It’s probably every designer’s dream to be given a large and totally empty space in a new build extension and invited to plan a new kitchen!
But a blank canvas like this also poses a huge challenge for the designer because it’s imperative to get the proportions absolutely right as part of the overall scheme.
At neillerner kitchen design, we are often lucky enough to be commissioned with designing a kitchen specifically for a new build or newly refurbished downstairs area. And this recently completed kitchen extension in Park Royal is a great example.
Central to the build was the provision of a large open plan kitchen area with space for dining & TV areas, a play area for the children, as well as a utility room.
The owners’ brief to Neil was to define the space whilst at the same time incorporating all these areas together. Their other main request was for the kitchen to be low maintenance. Full height units – with no joints – solves this problem and using white throughout also increases the seamless flow quality of the area.
When Neil set out to design the kitchen, his first objective was to give this blank canvas some clear parameters without compromising on size. He did this by ‘zoning’ the space available, using the island as the focal point and opening up the rest of the room for separate dining and TV ‘zones’.
Black chairs around the island with matching pendant lights all contrast well with the plethora of white. There is concealed storage space under the island, as well as hidden in the tall full height units. There is also a dedicated eating area plus a cosy TV area adjacent to the kitchen. Plenty of choice for relaxing and entertaining.
Natural light comes courtesy of huge glass sliding doors that dominate the back of this large extension. The proximity of the kitchen allows the garden to integrate with the scheme and create easy access for the children to play. By placing the dining table parallel to the doors, the family can also enjoy the benefits of ‘al fresco’ dining, not just in summer, but throughout the year.
“In this case, the family had moved out when the building work started on this large kitchen extension, which meant that we were able to work with a totally blank canvas in an empty home. We would certainly recommend moving out as an option whenever possible – especially with two very active young children in the family – as it speeds up the process and is more comfortable for all concerned!”
— Neil Lerner