Both enthusiastic cooks, the owners of this four-storey 1960s home in Teddington were keen to install a kitchen they could both appreciate for its practicality and enjoy for its beauty. From the first floor, where the kitchen was situated, they had spectacular views over the private marina on one side and a park from the other and were keen to ensure that these were not compromised by the refit. With no architect on the project, they asked Uncommon Projects to reconfigure the layout to make the most of the double-aspect views, and to design a kitchen that complemented house’s original mid-century features, such as the cast aluminum balustrades and the terrazzo flooring – plywood was the perfect fit.

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By reversing the existing layout and widening the door, Uncommon Projects improved circulation from the hallway into the kitchen and dining area, created space for a small utility room and improved the park views. Edged with a bookcase, tall units housing the fridge-freezer also conceal a sliding door, which can separate the kitchen from the hallway as needed. The units are made from oak-veneered birch ply with white Corian worktops to reflect the light from the windows, and the floor and recessed kickboards are both terrazzo, to complement the floors downstairs. To create a sense of continuity throughout the floor, Uncommon Projects also designed a wall-mounted sideboard in the dining room, as well as the utility room cabinets and the steps into the hall. The final touch was the creation of a small herb garden between the sink and peninsula – an attractive and highly functional feature that visually connects the kitchen interior to the park outside.