In our opinion, AGA cookers in period property renovations are a fantastic choice for your kitchen design. Quintessentially British and forever beautiful.
A recent project renovating an Edwardian home in the Surrey Hills required an AGA. Our clients were clear from the outset that it should be central to their kitchen design;
“We’ll need an AGA, we’ve always had one & we love them.”
What a testimonial. As kitchen designers, we love them too. The AGA was a focal point in my Grandparents' country kitchen. I have lovely memories of warming up cold fingers on the cast-iron doors & toasting crumpets on the boiling plates. The warmth and character they bring to a kitchen is delicious.
Brief history of AGA
Almost a century ago, in 1922, the AGA was invented by a Swedish physicist for his wife when he realised that she was using a dangerous, dirty & time-consuming range. He decided to create a cooker that was economical & easy to use. In 1947 the company began manufacturing the cookers in Shropshire, where they are still made today.
Better cooking
An AGA uses radiant heat from the cast iron ovens to cook food gently, all the nutrients stay locked in, which is why people say food cooked this way tastes gorgeous. They have a reputation for being a forgiving cooker too as moisture & flavour are locked in, and the food doesn’t dry out if you leave it in a bit too long.
Making cooking easy
This is in our opinion the best bit ... there are different ovens for different functions including high temperature roasting, baking & simmering. It’s so handy as it means you don’t need to worry about setting exactly the right temperature; you just use the oven which is right for what you are cooking ~ roasting vegetables, baking that birthday cake, simmering some nourishing soup. Did you know that as cast iron retains its heat, you can actually even open the door to check on your cakes?
Mary Berry says an AGA is more than a cooker
While researching AGA cookers we read that Mary Berry recently had one installed in her new kitchen in a bespoke colour (which has since been added to the collection). And she touched on how the AGA is more than a machine for cooking. She is quoted as saying:
“I didn’t for a minute consider not having an AGA. It takes the thinking out of cooking. I use it for all sorts of other things too. I put seeds at the back of the AGA to dry out… I wash my cashmere clothes in the washing machine and hang them by the AGA. It does so many jobs for me. I couldn’t imagine life without it.”
Classic looks with Modern technology
We love the look of AGA Cookers in Period Property renovations. They sit so well alongside classically made cabinetry. Full of character, with that traditional heaviness and quality of something made to last. And last they do, we often work on kitchen renovations where the client incorporates their existing AGA. Some we have worked with have been over 20 years old.
There are also models now which are electric so you can turn them on & off, plus there’s no need for a flue. There are even models with induction hobs. The model featured here is electric, which the owners love as it can be turned on and off easily in the warmer months of Summer.
To see more of this custom kitchen project which was designed around the AGA, click on: The Charterhouse Kitchen page.
We are Shere Kitchens, based in Guildford, Surrey. Our kitchen designs are completely bespoke and custom-made. If you'd like to visit us at our showroom, please do contact us to make an appointment with one of our designers via [email protected] We'd be happy to discuss your kitchen renovation plans.