We’ve been working with the amazing team behind the Agatha since the beginning of this year, having fallen in love with their home via their incredible Instagram account, and all the beautiful footage they shared of their maximalist kitchen with the Everhot 150+ standing pride of place. From day one, it was clear that their Everhot was more than a cooker, and the heart of their kitchen, and that they absolutely felt like their Everhot was ‘part of the family’.

Agatha is a truly special place, having visited ourselves for a photoshoot and getting the grand tour to hear all the stories about how every piece of art and every antique is lovingly selected to feature in this beautiful, magical home. Whilst the whole property is meticulously, and lovingly, curated, our focus is naturally on the kitchen, and we interviewed owner, Michelle, about the process of renovating such a unique space….

Walk us through the early stages of the kitchen renovation, how did it all start?

The kitchen was originally located in the oldest part of the house which has low ceilings, although it had a cosy feel, it was small for the size of the house and we needed more space.  One of our most striking rooms was the dining room, with a vaulted ceiling, beams and a beautiful minstrels gallery.  We needed to be in this room every day of the year, not just special occasions!   We had to apply for planning permission to change all the windows to doors as it is a grade 2 listed property.  Specialist joiners were used and a man that could do traditional lead work.  We had two French doors made and a bifold door so we could make the most of the view of the lake.

How did you decide on the colour scheme?

We wanted to keep the colours dark to suit the vibe of our house, cosy and a little dramatic! Because of the beams, there is black running through the house. It was an easy decision to make for the floors and cupboards.

What was the hardest part of renovating your kitchen, and why?

The most stressful part was planning how we were going to rework the drawers for the island. It was such a large and incredible piece, I wanted to make sure I did them justice as well as ensuring nothing went to waste.

Where did you source your kitchen materials from?

The black kitchen units are from Devol.  I love their styling. They are not cheap but worth every penny.  I had originally planned on Devol making our island, and in fact had ordered it, however after a trip to Henley Decor fair I found the most amazing 20ft drawers that were originally used to store Priest’s Vestments. After coming across them at an antique market, we decided to turn them into our kitchen island and worked with joiners to do just that. Our

What is your favourite part of your kitchen?

My favourite part of the kitchen is the island, it’s totally unique and a beautiful bespoke piece and our black Everhot.  Both are totally eye-catching and although I lost sleep over both (both investment pieces), both were the perfect combination making the best kitchen I have ever had.

What made you choose Everhot?

I narrowed my choice of oven down to a Lacanche, Aga or an Everhot.   I spent a lot of time researching for what was going to be a big investment!  However the Everhot won my heart — I loves the black colour, the chrome square lids and the fact it is electric. It is the key to making the large space feel cosy. It’s perfect for all seasons and the heart of the house. It’s where we gather to talk about our days, where the dogs sleep and we hover when it’s cold, it’s where our endless cups of teas are made. I lean up against it all the time with a cup of tea, its where I make my phone calls, FaceTime, chat with visitors, the Everhot is so comforting

What is your favourite time of day in your kitchen and why?

Favourite time of day in the kitchen is late afternoon, I put the kettle on the Everhot and open up the fridge debating what I am going to cook that evening.

Anything else you’d like to say about your fabulous kitchen?

Our Kitchen was the catalyst for the creation of Agatha, the lifestyle brand that grew from the character and interiors of our home. The most loved room in our house both with visitors and people online is the kitchen. Agatha – a house full of magic

Thank you so much to Agatha, and to Becca at Photopia for the beautiful photographs!