up coffee a year ago and not a day goes by that I wouldn't like a good shot of espresso. And do I prefer chocolate or vanilla...chocolate by a mile, thank you. xv