Inside the acclaimed landscape garden designer’s modern green farmhouse kitchen renovation.
Pollyanna Wilkinson is no stranger to great design. The acclaimed landscape garden designer and founder of her own practice, Studio Pollyanna, is renowned for her considered, elegant designs spanning projects of all shapes and sizes, from roof gardens to sprawling country estates. And it’s not just reputation; Studio Pollyanna has won three RHS medals from Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, as well two People’s Choice Awards.
Alongside multiple projects across the UK and internationally, Polly co-hosts a popular podcast, The Ins & Outs, with friend Jojo Barr, founder of London-based interior architectural studio, House Nine. So when it came to renovating her own Surrey home, Jojo was the first person Polly called.
As for the brief? Colour (specifically, green), warmth, character, timelessness, and functionality. And, given Polly’s love for the outdoors, she wanted her home to complement and blend with her garden and outdoor areas.
Our Cotswold Bun Cabinet Knobs in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish were chosen across the cabinets.
“I really wanted something that had soul and personality, and a country style whilst also appreciating I’m not in the Cotswolds. The goal was to create something classic that wasn’t going to date, but still felt very ‘me’”, said Polly.
“Jojo understood I have kids and a busy life and wanted a kitchen that worked hard for me with plenty of storage whilst also looking beautiful!”, she added.
House Nine is known for prioritising biophilic design elements in its projects — a design style which uses natural elements to create a healthy living space. A perfect fit for a landscape designer.
The Cotswold Gallery Shelf Rail in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
“The overall vision for Polly’s home was to create a biophilic interior that truly blurred the line between indoors and out, allowing the house and garden to feel like one cohesive, flowing space. As a landscape designer, it was important to her that the interiors reflected nature and that the garden felt like a natural extension of the home,” said Jojo.
“We achieved this by layering warm, inviting colour and rich texture throughout, ensuring the spaces felt homely, comfortable and fun, while still being timeless enough to handle the realities of a busy family home with young boys. Functionality and comfort were always at the forefront, but never at the expense of personality. We leaned into materials that mattered to her — stone, wood and metal — and paid close attention to finishes, which was a non-negotiable for both of us.”
The Cotswold Gallery Shelf Rail in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
Like many homes, the kitchen is the heart. House Nine collaborated with Essex-based Apron Kitchens to create a truly bespoke space that would suit all the necessary functions of a kitchen, while reflecting Polly’s style and character.
They created a contemporary farmhouse-style kitchen with deep leafy green cabinets and glass-fronted dresser, a patterned tiled splashback, and a pale pink island built with deep drawers, special pullout components and cupboards for extra storage. Our Cotswold Bun Cabinet Knobs in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish were chosen across the cabinets. Natural stone countertops in the farmhouse kitchen add a luxurious, contemporary touch.
Our Cotswold Brass Pot Rail in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
Our Cotswold Bun Cabinet Knobs in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
“We have a marble countertop which is certainly higher maintenance than other options, so I think we were both more led by aesthetic than total practicality in that regard. But I’m not a fan of everything being immaculate so to have something that would show some of the wear and tear of family life didn't phase me.” said Polly.
The low-level design in this green farmhouse kitchen renovation creates a spacious feel, and gives way to open shelf displays, anchored by our Cotswold Gallery Shelf Rail and Brass Pot Rail, both in Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
Our Chamberlain Plain Twin Socket in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
Jojo said our Cotswold collection felt like a natural fit for this project: “I let Polly lead on this one, but as a long-time advocate of Armac Martin, she instinctively chose exactly what I would have. The Cotswold collection felt like a natural fit — it’s elegant yet unpretentious, timeless, and has that farmhouse, country sensibility that suited the character of her home perfectly.
“We recommended the antique brass finish because it adds a beautiful warmth to the cabinetry and complements the wider palette of natural materials used throughout the house. It ties in seamlessly with the overall design, enhancing the sense of depth and softness while still feeling classic and enduring.”
Our Aberdovey Cabinet Knobs in our Fine English Antique (FEA) finish.
As part of the modern green farmhouse kitchen renovation, an extension was built to create an open plan entertainer's space that would flow effortlessly into the garden. The same limestone flooring and panelled ceiling was used throughout the “old” space, which houses the kitchen, and the “new” which is home to a cosy seating area with light green cabinets that feature our Aberdovey Cabinet Knobs in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish, and an informal dining area.
Arched glass doors run along the length of the extension, letting natural light into the space, and allowing for a seamless connection to the outdoors. Natural textures in the curtains and strategically placed rugs create a warm, homely feel.
Our Chamberlain Plain 1G Toggle Switch in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
Vintage-style brass wall lights features in the butter yellow downstairs cloakroom, complementing our Chamberlain Plain 1G Toggle Switch and Chamberlain Plain Twin Socket in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
The renovation included the cloakroom – the downstairs bathroom – too. Design elements were chosen to reflect those of the modern farmhouse kitchen with its green accents, while creating a space that was completely its own. Polly’s love of the colour is found in the green and white tiled flooring, while wood-panelled walls and a marble-topped sink are cohesive nods to those same features in the kitchen, while our Cotswold Toilet Roll Holder in our Fine English antique finish was also chosen.
Brass, marble and green accents in the bathroom mirror the design choices in the kitchen.
Our Cotswold Toilet Roll Holder in our Fine English antique (FEA) finish.
This consistency in design choices was deliberate, says Jojo, whose advice is to: “Layer individuality through colour, texture and detail rather than completely changing direction from space to space. Vary tones within the same palette, introduce different finishes of the same materials, and play with patterns or artwork that reflects how each room is used. Repeating key elements like timber, stone, metals or specific finishes, helps everything feel connected, while the way they’re combined in each room keeps things interesting."
It’s clear that this is a house fit for Pollyanna Wilkinson. Classic yet contemporary, and full of warmth and personality, it’s a home that will grow as she and her two sons do. She knows that great design isn’t just about how something looks, but how it feels and functions. And this is a home that ticks every box.
Pollyanna's favourite pieces
Pollyanna's favourite pieces
All photography by Joey Kendal Brown.
