Some spaces lend themselves particularly well to a generous injection of moody hues and this kitchen in Hackney, London, is one of them. Wall-to-wall bi-fold doors drench the space in natural light, allowing designer Charlie Smallbone of Ledbury Studio to dabble in a decadent mix of dark materials and bring a sense of drama to the bright space.
Typically for Ledbury Studio, metal punctuates the design, most notably on the front of the tall fridge-freezer, which is clad in aged verdigris copper panels. Subtler touches range from a strip of aged brass that runs along the top of the stained oak cupboard doors on the base run to a brass undermounted sink and aged brass handles on the island cupboards. Bringing the metallic elements together is a Stone Italiana Ambra worktop that combines the beauty of natural stone with the performance of hard-wearing quartz.
Continuity is essential when a kitchen is part of an open-plan space, and to strengthen this kitchen’s connection with the adjacent dining area, Charlie’s distinctive Choppy Water design is hand-carved onto the end panel of the island and on the cupboard in the dining area. As a side note, the cupboard comes complete with a built-in wine cooler, wine rack and a fluted-glass cupboard for glassware, making it a super-handy addition.
Storage is a crucial aspect of all Ledbury Studio kitchens. In this one, a large larder cupboard fitted with doors, racks, shelves and drawers offers a wealth of space for everyday cooking essentials. Open shelves above the sink serve a more decorative purpose, letting the homeowner showcase some of her favourite accessories to personalise the space.
Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £50,000.
About Ledbury Studio
Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design.
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From statement islands, home bars and luxury appliances, to ladder rails, integrated lighting and home-office spaces, the design team at The Myers Touch create kitchen-living spaces that exceed the wishlist dreams of their customers. They share the top kitchen design trends they're seeing in client requests!
For many of their customers, a statement island can be created by its size, curves, colour or lighting features. For example but adding hand-painted gold and copper leaf veining can look stunning swept through white-gloss curved cabinets to add a touch of luxury to a contemporary space.
Helena Myers, Director has revealed that many of their customers are seeking out home bars and wine storage solutions as part of their dream kitchen entertaining space. With the increase in homeworking, some of these spaces even include a desk area so that they double up as a seamless office space!
Helena Myers says: “Many of our clients love to socialise and with the kitchen being the main hub of that entertaining space, we can design everything from home bars, integrated chilled bottle designs to statement wine fridges’.
‘When designing a kitchen in a property that has high ceilings, The Myers Touch design team often make use of the bonus space by adding a ladder rail that allows a homeowner to reach high-level display or storage cabinets.
A ladder rail attached to the top of your cabinetry, not only provides an interesting, eye-catching design feature to a space, but provides a fully functional design feature as it allows the homeowner to slide the ladder across the rail before climbing up the ladder to easily access kitchenware or special decorative items.
What’s more, when the ladder isn't in use, their designers can create a space on either side of the rail system so that it can be neatly stored away in a niche space.
Clever displays and tones allow homeowners to change the atmosphere, tone and look of their kitchen throughout the day and into the night. From choosing integrated lighting in cabinetry or architectural-toned lighting that shines against a Corian solid surface back panel that showcases a distinctive geometric pattern, adds texture and interest.
Storage remains one of the most important aspects of all kitchen wish lists! From cutlery and utensil drawers, breakfast cupboards and wall-in pantry cupboards, customers at The Myers Touch love the range of functional storage features they can include.
Clever storage ideas range from spice cupboards hidden behind sliding splashbacks, walk-in utility and larders behind hidden pocket doors and pop-up TVs hidden in peninsulas to all help keep their kitchen designs clutter-free.
Image credits: Paul Craig.
About The Myers Touch
The Myers Touch specialises in the holistic design of luxury kitchens in the Winchester area, creating truly bespoke living spaces that offer far more than conventional cooking environments. Established in 2003 and based in Winchester, they enjoy long-standing partnerships with the iconic German manufacturer SieMatic and other leading brands including Gaggenau, Wolf, Sub-Zero, Miele and Siemens.
RAK Ceramics PJSC one of the largest ceramics brands in the world, announced the opening of its first global Design Hub in London. Located at 100 St John Street, in the heart of London's design quarter for designers, architects and developers, the RAK Ceramics Design Hub is one of the largest in the area, with 7,276 square feet over two floors.
The space allows visitors to explore limitless design possibilities for their projects and showcases a wide range of RAK Ceramics bathroom ranges, kitchen taps, and brassware. The location also offers meeting facilities and a dedicated area showing the brand's extensive range of tiles, including mega slabs, which can be used for cladding, tiling, surfacing, and as unique decorative pieces.
The RAK Ceramics Design Hub will be an interactive and immersive environment designed to inspire creativity and includes a working kitchen display, working tap display, Virtual Worlds 4D Theatre and a Grab and Go sample area.
Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics said "London is the obvious choice to launch our first global Design Hub concept. The UK is an increasingly important market for RAK Ceramics, and London is home to many of the world's leading designers, architects, and project specifiers. The RAK Ceramics Design Hub is a unique concept where the design community can experience the innovative possibilities of our products.”
Many signature products will be displayed, including a new collection from world-renowned fashion designer ELIE SAAB along with products from designers Maurizio Scuttella, Debiasi & Sandri, and Patrick Nourget.
Commenting on the design hub concept, Leonardo De Muro, VP of Marketing & Communications, RAK Ceramics said: "The RAK Ceramics Design Hub is a unique concept in our retail portfolio which allows us to bring together the design community, showcase unique products, and create a brand experience that is both inspiring and informative."
The official launch of the RAK Ceramics Design Hub took place on May 24, 2022, during the Clerkenwell Design Week. To celebrate its opening, designers Maurizio Scuttella, Federico Sandri, and Patrick Nourget hosted a series of special talks at the RAK Ceramics Design Hub.
Commenting on the opening, Alvin Biggs, Managing Director, RAK Ceramics (UK), said: "We are proud that London has been selected as the location for RAK Ceramics' first global Design Hub, and we look forward to welcoming the international design community to showcase RAK Ceramics' global product innovations."
About RAK Ceramics
RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics’ brands in the world. Specialising in ceramic and grès porcelain wall and floor tiles, tableware, sanitaryware and faucets, the company has the capacity to produce 123 million square metres of tiles, 5 million pieces of sanitaryware, 24 million pieces of porcelain tableware and 1 million pieces of faucets per year at its 22 state-of-the-art plants across the United Arab Emirates, India and Bangladesh. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, RAK Ceramics serves clients in more than 150 countries through its network of operational hubs in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, North and South America and Australia.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the owner of an Edwardian villa in the New Forest would be looking for a classic kitchen to match her house. In fact, nothing could have been further from the truth. Her reason for approaching Ledbury Studio in the first place was because she was looking for something a world away from the standard Shaker look.
“When I first met our client, not only was she undertaking a big move from the Midlands to the New Forest, but she was also embarking on a sizeable kitchen project too,” recalls Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. “She knew she’d be spending most of her time in her new kitchen, as it was roomy enough for both a large island with breakfast bar, a separate dining area, and plenty of tall cupboards for storage.”
To bring the required contemporary aesthetic to the room, Charlie designed furniture that combined beautiful book-matched walnut veneer with hand-patinated zinc panels. The zinc panels are edged in the same walnut and the cupboards feature aged-brass handles. This juxtaposition of timber and metal is a signature feature of the Metallics Collection from Ledbury Studio, giving Charlie’s kitchens their unique look and feel.
The stunning island – topped with an Ambre quartz worktop – is an obvious focal point, but you also can’t ignore the imposing Housekeeper’s Cupboard behind it. Charlie designed this piece of furniture to mimic the cupboards beloved of the original residents of Victorian and Edwardian homes, so it seems fitting that there is a contemporary version in this house. It has space inside for the microwave and breakfast items, with pan drawers below and fluted-glass cupboards on either side lit from within to create a display. There is also a tall larder next to the fridge with pull-out freezer drawers, and sufficient cupboards and drawers elsewhere in the kitchen to keep it clutter free without any need for wall cabinets.
“What’s so pleasing about this kitchen is that one of the pieces I designed for it has already become one of our client’s most treasured possessions,” says Charlie. “The bespoke walnut table was made from a single piece of walnut, which we then embellished with aged brass. We designed a banquette seat also made from wood and upholstered in leather. The banquette needed to be durable enough for the other important member of the household, my client’s gorgeous Dalmatian, to be able to lounge in comfort too!”
Bringing the whole design together – and adding an additional contemporary feel – is the chic terrazzo floor. Again, it’s a great hardwearing choice for a dog owner, and the shades of grey perfectly play off the tones of the zine panels above. Both homeowner and her canine companion are delighted with their new kitchen!
When it comes to challenging the limits of what materials can do, Ledbury Studio is building something of a reputation. The latest design, the Camden Kitchen, is a textbook example of this, combining beautiful materials and artisanal techniques to stunning effect. Ledbury Studio founder Charlie Smallbone talks through how the Camden Kitchen was realised.
Our client has a strong sense of style, so was already full of ideas when she came to see us. I really like that because the design process should always be a collaborative one, and is personal to each client. In this case, the room was being extended into the garden beyond, and we were tasked with designing a relaxed and informal space for cooking and entertaining.
I had decided to use English and European oak throughout the kitchen, and we took particular care to select oak all from the same batch. The result is that the grain matches perfectly and can be seen to run across the width of all the drawers, it’s a really satisfying detail. And for the full-height cupboards, we introduced a design motif that completely belies the practical nature of the fridge, freezer and larder concealed behind.
The show-stopping island top is a work of art by Lara Bohinc of Bohinc Studio. It’s a selection of Italian marbles, inlaid into an aged-brass edge trim, in a selection of shades that elegantly complement the muted colours throughout the rest of the kitchen. For the long runs of worktop, we specified Ambra quartz, for natural-looking veining in a hard-wearing manmade material.
We’ve employed our signature use of metal with patinated zinc panels on the cupboard to the left and on the extractor hood, where it’s trimmed with aged brass. There is an antiqued glass panel surrounding the extractor, which reflects light from the garden around the kitchen. And possibly my favourite detailing is the delicate fluted oak on the ends of the island, which is echoed in the fluted Ambra quartz splashback.
As this was to be a room for entertaining, our client particularly requested a screen she could pull across to divide the dining area from the kitchen when required. I was inspired by a ‘70s design the client found in an antiques shop, to create this screen of brushed and polished stainless steel in a striking geometric pattern. It’s a great finishing touch to this beautifully eclectic kitchen.
Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
The design team from award-winning kitchen studio, The Myers Touch, is delighted to announce the latest trends shaping their luxury, timeless and beautiful kitchen-living spaces.
Renowned for creating truly bespoke kitchen spaces that offer far more than just cabinetry and appliance options, The Myers Touch creates designs that stem from a deep understanding of their clients, their brief and how they want to interact as a family within the space around them. By applying their unique, holistic approach with the latest trends for each bespoke kitchen commission, The Myers Touch design truly personal kitchen-living spaces for clients that bring ‘light, space & laughter’ into the heart of the home.
"Clean, simple and stylish Scandi-vibe cabinetry aesthetics are increasingly popular among clients. We can create a touch of Hygge in a home through the contrasting and layering of natural materials such as walnut and oak, that look stunning matched with white tones in a kitchen space" Jaye Tidbury, Designer at The Myers Touch.
By using natural materials and timeless colour palettes in kitchen schemes, allows a room to span current and future interior trends. To ensure it remains both a practical and social space, consider accessible and flexible storage solutions in a kitchen to bring a sense of wellbeing into homeowners’ daily routines.
Even as many homeowners are returning to the office, The Myers Touch report the increase for a dedicated desk space within their kitchen designs. Including a desk space behind a pocket door system provides the opportunity to include a ‘hideaway’ desk area complete with storage cabinetry boosts family ‘inclusiveness and togetherness’ in one multi-functional room.
The separation of tasks and the definition of spaces to keep homes uncluttered and clean has never been so important in the home in our post-pandemic lifestyles. A common brief from their clients is the inclusion of a walk-in Pantry, Boot Room, Utility or Laundry room to create definition and functionality within an open-plan design so spaces don’t become one large area.
“The Boot room is a space where we can cast off our muddy boots, damp coats and sports gear before entering the rest of our home. It is a perfect room for pet owners and can be as simple as providing a place for a dog bed and coat rack, or as grand as an ordered storage facility for outdoor garments and equipment of all shapes and sizes.
A Boot Room should be warm with effective heating solutions, to quickly dry off damp coats and shoes with good ventilation. We always include a bench seat so you can sit down and cast-off wet trainers and sports boots, as well as plenty of hooks for keys, belts, dog leads, coats and handbags. For pets, we can also add extra storage for pet baskets, food, water bowls and even a small pet shower or sink.” Helena Myers - Director at The Myers Touch.
"There is also a wider range of materials available for splashbacks against ovens and sinks such as stone, glass, antique mirrors and other composite materials that are all practical options providing a durable surface for a wet, heavy usage area, whilst being an eye-catching design statement." Sophie Mason, Design Manager - The Myers Touch.
Customers are also requesting bespoke cabinetry solutions for their favourite appliances which they use every day. For example, The Myers Touch recently designed a pocket door system to house a client’s beloved Thermomix as it was used frequently but needed to be tidied away and kept out of view.
Their designer created a pocket door system next to the main preparation and cooking zone which also had space for a toaster and fruit and vegetable basket so food could be stored and easily used in the appliance. The inclusion of stainless-steel shelves meant that the Thermomix could be used in-situ and without any steam damage before being closed away after use.
Their design team also love to be creative when a client wants to display special items in their kitchen space. For example, they recently created glass display units that were situated high into a ceiling that could be accessed via a functional ladder rail.
"Adding a dresser unit or a feature display cabinet in a kitchen-living space provides a softer and contrasting look in a room and also acts as a transitional point between the kitchen and dining space." - Keith Myers, Director at The Myers Touch.
As energy bills increase, clients are looking for ways of reducing those costs in their homes. The Myers Touch team are increasingly advising their customers to consider the most eco-efficient solutions for their family to help minimise water and energy consumption.
Exclusive supplier of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK, has launched the new Corian® colour range. The collection adds eight new colours to the existing range. Designed to integrate high-level beauty into the existing Corian® collection, the new collection features natural, muted tones, with new textures to give a contemporary look and feel.
Carrara, inspired by marble stone with prominent veining, gives a simultaneous modern and classic effect, and the four Artista colours, combine smooth effect, intricate vein patterns and neutral tones to produce a contemporary finish. Sparkling Granita contains translucent and sparkling particles to create an effervescent effect in the white surface and the swirling movement of Sand Storm creates a beautiful depth to the colour and completes the new colour range. Inspired by nature, the new Corian® colours take the range in a new direction. Combining high performance and high-level beauty, the collection is ideal for architects and designers seeking to enhance their designs.
The new colours of Corian® embrace different design styles, as well as applications; effortless and functional in the home while durable and dynamic in commercial settings.
At a time when hygiene is critical, Corian® offers designers and architects a hygienic solution to create beautiful designs. The non-porous, durable, and easy to clean composition of Corian® Solid Surface makes it ideal for surfaces and spaces in high-intensity touch zones. These qualities make Corian® particularly applicable in healthcare settings, hospitality, public and office spaces, and high-end residential settings. Designers can focus on creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind environments, knowing that the properties of Corian® Solid Surface allow Corian® to perform beyond expectations.
Corian® Solid Surface can be joined seamlessly to give a continuous flow and allow large designs to be fashioned from a single element. The resulting seamless finish ensures there are no crevices to trap dirt and bacteria.
Having built a strong reputation as the sole distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK has the expertise and knowledge to help support specifier and fabricator customers. CDUK can advise on design-led solutions using the material and provide expert training to designers and fabricators to ensure customers’ design ambitions are brought to life.
Andy Noble, Divisional Managing Director, CDUK, commented: “We are delighted to bring the new Corian® colour range to the UK and Ireland markets and are excited to work with leading designers and fabricators to deliver imaginative solutions using the new range. Our experience of working Corian® Solid Surface is unmatched, and our design-led approach to collaborating with our partners means that we can help our customers achieve the most beautiful, high-quality designs.”
Additionally, CDUK provides complementary products to integrate seamlessly with Corian® surfaces, delivering solutions for designers.
Thanks to its versatile applications, Corian® can be used to produce striking designs – wall claddings, shower trays, vanity tops and bowls, countertops and work surfaces – and can be thermoformed, engraved, and backlit, offering designers the opportunity to experiment with luminosity and form. Intricate designs can be embossed and engraved into Corian® Solid Surface using CNC machining technology, as well as molded to create raised textures and patterns on its surface.
CDUK’s partnership with Applelec, also provides best practice techniques to backlight the translucent Corian® colours range, enabling designers to highlight Corian® surfaces to their best standard.
To ensure easy installation, Corian® Solid Surface is available in various thicknesses and can be fabricated with conventional woodworking tools into virtually any design.
A selection of Corian® colours are produced with recycled content (up to 20%), including the new Artista collection, which contains 6% pre-consumer recycled content.
About CDUK
CDUK is a supplier of surface materials and complementary products to the specification market in the UK and Ireland, including architects, interiors designers, kitchen designers, fabricators and contractors. Having built a strong reputation as the exclusive distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK now offers an extended range of services as well as products from a number of leading brands. We are a family owned business with over 40 years’ experience. We support our customers through a journey, as their design partner, from sourcing the best products and materials to helping them unlock their full potential through expert advice and technical knowledge. Our team of industry experts also provides technical advice, sampling and bespoke training courses for designers, manufacturers and fabricators.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features modern and fun bathroom designs for a contemporary apartment by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Studio Modha.
SBID Awards Category: KBB Design
Practice: Studio Modha
Project: Royal Docks
Location: London, United Kingdom
The client wanted a complete refurbishment of his flat, opening up the space as much as possible, drawing inspiration from hotel suites and nature around it.
This flat had not been updated in over 10-15 years. We completely refurbished the flat, transforming it from a two bed, one bathroom and one wc to a three bed property with two full bathrooms. The client requested a modern and fun scheme, which we layered with complimentary colours and features. We revamped the whole apartment, from the kitchen to sanitary ware, flooring, lighting, window treatments and hardware.
The Project was based in the docklands, surrounded by so much nature, e.g. river Thames and local parks. We wanted to bring in the earthy tones and textures, for example with the terrazzo effect tiles and the warm greys, browns and blues throughout. In addition, the client wanted to feel like he was in a different space through-out the property so we used different colours and textures in each space, including dead salmon from farrow and ball. Not a colour we get to use often and definitely a brave one!
We had a soil pipe that was really far off the ground in the guest bathroom, and because it was in a flat we couldn't move it! This created a huge issue as the client had his heart set on a wetroom shower. We ended up having to raise the floor significantly (a whole 25cm) which brought up the issue of ceiling height (which wasn't huge in the first place). We ended up having to increase the height of the shower head and create 2 step ups instead of 1 to make it look like the 'step up' was intentional. Luckily it all worked out in the end and made the shower area feel even more lux!
It's got to be overcoming the hurdle I described in the previous question, we went back and forth for weeks thinking of a solution so you can imagine the joy when we finally came up with one. Another thing to mention is that our client didn't want to see any of the progress on site, so the look on his face when he saw it all finished was really rewarding to see.
Honestly, it was Studio Modha's first year running and one of the first projects we completed. I have always admired the caliber of designers/studios and projects within the awards and only dreamed of being a part of it. It was a huge shock when I received the congratulatory email!
Questions answered by Neha Modha, Director, Studio Modha.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an intricate historical bar design by SHH, click here to read it.
VitrA introduces Liquid - a new bathroom range designed in collaboration with Tom Dixon. Liquid is the first ever bathroom range by the acclaimed British designer.
The range is the latest addition to VitrA’s portfolio of designer collaborations, part of a long-standing programme of working with world-renowned designers to create distinctive, modern bathroom collections to complement any washroom space. The Liquid range is founded on round-edges, generous shapes and timeless designs. Described by Tom Dixon as ‘contemporary without being of the moment’, it offers an alternative to the widespread skinny, minimalist designs.
Liquid encompasses all elements of the bathroom – sanitaryware, furniture, taps, tiles, showers and accessories – designed to work together or as stand-alone pieces.
The range includes a variety of washbasin options, including round basins, a butler sink and a double washbasin, as well as a statement monoblock washbasin which is moulded as a single piece of ceramic. The furniture units are available in either a fluted glass or a black metal mesh door finish. Alternatively, for a striking contrast, there is an open-storage unit with impressive blue glass shelving.
Liquid’s taps combine conical handles with exuberant tubular bodies. Ten different styles of taps include wall-mounted, deck-mounted and built-in options, as well as touchless, are all available in gloss black or chrome. The all-in-one shower column includes a hand shower that connects magnetically to the body, while the stainless steel floor-mounted shower can be used inside or outside.
Liquid’s range of toilets, bidets and urinals carry the collection’s monumental curves. The toilets and bidets come in wall-hung or floor-standing designs, and the urinal uses touchless technology.
The range also includes a suite of accessories including a hook, toilet roll holder, toilet brush holder and double soap dispenser. The accessories also incorporate ceramic pieces, including shelves in two lengths and a stool which can act as a practical addition, not just for the bathroom, but in other living spaces too.
The wall tiles in Liquid feature four different styles of embossed dots and waves that reflect ripples in the water, and can be creatively configured in an almost endless possibility of ways. Available in five colours – white, black, ecru, grey and sage green.
About VitrA
With a capacity to develop and manufacture all the products that may be needed in a bathroom, VitrA secures its position in the industry by giving priority to R&D and working with leading international designers. Earning approximately three quarters of its revenues from foreign markets. Born and raised in the cultural motherland of ceramics and baths -a.k.a. the ‘hammams’- VitrA is among only a few companies in the world which is able to design, develop, and manufacture all the products that are used in a bathroom.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a colourful and design-led kitchen design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Pikcells.
SBID Awards Category: CGI & Visualisation
Practice: Pikcells
Project: Forest Green Shaker Family Kitchen
Location: West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
To create a 'Kitchen of the Year' focusing on current trends such as working from home. With the kitchen space being the hub of the home and centre of different social activities, it must be suitable for not only cooking, but the kids doing homework and serving as a multifunctional entertainment space.
We did research into the current use of kitchen space, how work from home areas are being adapted from other spaces (in our case we used what would have been a boot room). Colour and pattern trends also inspired the design using green and pink hues, chequered terrazzo tiles, marble worktops and backsplashes, as well as internal crittall doors creating a 'broken-plan' space and pantries.
Working within a more attainable size setting whilst still being able to incorporate all of the design features we just mentioned.
Creating a bold, impactful colour palette for the scheme, and also successfully incorporating a functional desk area into the design to improve the client's lifestyle and use of their kitchen space.
We felt the design was strongly influenced by current trends and consumer needs for kitchen environments, designed for modern living. Also it showcases that luxury-looking bespoke kitchens can still be attainable and affordable.
Questions answered by Tanya Bailey, Senior Interior Designer, Pikcells.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a dual café design by 4SPACE Design, click here to read it.
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