Among the rolling hills of the English countryside, in the historic town of Bradford on Avon on the edge of the Cotswolds, lies a charming stone cottage dating back to the early 19th century. Here, interiors stylist, writer and blogger Abi Dare has created a beautiful home with her husband Chris, where English country charm meets Scandinavian minimalism. At the heart of the home is the kitchen by Nordiska Kök – a minimalist take on the traditional cottage kitchen, where Scandinavian design, soft neutral tones and timeless details come together to create a calm and inviting space.

See all Shaker kitchens | About our Shaker kitchens | Shaker kitchen prices

Learn more about ordering a Nordiska Kök kitchen to the UK.

Abi works as a freelance writer, photographer and stylist, and is the author of two interior books. She also has her own design, travel and lifestyle blog, These Four Walls.

After 20 years of living in Bristol, Abi and her husband Chris relocated to the countryside in late 2025, in search of quieter surroundings and a slower pace of life. They found just that in the small country town of Bradford on Avon, just outside Bath on the edge of the Cotswolds.

Steeped in history, the town is known for its ancient stone cottages, bridges and mills. Yet it also has a modern buzz, with plenty of independent shops and restaurants, as well as a thriving arts scene.

A few kilometres from Bradford-on-Avon lies the city of Bath, surrounded by open countryside and lush woodland.

Their home is a beautiful 19th-century stone cottage, built from the distinctive honey-coloured Bath stone quarried just a few kilometres away and found throughout the area. Having stood empty for many years, the house has been carefully restored and brought back to life by Abi and Chris.

– We’re still trying to research the house’s history, but we believe it was built in the early 19th century on the site of a former orchard. It was very tired and unloved when we bought it and had stood empty for almost two years, so we’re gradually bringing it back to life and restoring its soul. What’s interesting is that we’ve found a couple of old photographs of our street from the 1860s and early 1900s, and apart from things like lamp posts and cars, very little has changed, says Abi.

The old kitchen was beyond saving, and for Abi and Chris, finding the right new kitchen for the house was important – one that would feel at home both in terms of style and quality. They chose a light Shaker kitchen by Nordiska Kök, with a minimalist take on traditional country style.

Carefully designed to complement the historic character of the house, the kitchen is equally suited to modern life, with clever features, generous storage and, of course, thoughtfully selected materials and a timeless design.

– I’ve long admired Nordiska Kök’s designs and I had the slim Shaker style in mind from the moment we first viewed the house. I was also drawn to the fact that all Nordiska Kök kitchens are bespoke, so we weren’t restricted to standard cabinet sizes. And I knew the quality would be excellent – a key factor for us, as we want this kitchen to last for years and perhaps even decades to come, says Abi.

Abi and Chris wanted the new kitchen to bring together the house’s past, present and future, reflecting its evolving history and period character. It was therefore important to them to choose a kitchen with a timeless aesthetic, rather than one driven by passing trends.

– Nordiska Kök’s Shaker design proved perfect – it’s based on a classic style, but the slimmer frames give it a lighter, more elegant aesthetic that suits our minimalist style, says Abi.

All the cabinetry is painted in Nordiska Kök’s Soft Linen, a shade chosen for its warm undertones, which echo the Bath stone from which the house is built.

– When you stand in certain places in the kitchen you can see the cupboards and the exterior walls in the same view, and they tie in together beautifully, she says.

To complement the Soft Linen colour, the couple chose white-pigmented oak for the cabinet interiors, which adds warmth while also echoing the oak flooring laid throughout the cottage. The handles, tap and wall lamps are all made from bronze, which will develop a wonderful patina as it ages. The worktops and splashbacks are Statuario White quartz with subtle veining, again chosen for its timeless appeal.

Discover all the materials and design details in the cream cottage kitchen.

Over the years, Abi has spent a lot of time in Scandinavia, an influence that is clearly reflected in her home, with its soft minimalism and pared-back simplicity so characteristic of Nordic design.

– I’d describe my style as soft, soulful minimalism – pared-back and calm, with layers of warmth, texture and meaning. I’m very drawn to Nordic design, but I like to pair this with local character that brings a strong sense of place, says Abi.

And it is something she has achieved beautifully. The house feels both tranquil and uncluttered, with Scandinavian influences sitting harmoniously alongside English country charm – a combination perfectly suited to the house’s age, architecture and surroundings.

In choosing the colour and material palette throughout the house, Abi drew inspiration from the Bath stone of the exterior walls, echoing its warm, honeyed tones in shades of beige and off-white with soft, warm undertones. Natural materials such as linen, oak and stone feature throughout, while occasional metal details add subtle contrast. And as a nod to the home’s rural setting, she has introduced a few rustic antiques.

There is no doubt that the couple have succeeded in creating a beautiful, tranquil home. A place where English country charm meets timeless Scandinavian design, and where life can unfold at a slower pace – just as they had hoped for.

The Scandinavian-style cottage kitchen, with its soft beige tones and warm, inviting feel, has become the heart of Abi and Chris’s beautiful stone cottage.

Abi concludes by sharing her three top tips for anyone considering ordering a kitchen from Nordiska Kök:

Give your Nordiska Kök designer as much information as you can about your home, your style and the way you want to use your kitchen, but also keep an open mind – they’re very experienced and may suggest fantastic ideas that you’d never even thought of.
Don’t worry if you’re based outside Sweden, as the ordering process is easy and seamless, with excellent support available at every stage.
And finally, always make use of the free sample service so that you can view colour and material options in situ. We were torn between three different colours and seeing how they interacted with the strong west-facing light in our kitchen helped us to make up our minds.

For more interior inspiration from Abi, visit her blog These Four Walls and check out her two books: The Soft Minimalist Home and Bring The Outside In.

Photo and styling: Abi Dare for Nordiska Kök
In the home of: Abi Dare @thesefourwallsblog

The kitchen is designed by Nordiska Kök and crafted in our carpentry studio in Gräfsnäs, Sweden. We are proud to offer our bespoke high-quality kitchens and interiors to customers across Europe.

Learn more about the process of ordering a kitchen from Nordiska Kök.

Find more kitchen inspiration.

Featured

The Interior Stylist's Scandi Cottage Kitchen

In an early 19th-century stone cottage in the historic town of Bradford-on-Avon, interiors stylist Abi Dare has created a beautiful home where rustic English country charm meets Scandinavian minimalism.