An Industrial-Chic Family Kitchen in Navy and White
Steel-framed doors and metal lights join classic cabinetry and marble counters in a London home
Achieving this navy-blue kitchen wasn’t smooth sailing for this British family. The original was over 20 years old and in an addition that had to be demolished. The homeowner, who has experience in property development, took on the project of building a new addition and called in Jamie Blake to design the kitchen. “They had a firm idea of what they wanted from the space — a ‘family working kitchen.’ They also knew the style they liked but needed assistance in pulling together ideas and making the space work the way they wanted it to,” Blake says.
The supersize island is equipped with two sinks and two dishwashers. It also has two integrated trash bins, a refrigerator for wine, and drawers for pans. A row of factory-style metal pendant lights overhead adds to the industrial feel and provides plenty of task lighting.
Lights: Holloways of Ludlow. Find more industrial-style pendants
The Case for 2 Kitchen Sinks
Lights: Holloways of Ludlow. Find more industrial-style pendants
The Case for 2 Kitchen Sinks
A line of wood-topped bar stools creates a relaxed place for the family to sit and socialize. The mix of mango wood and steel enhances the utilitarian vibe of the decor.
Welles bar stools: Swoon Editions. See other industrial-style bar stools
Welles bar stools: Swoon Editions. See other industrial-style bar stools
The kitchen is a custom design handmade by Blakes London. “The owners wanted a dark blue color, which we searched for. In the end, we mixed up our own bespoke color,” Blake says. “They loved it.”
The rich indigo cabinets team with metallic cup and bar handles for a look that is industrial yet welcoming.
The tall units at this end of the kitchen neatly conceal the fridge and freezer.
The rich indigo cabinets team with metallic cup and bar handles for a look that is industrial yet welcoming.
The tall units at this end of the kitchen neatly conceal the fridge and freezer.
Natural light pours in through the steel-framed doors and windows, ensuring that the room stays bright despite the dark cabinetry.
The cooking zone is against one wall. It’s flanked by tall cabinets that create an easy-on-the-eye symmetry.
Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
A distressed-glass backsplash behind the range adds a hint of glamour. “The reflective surface enhances the feeling of space in this room,” Blake says.
Range: Britannia
Range: Britannia
On close inspection, you can see that the backsplash is made up of individual tiles, which were supplied by Blakes London.
Well-organized storage ensures that there is a place for every last plate and utensil — a necessity in any open-plan living space.
To the left of the range, a double-door pantry opens to reveal space for staples, spices and a kettle. It’s made from solid oak.
Next to the pantry, a half-height breakfast station with bifold doors is neat and space-saving. It houses a coffee machine, a toaster, mugs, bowls, cereal and more.
New oak parquet flooring stays true to the traditional character of the semidetached Victorian house.
The Carrara marble countertops offer a striking contrast to the cabinets. “The clients wanted a lighter worktop with some natural movement in it, which the veining provides,” Blake says.
Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
The kitchen leads to a small library. Using similar doors here unifies the look.
Blakes London was also involved in the redesign of the library, just a few steps up from the kitchen.
“We made the bespoke shelving and even the TV cabinetry, which are all painted in Railings by Farrow & Ball,” Blake says.
“We made the bespoke shelving and even the TV cabinetry, which are all painted in Railings by Farrow & Ball,” Blake says.
In the library, even the baseboards got a coat of soft black to create a cocooning effect. Although this dark hue differs from that on the kitchen cabinets, the two shades complement each other.
The library leads through to the formal living room at the front of the house, which simply needed painting.
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Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Wandsworth, London
Designer: Jamie Blake of Blakes London
One feature of the new addition — the steel-framed doors leading out to the garden — helped determine the kitchen’s “classic-industrial” look, a departure from original’s “very old oak-veneered design,” Blake says. The indigo cabinets are now the stars of the open-plan space, which includes a dining and living area on one side of the island.