Inside Jay Osgerby’s Bespoke Barn Kitchen by Inglis Hall
Where does one of Britain’s most respected designers turn when it’s time to create a kitchen for his own home? For Jay Osgerby of Barber Osgerby, the answer was the Sussex kitchen maker Inglis Hal.
Set within a sensitively reimagined barn conversion known as The Sticks, the project is a masterclass in restraint, craftsmanship, and architectural harmony.
Designed and made by Inglis Hall for Jay Osgerby and his wife Helen, the bespoke oak kitchen reflects a shared belief in honest materials, precision, and thoughtful living.
The home itself, a reconstruction of former cart sheds by Rural Office, provided the perfect canvas for a kitchen that feels less like a standalone installation and more like an intrinsic part of the building.
Rather than creating a conventional “show kitchen,” the brief focuses on subtlety and integration. The result is a space where cabinetry almost disappears into the architecture.
For Inglis Hall, the project represented something especially meaningful. Having a designer of Osgerby’s caliber choose them for his own home was more than a commission; it was an endorsement of their collaborative approach.
Jay was not simply searching for craftspeople to execute a design. He wanted makers with ideas, expertise, and sensitivity.
Signature oak wall cladding conceals storage and large appliances, allowing essentials such as the fridge/freezer and pocket-door pantry to dissolve seamlessly into the timber-framed interior.
The effect is calm, understated, and deeply architectural. The kitchen design is not dominating the room, but it belongs to it.
Despite the desire to avoid anything overtly “kitcheny,” the room remains centered around cooking and entertaining. A substantial Wolf range stands in the center, flanked by workspace made of Begian Blue natural limestone.
Inglis Hall’s Joiners Island, with a natural marble top, introduces warmth and sociability to the room. Designed with generous overhangs that give the feel of a freestanding table, the island achieves an unexpected lightness through traditional joinery techniques.
Above the island hang the distinctive Signals Light from Galerie Kreo (designed by Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber), adding a sculptural focal point to the otherwise restrained palette.
On the opposite side, a seating area has been created around a wood-burning stove. This is flanked by Inglis Hall’s “The Larder Cupboard,” a versatile cupboard that is wonderfully minimalistic when closed but shows maximum impact when opened.
Each Inglis Hall kitchen is designed and crafted in Lewes, East Sussex, with projects starting from £45,000, including cabinetry, appliances, worktops, and installation.
But beyond the materials and specifications, what draws discerning clients is a deeper commitment to longevity, integrity, and craftsmanship.
Hidden in the wall, next to steel-framed glass doors leading to the living space, is a charming coffee corner.
