The restyling of this kitchen/dining area was an engaging challenge for the practice, because the aim of the project was to radically transform its previous rather gloomy and excessively "rustic farmhouse" appearance without making any heavy-handed changes, and keeping all the solid chestnut wood furnishings made by a local craftsman. The key to solving this design conundrum and obtaining a minimalist effect was to bleach and "whiten" all the wood (both the furniture and the ceiling), alter the fireplace wall, change the wall colour and redesign the lighting.