Cool Scandinavian Style in an Open-Plan Kitchen
A London family replicates the elegance of its previous kitchen in a larger space, adding lots of concealed storage
When the Beckers needed more space, they moved to a larger home just next door, but there was one feature of their old house that they desperately wanted to retain — the kitchen. They loved the cool, calm simplicity of their original kitchen, which was designed by Sola Kitchens, so they called on the company’s managing director, Sofia Bune Strandh, to do it all again. “It’s exactly the same style and color,” Bune Strandh says, “but, of course, the layout is different, as this is a larger space.”
Having loved the cool, streamlined Scandinavian vibe of the kitchen in their previous house, the Beckers decided to opt for the same style and colors.
“The spray-painted white units with handleless groove are from a Swedish manufacturer and are exactly the same as the clients’ previous kitchen in the house next door,” Bune Strandh says. “It’s actually just one shade off bright white.”
The kitchen is a practical U-shape with a central island as a focal point.
Sletten cabinets: Sola Kitchens; oven, combi-steam oven and fridges: Miele; freezer and wine cabinet: Gaggenau
“The spray-painted white units with handleless groove are from a Swedish manufacturer and are exactly the same as the clients’ previous kitchen in the house next door,” Bune Strandh says. “It’s actually just one shade off bright white.”
The kitchen is a practical U-shape with a central island as a focal point.
Sletten cabinets: Sola Kitchens; oven, combi-steam oven and fridges: Miele; freezer and wine cabinet: Gaggenau
Storage was high on the agenda for the busy family, especially in an open-plan kitchen that’s constantly on view.
Sola Kitchens introduced custom solutions, such as the compartmentalized birch pullout drawer on the island and the tall cabinets that stretch to the ceiling to accommodate streamlined integrated appliances.
“We built the tall cabinets to about [9 feet] high to take advantage of the height of the ceiling,” Bune Strandh says. “There’s now space to store less-often-used platters and serving dishes.”
Sola Kitchens introduced custom solutions, such as the compartmentalized birch pullout drawer on the island and the tall cabinets that stretch to the ceiling to accommodate streamlined integrated appliances.
“We built the tall cabinets to about [9 feet] high to take advantage of the height of the ceiling,” Bune Strandh says. “There’s now space to store less-often-used platters and serving dishes.”
Sola Kitchens persuaded the owners to go with slightly different countertops in this design.
“The clients chose the white-oiled oak flooring first, so we matched this with a light, white-stained oak worktop on the island. In the other house, we’d used walnut,” Bune Strandh says. “Here, we also went with a light composite worktop instead of a dark gray.”
Samsung’s Radianz quartz perimeter counters in Everest White: Finch’s Stone & Marble; island countertop: Spekva; Lightyears’ Caravaggio matte pendant lights: AmbienteDirect
“The clients chose the white-oiled oak flooring first, so we matched this with a light, white-stained oak worktop on the island. In the other house, we’d used walnut,” Bune Strandh says. “Here, we also went with a light composite worktop instead of a dark gray.”
Samsung’s Radianz quartz perimeter counters in Everest White: Finch’s Stone & Marble; island countertop: Spekva; Lightyears’ Caravaggio matte pendant lights: AmbienteDirect
Filled with natural light, the kitchen is simple yet effortlessly stylish. Sleek undermount sinks and a flush induction cooktop streamline the silhouette.
Claron sink: Blanco; cooktop: Gaggenau; Stratus ceiling hood: Westin
Claron sink: Blanco; cooktop: Gaggenau; Stratus ceiling hood: Westin
The smooth oak flooring enhances the fluidity of the large open-plan room. Conveniently, the kitchen can also be accessed from a separate side door.
The second sink on the end of the island can be reached from every angle.
Rondo Sol-IF stainless steel prep sink: Blanco
Rondo Sol-IF stainless steel prep sink: Blanco
The owners suggested the idea of a built-in banquette to create a relaxed breakfast area.
“They’re a family of six and the kids often have friends over, so they need a lot of seating,” Bune Strandh says.
Saarinen’s Tulip chairs and oval table: Knoll
“They’re a family of six and the kids often have friends over, so they need a lot of seating,” Bune Strandh says.
Saarinen’s Tulip chairs and oval table: Knoll
The gray upholstered banquette and the modern white dining table and chairs complement the serene ambience of the Scandinavian decor that the family likes so much.
A walk-in utility room next to the breakfast zone houses the laundry appliances and provides yet more storage.
“It’s more like a large pantry with a big broom cabinet, plus storage for overflow kitchen items and a pullout dog bowl drawer,” Bune Strandh says. “The owners had this slightly romantic view of a big countryside pantry. Hence, we decided to do it in a more classic style, and in a soft gray shade, compared to the main kitchen.”
“It’s more like a large pantry with a big broom cabinet, plus storage for overflow kitchen items and a pullout dog bowl drawer,” Bune Strandh says. “The owners had this slightly romantic view of a big countryside pantry. Hence, we decided to do it in a more classic style, and in a soft gray shade, compared to the main kitchen.”
Even the family dog has its own drawer where bowls and food are stashed.
The huge addition at the back of the house is saturated with natural light, and features fluid zones for dining, relaxing and preparing food.
The cool, calm gray-and-white palette provides the perfect backdrop for the simple Scandinavian furniture in pale woods and light-colored upholstery.
Slice oak dining table: Adventures in Furniture; About a Chair dining chairs: Hay; Secto Design’s Atto 5000 pendant lights: Skandium
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Slice oak dining table: Adventures in Furniture; About a Chair dining chairs: Hay; Secto Design’s Atto 5000 pendant lights: Skandium
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Who lives here: Karoline and Mark Becker and their four children
Location: Southwest London
Size: 13 by 13 feet (4 by 4 meters), plus a pantry-utility area
Designer: Sofia Bune Strandh of Sola Kitchens
With four children, the Beckers had outgrown their place, so they moved next door to a roomy detached 1920s house with six bedrooms.
The owners had lived in the house for more than 45 years, and it needed a complete renovation and modernization. The Beckers also built a large addition across the back of the house to accommodate an open-plan living-dining-kitchen hub.
“The kitchen is in the same spot as the original one, but the walls were opened up to create an open-plan layout,” Bune Strandh says. “The main kitchen area measures [13 by 13 feet], but we also added a larder-utility space.”