PERFECT TASTE

A Victorian villa has been stripped of 1980s trimmings and is now a light-filled and elegant home for cook Gemma Wade

With so many relaxed and elegant aspects to admire in this Victorian villa - such as the easy-on-the-eye colour palette, and the eclectic design and art choices - it's hard to imagine its previous 1980s incarnation, which saw it gussied-up and upholstered to the max.

Professional cook Gemma Wade and her family have lived here, in a bustling village in rural Cheshire, since 2019. And a lot of that living -specifically, working, eating and entertaining - takes place in the kitchen, the beating heart of the home. Everyone gravitates here, especially when I'm cooking,' says Gemma. And for my work, Ineeded the kitchen to perform well.'

The intersection of food, design and lifestyle resonates in this dreamy, open-plan space. Before, the kitchen was at the back of the house, with a living room at the front. They were two separate rooms that felt a lot smaller. Builders knocked the rooms through to create one large area, with a leggy island at the centre and cabinets either side. Despite the scale of the room, essentials are all within arm's reach and there is so much natural light.