Project Overview
Home type / age: Historic farmhouse built in 1804.
Owners: Rebecca Reece and family (husband + three children).
Purpose: Full gut renovation to fix structural issues, improve livability, increase storage, create an open, functional layout.
Pre-Renovation Condition
Previous state: had many DIY fixes that were inadequate. The farmhouse was damp, cold, and structurally unsound.
The floor was sand, walls partially brick, likely with insufficient insulation and failing structure.
Scope of Work / Structural Changes
The renovation involved stripping the kitchen back to brick and sand floor.
Almost the entire back of the house was demolished and rebuilt due to structural unsoundness.
The kitchen retains roughly the same corner location in the home but was vastly expanded into a large combined space (kitchen / dining / living / playroom).
Key Design & Aesthetic Choices
Element Description
Color scheme Two-tone palette: green island (paint: Little Greene’s Obsidian Green), tan-grey cabinets (paint: Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White).
Materials & finishes Dramatic marble surfaces, high-quality finishes, new flooring.
Appliances & features Double the appliances: they included two refrigerators — one for food, one for drinks.
Storage Significantly more storage than before. The island is large and designed to be functional.
Lighting / Layout connections The kitchen now connects to the garden. Open concept / larger entertaining / living-kitchen-dining / play area layout.
What the Owners Value Most
They love how social the space now is — useful for hosting, family living, holidays, etc.
They also appreciate the connection to outdoors (garden). More natural light, better flow.
The flooring is singled out as one of their favorite parts, having done research to get value.
Reflections / What They Might Do Differently
For the island, in hindsight Rebecca notes she might have left a wood finish instead of its current one. Also, she would’ve added legs under the island so the new flooring is visible under it.
She highlights that one should always plan for extra time, extra materials, and extra budget — as surprises in old houses are almost guaranteed.
Outcomes & Benefits
A space that is both warm/cozy and large/spacious.
A dramatic improvement in functionality: better storage, better appliances, better flow.
A kitchen that is now suited for modern family & hosting use, rather than an old, compromised space.
