Following the death of her husband in 2018, Jenny Packwood needed a fresh start. London had been home for more than two decades, but the green open spaces of Warwickshire, where she grew up, were calling her back. She dreamed of a bright and inviting home, a garden bordering the countryside and a kitchen full of friends and family.
Jenny settled on a new-build in Leamington Spa, which, though spacious and near her daughters’ schools, lacked the character of her old Victorian terrace. The awkward L-shaped kitchen didn’t even come close to her vision.
She enlisted the help of interior designer Serena Pitchers, founder of Your Interiors Friend, who devised a plan to increase the natural light throughout the ground floor and enliven surfaces with an invigorating mix of natural green colours. With some clever spatial planning, that vibrant social hub Jenny longed for slowly came to life.
Who lives here
Jenny Packwood, chief corporate affairs officer at KFC UK, lives here with her daughters.
The before
‘I really didn’t love the house when I first moved in. Having come from a Victorian terrace, the style and proportions of a 90s new-build felt alien.’
The inspiration
‘I’m really drawn to green spaces. All my moodboards were filled with natural elements, including olive-green tiles which I adore.’
The plan
‘I wanted to renovate as much of the ground floor as I could within my budget. Replacing the water-damaged ceiling meant that costs were higher than expected before we even really began, but we managed to squeeze in the kitchen overhaul, new windows and doors and underfloor heating,’ Jenny remembers. ‘We used Ikea carcasses to keep costs down, and Serena worked with Husk on the bespoke fronts.’
She credits Serena with giving her the creative spark she needed for the kitchen’s design. ‘She encouraged me to gather real-world inspiration – from magazines, art, even my own wardrobe – instead of falling into the trap of online algorithms that show you the same sort of images on repeat,’ Jenny says, all of which helped her to ‘hone in on what I like and dislike in terms of colour, texture, light and overall vibe.’
Get the look: the nature-inspired kitchen
The process
The room’s original layout had to be reworked, adding a peninsula island to zone off the cooking area and provide extra storage and counter space. Getting the light right was crucial, Jenny explains: ‘All the natural light disappeared by the afternoon, so I knew we needed more windows!’ The plan worked beautifully, she says. ‘The kitchen now has a lovely golden glow in the late afternoon and evening.’
Another development was to create more space for guests to linger. ‘It wasn’t social enough and lacked comfortable seating, so we removed the under-stairs cupboard and installed a huge L-shaped banquette in its footprint. The seat is designed to be extra deep and squishy, so it really takes the place of a sofa. Installing the peninsula also meant that we could add barstools on one side.’
The biggest challenge
‘Juggling all the design decisions with a full-time job and solo parenting was overwhelming at times. I couldn’t have contemplated it without the help of my designer, Serena.’
Best bargain
‘The Zara Home pendant lights – £200 for all four – were an absolute bargain and they give a beautiful glow.’
Biggest splurge
‘Unsurprisingly, this was on the bespoke elements. The kitchen fronts, pantry cupboards and banquette cushion came to around £3,900, but they really add value.’
Sourcebook
- Kitchen doors Oak on Valchromat and Castoro Ottawa Fenix (madebyhusk.com)
- Wall tiles Hoxton in Olive (mandarinstone.com)
- Flooring Nude Oak engineered (broadleaftimber.com)
- Paint Muskoka Trail 974 (benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk)
- Handles Kilburn in Bronze (corston.com)
- Dining table Vintage G Plan (try vinterior.co)
- Banquette (jigsawjoinery.co.uk)
- Seat cushion Skipton in Moss (designersguild.com)
- Barstools Weathered oak and metal counter stool (coxandcox.co.uk)
- Pendant lights Papier-mâché ceiling lamp (zarahome.com)
- Vintage art (mediumroom.co.uk)
