Set in the grounds of a beautiful, sprawling country estate, Roger Eastwood's homely log cabin has the most stunning views across a vast private lake - the location is nothing short of idyllic. 'I wanted somewhere informal away from the house where I could entertain, so I decided to have a log cabin built,' he explains. ' It's unusual, but fits in wonderfully with the Cheshire countryside.'
However, this isn't just any log cabin - it's on the scale of a small house kitted out with everything necessary for comfortable living. When it came to the kitchen area, Roger, who's retired, felt it was essential to have a design that worked with the raw appeal of the cabin and accommodated all the things necessary for today's way of life.
Inspired by the rich, knotted naturalness of the pine structure, Roger decided to continue the theme internally by introducing solid wood units and worktops into the kitchen. 'I didn't want modern cabinetry detracting from the beauty of the building,' he explains. 'I wanted a retreat that was close to nature to reflect its location.'
Seeking advice from Steve Grimmer at Herringport Furniture, Roger settled on Plain New England units made from English oak - finished with heat resistant oil for long-lasting protection and easy maintenance. Each piece is lovingly handmade and subtly blends into its surroundings .
The rather unusual choice of cooking apparatus was dictated by the purpose of the kitchen. In place of a standard cooking hob, Roger chose a gas-fuelled chargrill, with an integrated deep fat fryer to one side and an electric two-ringed hob on the other. 'The cabin was designed primarily for having parties, so I went for something more conductive to entertaining and casual dining,' Roger says.
In the middle of the room is a large oak dining table with a Bergère Bow chairs, all designed and made by Steve. It's easy to imagine being huddled around it, with thick snow outside and the cabin filled with laughter, candles and warmth from the real fire. 'It has a wonderfully festive feel at Christmas,' Roger smiles, 'Its like something you only dream of, and yet it's real.' |
