For this elegant Esher home, HUX created a kitchen that brings together refined craftsmanship with a warm, earthy aesthetic inspired by the clients’ South African heritage. Stained oak cabinetry with delicate fluted detailing forms the foundation, complemented by a leathered Cosentino Sensa Platino island, satin brushed brass accents, and the subtle shimmer of bronze antique mirrors framing the floating shelves and bar.
Beyond its visual appeal, every detail was designed for purposeful living, from the bespoke wine display cabinet above an integrated wine fridge to the custom oak ladder and brass rail offering graceful access to tall storage. Hidden pantry space keeps the design sleek, while textured materials and layered finishes create a space that feels luxurious, personal, and built for a lifetime of use.
For The Pelhams project, the client asked for a kitchen and joinery scheme that felt warm and textured while retaining a sense of sophistication. By prioritising a palette of earthy tones, fluted oak detailing, and natural stone, the aim was to create a space that was welcoming and refined. At the centre of the design is Sensa Platino by Cosentino, chosen for its silver-grey base and striking veining that give the kitchen a natural depth. But beyond its visual appeal, this surface was selected for its unique performance qualities. Treated to be stain-resistant, Sensa Platino withstands the demands of a busy family home without compromising on elegance. Its low-maintenance finish ensures that everyday spills and marks can be easily managed, while its durability and premium quality mean it retains its beauty for years to come.
Designed as both a family hub and a space for entertaining, the kitchen centres around a generous island with bar seating, creating a place to gather, cook, and connect. Intelligent storage and considered layouts ensure the kitchen works just as hard on a weeknight as it does when hosting friends. The Sensa Platino surface extends across the kitchen island and into the home bar, creating a cohesive material flow that feels both robust and natural. This choice perfectly balanced the family's desire for practicality with moments of luxury, as the bold drama of the quartzite paired elegantly with warm cabinetry tones and oak veneers, resulting in a home that feels both grounded and refined.
About Cosentino
Cosentino Group is a global, Spanish, family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for the world of design and architecture. It works together with its clients and partners to provide with solutions that offer design and value, and inspire the life of many people. This objective is possible thanks to pioneering and leading brands in their respective segments such as Silestone®, Dekton® or Sensa by Cosentino®. Technologically advanced surfaces that allow the creation of unique environments and designs for the home and public spaces.
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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a striking kitchen design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Sola Kitchens.
Sola Kitchens was commissioned to design and build a bespoke kitchen as part of a wider refurbishment of a West London home, which included the replacement of a traditional conservatory with a striking glass-roofed extension. The brief called for a dark-painted finish, a statement marble worktop, and the inclusion of natural wood to reflect the garden beyond. The resulting design features flat-fronted black cabinetry, walnut accents, and a dramatic Calcutta Apuana marble island with a Neolith breakfast bar. Seamlessly blending form and function, the kitchen creates a striking yet warm focal point within the architect-designed open-plan living space.
Category: Kitchen Design
Design Practice: Sola Kitchens
Project Title: Refined Sanctuary
Project Location: London, United Kingdom
Design Practice Location: London, United Kingdom
The clients sought a kitchen that echoing the monochrome aesthetic of their architect-designed glass-roofed rear extension, with a dark painted finish paired with a marble worksurface. They also wanted to integrate natural wood accents to complement their houseplant collection and maintain a harmonious connection to the garden visible through Crittall doors.
The design was influenced by the need for a sleek, contemporary kitchen that marries dark, dramatic finishes with organic warmth. The contrast of black spray-painted cabinetry with walnut veneer introduced both depth and natural texture. The marble-wrapped island, in Calacatta Apuana, was selected for its rich brown and black veining—bringing dynamic, organic energy to the space, while echoing the refined simplicity of Scandinavian design.
A key challenge was coordinating the integrated extraction within the island. Since the client chose a hob with built-in extraction, the island’s exact placement had to be finalized early to allow precise underfloor ducting installation. That left very little room for changes later in the process—demanding detailed advance planning and precision execution.
The standout feature is the marble-wrapped island with the cleverly concealed breakfast bar. With discreet underfloor cabling rising through the leg to a hidden power socket beneath the Neolith iron-finish surface, it functions seamlessly as both a stylish bar and a functional workstation with a direct view of the garden.
Sola Kitchens submitted Refined Sanctuary to the SBID Awards to highlight how refined craftsmanship, thoughtful design and bespoke functionality can elevate interior spaces—specifically kitchens. Being shortlisted is also a way to celebrate and showcase the project’s design excellence on an international stage.
Achieving finalist status at the SBID Awards signifies external validation of Sola Kitchens’ design vision and execution. It reinforces the team's commitment to quality bespoke design and craftsmanship, elevates the brand’s credibility, and bolsters visibility among discerning clients and industry peers seeking expertly crafted, luxury interiors.
Questions answered by Matthew Collins, Sales Specialist at Sola Kitchens.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an eclectic residential design by Sadie Pizzey Interiors, click here to read it.
Premium appliance manufacturer, Miele has introduced four built-to-order models to its VitroLine cooking range in its popular Pearl Beige finish. The new appliances pair Miele’s renowned performance with a soft, contemporary aesthetic designed to bring warmth and elegance to the modern kitchen.
Previously exclusive to Miele’s sleek, handleless ArtLine range, the four new additions mean that the elegant Pearl Beige colourway is now also available in Miele’s more traditional VitroLine cooking range. Compared to ArtLine, VitroLine models feature handles that match the appliance colour for a classic yet contemporary look.
The four new models are Miele’s H7440 BM 45cm Microwave Combi Oven (RRP £2,869), Miele’s H7464 BP 60cm Oven (RRP £2,829), Miele’s DGC7440 HC Pro 45cm Steam Combi Oven (RRP £3,149) and Miele’s DGC7460 HC Pro 60cm Steam Combi Oven (RRP £4,599). Combining a nuanced blend of grey and beige with metallic rear printing on white glass, the Pearl Beige appliances feature a glossy surface with a subtle glittering effect. This unique finish integrates seamlessly with both lighter and darker kitchen interiors, offering versatility and timeless appeal.
With the new additions, homeowners can now benefit from a fully coordinated kitchen suite alongside existing Pearl Beige products, such as built-in coffee machines, warming drawers, wine conditioning units and cooker hoods. This expansion also responds to the growing demand ahead of 2026 for warm, natural tones in kitchen design that evoke a ‘cocooning’ aesthetic - a style that creates inviting, calming spaces with subtle sophistication. Pearl Beige also complements both light and dark natural materials, making it a perfect fit for the ongoing trend of integrating nature-inspired elements such as wood into home interiors.
Tom Hopper, Category Manager for Kitchens at Miele GB, commented: "Building on the success of Pearl Beige in our ArtLine series, bringing this sought-after colourway to our VitroLine range allows us to offer customers a beautifully understated alternative for traditional kitchen styling. The warm, natural tone and distinctive glass finish add elegance and depth to any space, while the range’s expanded functionality meets the needs of today’s discerning home cooks."
About Miele
All Miele appliances are designed to enjoy a long lifespan, have a strong focus on sustainability through efficiency and innovative features, and further enrich your kitchen with timeless looks.
Dark kitchens have moved beyond trend status to become a confident, enduring choice. In spaces where form and function must work in tandem, deeper palettes provide a refined backdrop for daily life; practical, hard-wearing and quietly dramatic.
Discover how Roundhouse are delivering dark kitchens, the bold new sign of true luxury.
Black kitchens offer clarity and composure. Deep tones simplify the visual field, letting proportion, shadow and material take the lead. They frame veining in stone, make metals read as intentional highlights, and sit comfortably in both period and contemporary settings. With layered lighting and tactile finishes, black feels less “statement” and more a quietly confident backdrop to daily life.
In the Lipman project, that approach is distilled into a calm, material-led scheme cabinetry in matt black is paired with black-stained, rough-sawn oak, honed Antique Nero granite, and walnut-lined interiors, with a concealed larder keeping elevations composed. Roundhouse’s kitchen bridged the original home and its zinc-clad extension and was named Livingetc’s “Best Kitchen Design” for 2025.
From deep graphite to soft charcoal, dark grey provides a versatile foundation for luxury kitchen schemes. It pairs elegantly with pale worktops for layered tonality and takes on a jewellery-like quality when set against metallic accents. For clients who prefer a softer contrast, pastels and natural neutrals introduce warmth without diluting the overall depth.
In the Stephens project, Classic doors hand-painted in Farrow & Ball “Hopper Head” are balanced with fluted-glass wall cabinets and walnut-veneered interiors—an inviting composition that reads both tailored and welcoming.
Emerald, verdant and racing-green tones bring a natural depth that flatters texture and metalwork. A matt-lacquered kitchen in an earthy near-black green, paired with burnished copper and a monochrome worktop, creates a crisp silhouette with strong architectural lines. Crucially, dark green proves as effective in traditional settings as it is in contemporary ones, its inherent warmth works hard alongside timber, stone and patinated finishes.
The Cheung project demonstrates how deep green elevates classic detailing, with proportion and joinery doing as much of the talking as colour. For clients seeking a more accessible route, the Roundhouse Studio Collection includes a Forest Green shade, offering similar impact.
Deep navy, royal and midnight blues are a sophisticated alternative to black or charcoal, often chosen to encourage a composed, restful atmosphere, useful in family kitchens and open-plan spaces. Blues also excel at framing warm metals and softly reflective surfaces.
In the Fawnbrake kitchen, Hague Blue matt-lacquer cabinetry is offset with antique-copper splashbacks and shelving. The result is serene yet characterful, demonstrating how considered material contrast lends depth without visual noise.
If colour-blocked doors aren’t the brief, dark-stained veneers provide an equally striking route while showcasing grain, texture and craftsmanship. The tonal variance and tactility of timber add warmth and longevity to darker schemes, particularly when book-matching or end-grain details are used to express making.
The Brooks project with its dark-stained, book-matched veneer, delivers a calm, cohesive space that feels robust and welcoming. Proof that a dark palette can be family-friendly as well as refined.
Dark kitchens succeed when they are personal: tuned to the architecture, the client’s routine and the material language of the home. With thoughtful specification and well-resolved detailing, a darker palette offers longevity, performance and a quietly luxurious presence. Design that works beautifully, day after day.
About Roundhouse Design Ltd
Founded by architects, Roundhouse is a multi-award-winning British company, creating beautiful bespoke kitchens and furniture. Their stunning kitchen designs feature a signature understated aesthetic, influenced by contemporary and traditional design, using innovative materials, texture and colour. Each project is made to measure from a wide range of stunning finishes. Expertly crafted by skilled designers and makers in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Malvern, Worcestershire. Visit any of seven Roundhouse Design kitchen showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford & Cheltenham.
The SBID UK Interior Design Icons were selected to recognise leading design practices throughout the UK who have consistently displayed exceptional standards within our esteemed industry network.
This week’s instalment of the SBID Icon Insights series features Diane Berry Kitchens. They create kitchen designs where style meets function and culinary aspirations come to life.
We are always researching online, we visit trade shows in Milan and Germany, we visit all our suppliers in Germany and research all the time, we watch the SBID awards entries and spend time looking and learning in cities and towns as we all travel. I've seen amazing ideas on cruise ships and hotels, Vegas was an eye opener and it carries on like that. I find myself watching TV and studying the sets too. If you love design, you never stop seeing ideas and thinking where and when can I use that. My team and I weekly share images we find and challenge each other to find a client that will love it.
I think wellbeing is key, rather than a style or colour trend. Covid made us all realise how important our homes are and being locked in them for months on end made us really focus on the bits we hated and loved. Decluttering and organisation is a key part of a calm home and then easy to clean and maintain too. Pay a little more and make it last is a motto I have lived by, this in return is sustainable. Avoid buy cheap buy twice mentality and this will be such a great thing for us to do for our world.
Technology had a huge impact on how we present out work but we are still a very touchy feely company as we love our stunning award winning studio as people do buy what they see. Long may this continue as meeting people in the studio helps us read them and their needs, keeping us presenting what is truly best for them.
Make sure you truly care about people, this job is 25% design and 75% business. So many people talk about the fun part of the materials and textures and rarely talk about the detail and work that goes into the detail. I know so much about plumbing, electrics, lighting, ventilation, damp courses, pad stones etc. I know this is design but the part people think about is putting that paper with that paint, a nice natural wood floor and a cute handle. Honestly this part is so small once the design bit is done it needs sourcing and costing accurately! So be ready for maths and lonely computer work, late nights and weekends too. If a builder needs electrical drawings on Monday it won’t wait! And this goes on all the time.
Opening our flagship studio. We bought the derelict building when it was full of asbestos and pigeons and now we have an iconic building presenting seven huge room sets with all appliances working. We are able to host cookery events for all our brands and have a happy environment for our team to work in.
We love working with architects, builders and designers, they love our studio. We also work closely with lots of interior specialist like fireplaces designers, blinds and curtain specialist etc. We know what we are good at and respect others are better at their area of expertise than us, so we have lots of people we work closely with especially lighting design as this is a constantly moving technology.
We work with two kitchen furniture brands: Eggersmann and Rempp, then appliance brands: Miele, Siemens, Neff, Bora and Fisher and Paykel, Quooker for their amazing taps and too many to mention worktop brands. We love Arte wall coverings and have a list of lighting and flooring brands. Our trade is very much about brand loyalty as we need to know what we sell inside and out and be able to guide our clients to what meets their needs on technology and function as well as budgeting.
About Diane Berry Kitchens
Diane started her career in all things interior design in 1980 learning all aspects of buildings and construction first, moving straight into spatial design focusing on Kitchens, Bathrooms, Bedrooms and fireplaces. Taking the step in 2002 to open her own studio which has gone from strength to strength now employing a team of fourteen and installing several million pounds of Kitchens a year.
The beauty of bespoke kitchen design is that it is entirely yours. It’s more than just picking out cabinets and worktops; it’s about designing a space that complements your life, surpasses your expectations, and adds those small daily indulgences that make home life feel exceptional. Even on a drizzly Monday morning with a full day of work looming.
Be it a cosy breakfast nook bathed in gentle morning light, drawers that glide shut with effortless grace, or an elegantly designed wine room to cradle your cherished collection, every element is crafted with you in mind. At Roundhouse Design, we believe true luxury is found in personalisation, where masterful craftsmanship intertwines with boundless creativity, ensuring every corner of your kitchen feels purposefully curated and enduringly exquisite.
Discover why bespoke kitchens remain the gold standard in luxury living.
Craftsmanship lies at the very core of every luxury bespoke kitchen. This isn’t about uniform units churned out by countless factory lines with scarcely a human touch. It’s about the artistry of time-honoured joinery techniques, meticulously hand-finished surfaces, and detailing that only skilled artisans can achieve. That’s not to imply we’ve shunned modern manufacturing technology at Roundhouse; our Malvern factory is equipped with some of the most advanced machinery in the industry. Concurrently, our approach remains deeply human-focused, drawing on traditional hands-on expertise that no robot can currently hope to replicate.
Our newest bespoke wine room exemplifies crafted perfection. Thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted to exact specifications, it features striking, black-framed glass doors that reveal exquisite joinery, ambient lighting, and specialist finishes. Whether you’re an avid collector or enjoy hosting guests, bespoke wine storage offers a personal and elegantly crafted statement within your home.
Craftsmanship goes beyond just aesthetics; it’s about functionality and tactile experience. Drawers glide effortlessly on precision runners, cabinet doors align perfectly as they close, and every surface feels robust and substantial. True craftsmanship is a daily luxury you can both see and feel.
One of the joys of bespoke kitchen design is the ability to incorporate personal details that make you smile every time you use them. In the kitchen, this could be a breakfast pantry complete with a built-in coffee station, bespoke spice drawers tailored to your preferred selections, or dedicated larder drawers labelled for each family member.
At Roundhouse, we collaborate closely with our clients to grasp how they live, identify the little indulgences that spark joy, and discern what they’re content to forgo. There’s no standardised approach here and that’s exactly what makes your journey enjoyable.
With bespoke kitchens, it’s not just the exterior finishes that deserve attention – the interiors can be every bit as beautiful. Every Roundhouse project is tailored to your wants and needs.
Take our fitted wardrobes as an example. Concealed behind refined doors, you may discover soft-close drawers lined with luxurious leather, built-in watch charging stations, and subtle mood lighting that gently illuminates upon opening.
The same applies for the kitchen: think pull-out storage with integrated lighting, and beautifully veneered internal drawers that look as good open as they do when closed. By tailoring storage solutions to your needs, we ensure your space reflects who you are.
Luxury bespoke isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s also about smart problem-solving. Our design team loves finding ways to solve tricky design challenges. A concealed extractor seamlessly tucked within a custom hood, cabinetry artfully angled to complement a sloping ceiling, or ingenious approaches to tricky corner spaces, each design element is thoughtfully crafted to suit the distinctive character of your home. Such meticulous personalisation guarantees that your kitchen and fitted furniture remain practical, functional, and a delight to use.
Every Roundhouse bespoke kitchen is made-to-order in our own Malvern factory. This allows us to control quality at every stage, from concept to completion. Our talented designers work hand-in-hand with our experienced project coordinators and skilled craftspeople to ensure every detail is perfect. From start to finish, every cabinet, drawer, and worktop is crafted to meet your exact specification.
Bespoke kitchen design is about creating a space that reflects who you are and how you want to live. That requires expert craftsmanship, thoughtful details, and practical solutions. Every project has you at the heart of it; designed around you, made for you, and fitted with expert precision.
Premium appliance manufacturer, Miele is proud to have upgraded all of the 60cm dishwashers in its collection (including within its G 5000 and G 7000 ranges) to energy efficiency rating A - with no effect to retail price.
With this upgrade to its range and almost 100 years of experience in dishwashing, Miele stands out in a leader in energy efficiency. With the comprehensive portfolio update of the G 5000 series, maximum energy efficiency is now available in all price ranges, meeting the most important purchasing criteria for consumers.
The completely redesigned successor models for the entry level G 5000 range achieves top marks for energy efficiency, with an optimal balance of reduced power consumption and adjusted programme running times and temperatures. Meanwhile, the AutoOpen automatic door opening function, which was previously only available on higher-priced models, plays a particularly important role. This function deliberately switches off the heating phase at the end of the washing programme to significantly reduce energy consumption. At the same time, the door opens slightly, allowing targeted air circulation to remove any residual moisture naturally and providing optimum drying performance. This feature also prevents any damage to kitchen cabinetry fronts - vital in ensuring the long-term durability and aesthetic appeal of surrounding furniture surfaces.
As an additional convenience feature, the upgraded models in the G 7000 range offer the AutoDos automatic dosing aid with integrated PowerDisk. This measures out the correct amount of powder granules precisely, reliably preventing under or overdosing, therefore ensuring consistently high cleaning results. What’s more, models in the G 7000 range that were already QuietMark approved will continue to hold this accreditation.
“Sustainability is part of our basic setup - even in the entry-level class, where we’ve actually achieved leaps in energy efficiency of up to three label classes,” says Dr. Michael Junker, Senior Vice President Business Unit Dishwashing at Miele. “Our goal was to establish environmentally friendly dishwashing as a basic expectation, not as an optional extra. Our revamped dishwasher range offers a compelling overall package that combines energy-efficient washing programmes and functionality with an attractive price-performance ratio.”
As with all Miele dishwashers, the updated range has been tested to last for 20 years - further demonstration of the brand’s commitment to quality. With a portfolio that is even more consistently focused on resource conservation and efficiency, Miele once again emphasises that sustainability is more than just an energy efficiency label, also evident in Miele’s responsible use of resources throughout the entire life cycle.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a Scandi inspired kitchen design by 2024 SBID Awards Finalist, Ledbury Studio.
Ledbury Studio was commisioned to design furniture for the kitchen, dining area, tv snug and hallway/bootroom, so that the design flowed seamlessly throughout this open plan lower ground floor space for this Kensington project. Our client's design aesthetic was " Australian/Scandi", reflecting the cool simplicity of Scandinavian style, mixed with the warmth of her native country, Australia.
Design Practice: Ledbury Studio
Project Title: The Kensington Kitchen
The client’s brief was to create a kitchen that aligned with her ‘Australian Scandi’ design aesthetic as part of a major two-year refurbishment of her seven-floor Kensington home. She wanted interiors that reflected the cool simplicity of Scandinavian style while incorporating the warmth of her native Australia. Beyond the kitchen, I was also tasked with de-signing furniture for the dining area, TV snug, boot room, office, and dressing room.
To meet the design brief, I chose natural and painted oak for the cabinetry, keeping the scheme as light and fresh as its surroundings. The pale oak is meticulously book-matched on the drawers of the hob run and island, while the full-height cupboards are painted white - ensuring they run all the way to the ceiling without overwhelming the space. For a show-stopping effect, I placed fluted oak panels on the outside of the island and around the base of the breakfast bar. In addition, the Statuario marble worktop cascades down the end of the island in a striking waterfall effect.
There are many fine details in this kitchen. All the hand-crafted handles are made from patinated brass, as are the kickplates and the surrounds on the oak drawers. I also used patinated brass for the trim on the extractor hood - painted in the same matt white as the cupboards - and for the hanging rack over the island. This sculptural piece not only serves as an eye-catching focal point but also provides task lighting, additional storage, and a space to display trailing house plants. It is suspended from a curved section of ceiling, which is tiled in white and lit around its perimeter.
This kitchen is all about pared-back luxury, but it is also beautifully clutter-free, thanks to cabinets that conceal a wealth of useful storage - everything has its place. For example, the tall pantry cupboard not only stores bulky dried goods but also conceals the microwave, keeping the work surfaces clear.
One of the toughest challenges we faced during this project was getting the large marble slabs for the island into the kitchen. Given the sheer size and weight of the Statuario mar-ble, manoeuvring it into a seven-floor Kensington home was no small feat. It required me-ticulous planning, a highly skilled team, and some creative problem-solving.
The standout highlight of the project must be the drinks cabinet! Designed to seamlessly tie in with the kitchen, it features elegant, fluted oak and glass detailing, complemented by a luxurious Statuario marble worktop and panelling.
The glass-fronted cabinet is softly illuminated from within, transforming the contents into a striking display, while the open shelves are backed with a mirrored panel to enhance depth and reflect the beautifully arranged bottles and decanters. This thoughtful design not only makes the cabinet a functional storage piece but also an eye-catching focal point—perfect for entertaining in style.
We entered the SBID Awards to gain recognition among internationally prominent interior designers. The awards are a prestigious platform that celebrates excellence in interior de-sign, and we saw it as a fantastic opportunity to highlight our commitment to pushing crea-tive boundaries.
Being an SBID Award Finalist has been an incredible validation of our work, reinforcing our dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and exceptional design. It serves as a testament to the skill and creativity of our team, confirming that our approach resonates with both industry experts and discerning clients.
Beyond the personal achievement, it has also provided greater brand recognition, helping to elevate our presence on an international stage. The exposure has allowed us to connect with a wider audience, opening doors to exciting new opportunities and collaborations. It’s an honour to be recognised among the best in the industry, and this acknowledgment only motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of design excellence.
Questions answered by Charlie Smallbone, Founder of Ledbury Studio.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a unique use of lighting in residential design by Chains Interior, click here to read it.
Blending Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality, Japandi has transcended trend status to become a cornerstone of modern interiors. Celebrating simplicity, expert craftsmanship and nature-led connections, this enduring design philosophy has quietly informed homes for more than a decade. As Roundhouse Design observed at Milan Design Week 2025, Japandi’s ethos remains as vital as ever, particularly in the heart of the home. For an in-depth look at how these principles can transform any space, download the comprehensive Roundhouse Design brochure.
Wood has always underpinned Japandi’s warm simplicity. In 2025, Roundhouse Design’s team is embracing wood’s individuality more deeply than ever by celebrating unusual grain patterns, textural effects and considered installations. A recent project named Bulpitt showcases bookmatched crown-cut oak veneer that stretches across handle-less push-touch cabinets, creating movement and intrigue. By highlighting the tree’s natural heritage, a luxury bespoke kitchen feels both grounded and inviting. To discuss how wood can shape your bespoke Japandi kitchen, book a design consultation with Roundhouse experts.
Early Japandi schemes favoured strict monochromes; today’s interpretations layer warm whites, stone tones and earthy accents such as terracotta, clay, bronze and copper alongside muted greens like sage and moss. These richer, more balanced colour stories allow kitchens to flow effortlessly into open-plan living areas, reinforcing Japandi’s holistic approach to home design.
Functionality meets form in 2025’s storage solutions. Timber-lined drawers with bespoke dividers, removable cutlery trays and floor-to-ceiling glazed cabinets featuring fluted glass and timber frames marry practicality with refined aesthetics. Walk-in larders and pantries concealed by sliding shoji-inspired doors keep clutter at bay, nurturing the zen-like calm that defines modern Japandi kitchens.
As throwaway culture gives way to lasting quality, Japandi’s commitment to enduring construction resonates strongly. Roundhouse Design kitchens fuse time-honoured British joinery with precision engineering by combining frameless cabinets, soft-close mechanisms and integrated LED lighting to promise years of whisper-quiet, reliable performance. Every kitchen is backed by a 10-year guarantee, ensuring peace of mind and true longevity in home design.
Environmental responsibility lies at the core of Japandi and of Roundhouse Design. From concept to completion, sustainability informs every decision: sourcing only FSC-certified timber, partnering with The Woodland Trust to support UK reforestation, and operating a biomass-fired factory that repurposes offcuts to minimise waste.
To bring Japandi to life in your home, download the brochure, book a design consultation or visit one of Roundhouse Design’s seven showrooms in Wigmore Street, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford or Cheltenham to experience these ideas firsthand.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a timeless family kitchen design by 2024 SBID Awards Finalist, Snug Kitchens.
Snug Kitchens transformed a traditional home in Newbury, Berkshire, into an open-plan haven for a young, growing family. Collaborating closely with local architects, interior designers, and builders, we created a versatile kitchen that serves as the home's social hub. The design emphasises durability and sustainability, featuring bespoke British-made cabinetry, walnut internals, and heat-resistant porcelain worktops. A forward-facing cooking space, ample storage, and a large island for game preparation were key elements, catering to the client's love for hunting and family needs. This project seamlessly blends practicality, aesthetic appeal, and environmental consciousness.
Design Practice: Snug Kitchens
Project Title: Mulberry House
Project Location: Newbury, United Kingdom
Design Practice Location: Newbury, United Kingdom
Our brief was to design and install the kitchen, pantry, utility room and surrounding cabinetry for Mulberry House in Newbury, Berkshire. Our clients were keen to create an open-plan space that functioned as a social hub, adaptable for entertaining larger groups and for busy everyday family living. This required the kitchen to marry the functionality and practicality of everyday family life with the warmth of the adjacent snug and dining areas.
The client’s young family was at the centre of this project. In the early design stages, we focussed on the architecture of the property when zoning the space to achieve balance between the kitchen and surrounding areas. In order to cater for our clients love for cooking and socializing, it was integral we achieved the perfect flow through the property before looking into the design. Functionality and practicality at the forefront throughout this project, this included material decisions especially in high use areas like the breakfast bar and worktop. Stylistically we studied the property's architecture and concluded a traditional in-frame beaded shaker kitchen best suited the space.
A late addition to this project was an aircon unit being installed in the pantry which significantly lowered the ceiling height. To work around this, we removed the plinth from the open shelving units and sat them directly on the floor. This worked to our advantage as it meant the pantry shelving could be floor to ceiling, maximising the available space.
We love all the small bespoke details we were able to incorporate into this project. Due to our client’s generous budget, we worked with the finest in-frame walnut veneered cabinetry, complete with solid antique brass handles to create a timeless look. It was vital the spaces flowed seamlessly, to achieve this we used the same skirting as the rest of the room and ran the room coving around the front of the tall units to give a ‘built-in’ feel. Where ventilation for in-built appliances was required, we used brass mesh that we powder coated to match the brass handles. Overall, we loved working with our clients to create a space that allows them to grow together as a family.
We believe this project demonstrates all things, Snug Kitchens. Our holistic design approach, bespoke hand-crafted British cabinetry and how we seamlessly integrate with an extended project team. We collaborated closely with Absolute Architecture to establish the interior architecture of the property. The Hive Interior Designers helped bring a strong vision to the overall scheme of the property and along with our detail orientated designers we created a functional and stunning design.
We were extremely proud to be selected as a finalist for the SBID awards this year as it is a recognition of the hard work our whole team puts in. We strive to always add value to every client’s home, enhance their lifestyle and ensure the project runs seamlessly from concept to completion.
Questions answered by Nick McColgan, Director at Snug Kitchens.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring historically themed hotel bedroom designs by Atrio, click here to read it.
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