Neptune kitchens have been adapted to fit many interesting spaces – sloping, low-eaved cottages, narrow city apartments and cavernous barn conversions. But it is arguably the first time that a Neptune kitchen has been designed for a medieval French castle. That was the challenge facing Remi Fiacchetti, store manager and kitchen designer of Neptune Paris, when the owners asked for his help restoring their historic chateau in Burgundy.
Luckily Remi had a degree in interior architecture and had worked in the restoration of historic, heritage buildings previously, so was able to translate the clients’ vision for a classic, crafted and timeless kitchen in this ancient building into a coherent layout and design by focusing on both form and aesthetics.
‘My vision for the new kitchen was to restore the grandeur that the previous layout lacked,’ says Remi. ‘By integrating our Chichester cabinetry with the original French architectural features, the space achieves a balanced and timeless character.’
The generous kitchen space was reconfigured and enlarged from what had previously been a square kitchen and 1970s tiled bathroom. A large central island was introduced to serve as a focal point for food preparation and entertaining, and glazed cabinetry was incorporated to display the family’s extensive china and glassware collections. ‘I love heritage architecture and most historic kitchens are designed around open shelving,’ explains Remi. ‘I wanted to create the same effect for the chateau as would have existed in its original kitchen, this time with Neptune cabinetry.’
The scale of the space was both exciting and challenging at the same time. The 4-metre-high ceilings meant that even Chichester’s tallest cabinets at over 2-metres felt dwarfed, so Remi used bespoke-sized wall cabinets to sit more appropriately in the space.
Non-negotiables were centred around preservation and practicalities. The original bread oven and large fireplace (where meats would once have been roasted) were to remain and the original Burgundy stone was carefully matched and extended with reclaimed stone where the bathroom had been to maintain architectural continuity. Then Remi was able to conceal the property’s main fuse box and security system in a bespoke cabinet and ensure the integrated Gaggenau fridge-freezer and two dishwashers were discreetly fitted into the scheme.
The colour palette was guided by the architectural features of the room. Chichester’s standard Shell finish looked too bright against the old Burgundy stone and oak beams, so Remi suggested a softer, more understated scheme. Driftwood was selected for the main cabinetry as it harmonises beautifully with the original materials, completement with brass handles and copper accents. The open shelving and internal cabinetry were finished in Grey Oak to give a subtle contrast while acting as the perfect backdrop for the table and glassware displays, and the island was painted in Constable Green to create a visual connection with the garden outside. And that delightful rosy-pink door? ‘It is actually a Bordeaux-like red that has faded in the sunshine,’ says Remi, ‘and conforms to the official regional colour assigned to all historic buildings in Burgundy.’
The result is a timeless, elegant kitchen, designed around family and socialising but always honouring the heritage of the property. ‘I’m naturally very classical in my taste,’ adds Remi. ‘I find that modern kitchens have no soul and little to talk about. That’s why I love working with Neptune kitchens – there is so much character in the wood finishes and mouldings, and this project proves they can work just as well in a medieval castle as in a contemporary apartment.’
