A couple has demonstrated how they used the history of a country cottage as inspiration for a kitchen design.Don and Jane Guthrie told Lfpress.com that they decided to use antiques from the property in Scarborough for a range of kitchen accessories.Old doughboards were refashioned as tables while a hayfork, spinning wheel and cradle found in an adjoining barn were used for decorative effect in the food preparation and kitchen sink areas. Two antique rocking chairs had also been placed in front of the windows to offer a relaxing view of the surrounding area.The article noted that grand ceiling beams had been used to give the kitchen a spacious feel.They settled on the most open plan a timber-framed great room. Soaring six-metre wooden beams add to the ambience, said the website.A report this week by the Times found that open plan designs were one of the most popular trends in kitchen design during the past decade.