Surrey Homes | SH19 | May 2016 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

Above: The snug is where Christel’s sons, Julius and Fabian come to relax and watch sport. In the summer, the French doors can be opened wide, allowing easy
access to the expansive garden. The heavy Scandinavian-style embroidered curtains are made from Harlequin fabric
and photographs taken in front of the house.” After
more champagne and celebration, Christel drove the
couple to Aylesford Priory, where they had a big party
in the barn. She is keen to point out that The Old
Rectory is very much a ‘sunrise to sunset’ venue.
Although the business has come a long way since that first
wedding two years ago – they now use a trusted selection of
suppliers including the chefs Stella Grove and Ali Tennant,
local florist Suzanne Price and a maitre d’ who worked at the
Goring Hotel and the Tunbridge Wells Spa Hotel – I’m still
keen to see the kitchen at the heart of this country house.
And at the heart of the home it is... A large marbletopped
island takes centre stage, while an impressive
mantelpiece, made to order by Christel’s carpenter,
sits above the range cooker. “The Lacanche cooker
came from David Beckham’s house,” says Christel,
“while the cooker back is an Ikea table top...” Again,
her Swedish egalitarian approach shines through.
I’m struck by the impressive mantelpiece above the cooker.
“The corbels supporting the mantelpiece came from a
salvage fair, and I had them blasted back to the natural
stone.” The mantelpiece looks as old as the house, and as
grand as one would expect in a substantial country rectory.
“I designed the layout of the kitchen – which professional
As the room catches the afternoon sun, one can imagine long, happy hours ensconced
in the comfy sofas watching the latest test match on the flat-screen TV
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