Imagine a small retreat nestled in the Forêt de Rambouillet, the majestic forest south of Versailles where nature blends with the tranquillity of the French countryside.
Here, an old country house dating back to the 19th century, surrounded by deciduous trees, has been restored with great care to preserve its original architectural features. It was the solution chosen by a lively Parisian family – the two parents who own a furniture showroom in central Paris and their young daughter – who wanted to create a welcoming and relaxing space for their weekend getaways and summer holidays.
The history of this house blends indissolubly with the passion for design and good food of the owners, both gourmet chefs, who have decided to transform this home into an oasis of calm and beauty in the heart of the forest.
Kitchen and design in the French forest
The hosts wanted to recreate as neutral a container as possible (white walls and floors, exposed wooden beams on the ceiling) so as to make the furniture, and above all, the large and functional kitchen the main features, deliberately placed at the centre of their domestic life.
An environment designed not only for cooking, but also for sharing daily moments of family joy, as well as sociable evenings with friends.
To make their dream come true, they have combined two different solutions in the same environment.
On the walls, they placed two low building blocks, with hobs, sinks and all the appliances and containers hidden behind the rosewood doors.
In the middle of the room, however, they wanted a large island with a snack bar, which immediately became the focus of their family life.
A place for the family to gather for breakfast or a quick lunch, but also a casual place for welcoming friends for evening aperitifs.
A white island kitchen with a snack bar
For this central element they chose an island from the Abimis Ego line, which they had lacquered in glossy white to create harmony with the whiteness of the room and a lively but elegant contrast with the dark and veined rosewood.
The white island has a generous hand-orbitally polished steel top, a warm and silky finish to the touch. A practical solution for both a worktop and for quick meals. The Abimis island kitchen also has, on one side, a large snack bar with high stools, ideal for sociable occasions. Instead, on the opposite side, they opted for small containers and drawers to store tableware and glasses.
At the request of the owners, Abimis also made both the stainless steel tops for the two wall elements, in order to create a visual fil rouge between the two kitchens, and the large extractor hood, which is also made of steel, a material that guarantees durability and is easy to maintain.
More than a Kitchen: a lifestyle choice
When the family is not in Paris, they spend their free time immersed in the beauty of the countryside, surrounded by oaks and larches.
And the kitchen becomes the centre of their home life, the place where they share precious moments with their daughter, experimenting with new recipes and creating lasting memories.
The kitchen is not just a functional and design choice for them. It’s much more than that.
It’s a lifestyle choice.
