Then, two years ago, the couple decided not to rent the house out, which led to a bigger decision - to overhaul the kitchen. 'We decided to take the plunge to create exactly what we wanted,' explains Beverley. 'Space was quite pinched, so we rejigged the ground floor and extended the room. At the same time, we connected the first-floor kitchen to a roof terrace, which we were building to make the most of the sea views.' The coastline vista offered Beverley inspiration in abundance. 'I wanted to bring the feel of the outside in,' she explains. 'I looked at several websites and brochures before settling on a hand-built kitchen, which would have a bit more character than off-the-peg.'

When it came to choosing a designer, Mat Davies's reputation preceded him. Having seen his work in local kitchens, Bryce, a music manager, and Beverley, a freelance writer, wasted no time in asking him to design their room. For the organically inspired theme, wood was the obvious choice but picking the timber wasn't so easy. 'We wanted to be able to see the grain and for the colour to be natural,' continues Beverley. 'Mat showed us several choices - the oak was a bit too dark and the maple too harsh, which left us with ash or chestnut.'

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With its striking grain, it was the as that won the couple over. For Beverley, injecting openness into the room was essential. The minimal design of the bespoke cabinetry was perfect, as was a Rayburn, which fits snugly in the chimney breast. 'I had to fight for that,' she laughs. 'I wanted a range but Bryce thought it was an extravagance. We'd had one before and I couldn't imagine living without it.' Elsewhere, touches of stainless steel provide a contemporary edge. 'That was a concession against the wood and the two work so well together,' says Beverley. 'We wanted to create our dream kitchen and, with Mat's help, we have. It really is perfect.'