Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week
Kitchen of the Week: Open-Plan Room Perfect for Entertaining
Soft matte finishes and a practical design were key to creating this bright and functional open-plan kitchen
The owners of this light and airy London kitchen redesigned the room as part of a full-house renovation. “They came to us with floor plans they’d developed with their architect,” designer Barry Sawyer says. “And we worked together to refine and balance the design.” The homeowners wanted a big, sociable space where they could easily cook and entertain friends. Sawyer worked to get the details just right.
The island is used as both a breakfast bar and food preparation area. Sawyer varied the countertop materials to differentiate the two zones, using quartz about 1 inch thick for the cooking area and a chunky, nearly 2½-inch-thick, L-shaped piece of wood for the eating space.
Both materials have a matte finish, which complements the paint on the cabinetry. “Usually, furniture has around a 25% sheen, but this has an 8% sheen level,” Sawyer says. “It works beautifully with the smoked-oak floor.”
Plenty of storage has been incorporated into the island —there’s a shallow-depth bookshelf below the breakfast bar and drawers along each side.
A modular cooktop with gas and induction sections sits alongside a sink, where the owners can wash fruit and vegetables. On the back wall is another sink that has a boiling-water tap.
Cabinet paint: Museum, Mylands; boiling-water faucet: Quooker; prep sink: Shaws; exhaust fan: Falmec
Both materials have a matte finish, which complements the paint on the cabinetry. “Usually, furniture has around a 25% sheen, but this has an 8% sheen level,” Sawyer says. “It works beautifully with the smoked-oak floor.”
Plenty of storage has been incorporated into the island —there’s a shallow-depth bookshelf below the breakfast bar and drawers along each side.
A modular cooktop with gas and induction sections sits alongside a sink, where the owners can wash fruit and vegetables. On the back wall is another sink that has a boiling-water tap.
Cabinet paint: Museum, Mylands; boiling-water faucet: Quooker; prep sink: Shaws; exhaust fan: Falmec
Next to a bank of integrated ovens, Sawyer designed a breakfast cabinet with a marble surface and electrical outlets for a coffee machine and juicer.
“The doors are retractable and slot into the sides,” he says. “The cabinet is located near to the breakfast bar for easy access, and concealed lighting comes on when you open the doors.”
“The doors are retractable and slot into the sides,” he says. “The cabinet is located near to the breakfast bar for easy access, and concealed lighting comes on when you open the doors.”
The Shaker-style cabinets were designed with minimal ornamentation to blend traditional and contemporary styles. “The units go right to the ceiling but without any decorative moldings at the top,” Sawyer says.
Distinctive brushed stainless steel handles are another contemporary feature, and contrast with the classical feel of the period property.
Distinctive brushed stainless steel handles are another contemporary feature, and contrast with the classical feel of the period property.
Along the back wall is a series of base cabinets housing two dishwashers, integrated bins and undersink storage. The two left-hand cabinets have drawers inside. “We designed the doors to give a uniform look to the whole run of cupboards,” Sawyer says.
To the right of the refrigerator is a pantry cupboard with racks and pullouts.
An exhaust fan is located in the bulkhead above the island, and Sawyer fitted LED strip lights within the shadow gap. Industrial-style pendants hang above the eating area, complemented by downlights that illuminate the cooking zone.
To the right of the refrigerator is a pantry cupboard with racks and pullouts.
An exhaust fan is located in the bulkhead above the island, and Sawyer fitted LED strip lights within the shadow gap. Industrial-style pendants hang above the eating area, complemented by downlights that illuminate the cooking zone.
Sawyer chose classic subway tiles for the backsplash but opted for a rippled finish for a more interesting look.
He used the same wood that features on the breakfast bar to construct a long shelf above the sink area.
He used the same wood that features on the breakfast bar to construct a long shelf above the sink area.
An LED strip was inserted into a groove along the underside of the shelf, and two globe-shaped wall lights add another layer of soft lighting.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Southwest London
Size: 312 square feet (29 square meters); 13 by 24 feet
Designer: Barry Sawyer of Brayer Design
This bright, open-plan space was previously two rooms, with a small kitchen that looked out to the side of the house. By removing a couple of interior walls, the owners created a large space for a kitchen and a dining room where they could easily cook for friends while enjoying a view of the garden.
“They were keen to have a big island for people to gather around,” Sawyer says.