Kitchen Design
Odd Walls Make Way for a U-Shaped Kitchen With a Big Island
American oak and glints of copper warm up the white cabinetry and open plan of this renovated English kitchen
The kitchen was the last room to be renovated in this house in the English county of Somerset. “That was unusual,” says Sam Shaw, who designed the new room. “Often we’re called in when the house is basically a building site because the clients want the kitchen done first.”
The wait meant the owners had a good idea of what they wanted: a clean, simple look with white cabinetry, a large island and oak surfaces. “It was easy to visualize the space, but then it was up to us to make best use of it all,” Shaw says.
The wait meant the owners had a good idea of what they wanted: a clean, simple look with white cabinetry, a large island and oak surfaces. “It was easy to visualize the space, but then it was up to us to make best use of it all,” Shaw says.
The original layout had lots of awkward angles and corners to navigate. “We’ve built a U-shaped design with a large island,” Shaw says, “but previously, there were also two retaining walls creating a thin walkway into the kitchen space.
“There were also brick walls, funny faux beams and mock pillars,” Shaw adds. “It was easy to see that it all needed to be stripped out!”
“There were also brick walls, funny faux beams and mock pillars,” Shaw adds. “It was easy to see that it all needed to be stripped out!”
Ripping out those retaining walls and peculiar features opened up the kitchen and revealed its generous dimensions. It sits within a spacious open-plan room, which also contains a dining area and a living space with a wood-burning stove.
With large windows and sliding glass doors on two sides, the space is extremely light. The kitchen’s white cabinetry fits in well with the pale, pared-back look throughout.
With large windows and sliding glass doors on two sides, the space is extremely light. The kitchen’s white cabinetry fits in well with the pale, pared-back look throughout.
Tall cabinets flank the refrigerator and provide ample storage. They allow for low cabinets elsewhere, giving the whole scheme an open, clean-lined feel.
A cabinet above the fridge bridges the slim pantry cabinets on both sides. “You can pull the larder shelves out,” Shaw says, “so it’s easy to reach stuff stored right at the back.”
G-series refrigerator-freezer: Samsung
Kitchen Confidential: Amp Up Your Storage With Pullouts
G-series refrigerator-freezer: Samsung
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The flat-panel, birch-ply cabinets have an oak frame and countertops. “The cupboards are all painted white, with simple J-shaped handles,” Shaw says. This type of handle has the shape of the letter J in cross section integrated into the door. “Your fingers drop down into the dip of the J, but you can’t see through into the cupboard,” Shaw says.
Cabinet paint: All White, Farrow & Ball
Cabinet paint: All White, Farrow & Ball
Shaw designed a box shelf for one wall. It’s also in oak for a unified feel. “A single shelf is never very strong, but as soon as you build a box construction, it’s much more robust and can easily support books,” Shaw says.
Range and hood: Falcon
Range and hood: Falcon
Two rows of square white tiles create a minimal and inexpensive backsplash that contrasts nicely with the oak counter.
The owners wanted a large island, and this one measures almost 8 by 3 feet. Integrated outlets make it easy for the two teenagers in the family to charge their tablets and cellphones while they eat breakfast here.
“I always remind clients that you’re going to have to be able to walk around the island, but here, it’s such a wide space that installing a design of this size wasn’t a problem,” Shaw says.
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
“I always remind clients that you’re going to have to be able to walk around the island, but here, it’s such a wide space that installing a design of this size wasn’t a problem,” Shaw says.
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
The American oak for the counters and box shelf was treated with lye (a mild form of bleach) to make it look beautifully pale.
Sink and faucet: Ikea
Sink and faucet: Ikea
The owners find that their 6-month-old kitchen is easy to keep clean. “I went back there recently, and it was spotless,” Shaw says. “I asked if they’d tidied just for me, but they said that because there’s so much storage space, it’s really easy to keep it looking uncluttered. There’s a home for everything now. They like to keep the worktops really clean with nothing on them.”
Tell us: Is a white-and-oak kitchen your idea of perfection? Add your thoughts to the Comments below.
More: The 10 Most Popular Kitchen Photos of 2016
Tell us: Is a white-and-oak kitchen your idea of perfection? Add your thoughts to the Comments below.
More: The 10 Most Popular Kitchen Photos of 2016
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with a teenage son and daughter
Location: Street, England
Size: 544 square feet (51 square meters), including the dining and living areas; 27.2 by 20 feet (8.3 by 6.1 meters)
Designer: Sam Shaw of Sustainable Kitchens
Streamlined, uncluttered and easy to use, this kitchen rocks a fresh, simple recipe of white cabinets warmed up by plenty of oak and the copper interiors of the pendant lights.