Rich Walnut Enhances a Contemporary Kitchen
The warm wood on the cabinets, island and simple display shelf makes for a welcoming space
Two goals drove this London kitchen’s design. The first was a minimalist layout with enough storage to keep everything hidden, so it wouldn’t impinge on the rest of the open-plan room. The second was a warm aesthetic from the addition of rich walnut and display space.
“This project was great to work on,” says kitchen designer Jayne Everett. “The owners were lovely, and their choice of finish and layout helped to create a stunning space.”
“This project was great to work on,” says kitchen designer Jayne Everett. “The owners were lovely, and their choice of finish and layout helped to create a stunning space.”
Central to the design is an island with an open, sawhorse-style support and a chunky black marble countertop.
The work surface is thick in order to house the Barazza gas cooktop. “We chose a very thick marble top and mitered it around a core,” Everett says.
10 Reasons to Work With (and Love) Black Marble
The work surface is thick in order to house the Barazza gas cooktop. “We chose a very thick marble top and mitered it around a core,” Everett says.
10 Reasons to Work With (and Love) Black Marble
The island’s framework had to be strong enough to support the counter and the cooktop, and it also needed to hide the gas line.
To do this, the team routed out a groove inside a leg for the pipe to run down and concealed it with a walnut cover strip. The pipe then meets up with the valve below.
Along the bottom of the island is a sturdy walnut shelf where the owners can put their larger pans, bowls and other items.
Wall paint: Wevet, Farrow & Ball
To do this, the team routed out a groove inside a leg for the pipe to run down and concealed it with a walnut cover strip. The pipe then meets up with the valve below.
Along the bottom of the island is a sturdy walnut shelf where the owners can put their larger pans, bowls and other items.
Wall paint: Wevet, Farrow & Ball
Behind the island is a long run of cabinetry with enough storage for everything to be stowed away and accessed easily. An integrated dishwasher sits at the far end, next to two wide drawer cabinets.
The upper large drawers contain smaller walnut drawers where the owners can keep little items such as mugs and glassware.
“This helps to minimize the number of lines on the outside and simplify the look,” Everett says. “There are also peg dividers in the lower ones to keep the pans and crockery in place when the drawers are opened.”
“This helps to minimize the number of lines on the outside and simplify the look,” Everett says. “There are also peg dividers in the lower ones to keep the pans and crockery in place when the drawers are opened.”
On the left side of the cabinet wall is a tall unit. There are cabinets above and below a Smeg oven, microwave and warming drawer.
A wood panel runs along the top of the cabinets, which don’t quite reach the high ceiling.
A wood panel runs along the top of the cabinets, which don’t quite reach the high ceiling.
The adjacent integrated fridge features a walnut handle rather than the recessed handles elsewhere.
“It gives a better pull for the heavy fridge door,” Everett says. “Also, if we’d gone for the recessed design, we’d have had a line running down the right-hand side. We thought a simple pull handle looked better.”
“It gives a better pull for the heavy fridge door,” Everett says. “Also, if we’d gone for the recessed design, we’d have had a line running down the right-hand side. We thought a simple pull handle looked better.”
The black marble on the island is offset by a white Carrara marble countertop along the wall. “The owners were keen to have a distinctive pattern, so we went for one with a strong gray vein running through it,” Everett says. “Marble is a beautiful work surface, but it’s essential to properly seal and finish it to provide the best protection possible.”
The double undermount sink by Franke continues the minimal, unfussy look the owners were after. The faucet dispenses hot water, again to minimize clutter by avoiding the need for a kettle.
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The double undermount sink by Franke continues the minimal, unfussy look the owners were after. The faucet dispenses hot water, again to minimize clutter by avoiding the need for a kettle.
Find kitchen faucets in the Houzz Shop
A long walnut shelf is the perfect spot for displaying plants, artwork and utensils. An LED strip light runs along the bottom. “It bounces light around and gives a lovely warm glow in the evening,” Everett says.
The limed-oak herringbone flooring was already in place, and it was sealed and protected. “It sets the whole space off and, together with the walnut, gives a warm, earthy feel to the kitchen.”
Flooring: Istoria by Jordan Andrews
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The limed-oak herringbone flooring was already in place, and it was sealed and protected. “It sets the whole space off and, together with the walnut, gives a warm, earthy feel to the kitchen.”
Flooring: Istoria by Jordan Andrews
More on Houzz
Read other stories about kitchen makeovers
Find a kitchen remodeler near you
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: Highgate, north London
Size: 388 square feet (36 square meters); about 26 feet by 15 feet (8 by 4.5 meters)
Designer: Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens
“They love walnut, so we helped them to find a wood with the right depth of color and grain,” says Everett of her clients. “They also wanted a very simple design, with clean lines and everything hidden away.”
The kitchen is in a detached four-bedroom house built in the 1930s. Because the kitchen is part of a larger space, Everett wanted to make the cabinets feel more like furniture than just functional pieces.
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