Working with award-winning A Small Studio Architects, Uncommon Projects designed and manufactured this warm, characterful kitchen in Dulwich, South East London. Oak-veneered birch plywood cabinets finished with matt grey and coral laminates emphasise the soft tones of both the domed clay ceiling and oak parquet flooring. A room designed to envelop and cocoon with its palette of warm materials.
Situated at garden level, the kitchen is accessed from the upper ground floor via a staircase, separating it from the rooms beyond. The act of descending the stairs lends the space a sense of importance and on entering you’re given a complete view across the plan. By carefully considering the sight lines from the stairs into the kitchen, UP ensured that the tops of the ply cabinets (and LED uplighting) were hidden at this elevated position. Instead, the kitchen’s generous footprint, curved ceiling and clever architectural detailing become the immediate focal points.
At around 4.4m, the room is wide enough for a generously proportioned island. Uncommon Projects suggested a Bora hob (no unsightly overhead extraction) and a breakfast bar for informal dining. The dining table is placed in front of the garden doors to take advantage of the views through to the garden.
The sink area, ovens and fridge are placed against the wall, creating a functional layout which finishes with a set of practical book shelves. At the garden end of the room, UP designed a tall storage cabinet, more open shelving and a striking take on the traditional dresser doubling as a mirrored bar - perfect for this sociable family. Crucially, the wall cabinetry sits flush with the dresser, tying the whole composition together. Emphasising this sense of cohesion, an L-shaped storage bench in matching materials was installed at the opposite side of the room, Uncommon Projects fully bespoke approach blurring the line between kitchen cabinetry and other furniture. A harmonious design in every sense.
