Islington

Set in a 1950s terrace in north London, this kitchen is deliberately laid out to accentuate the vivid red dining table as the focal point of the room. When the owners acquired the house, the small kitchen was tucked away at the back, but they were keen to take advantage of the property’s width by shifting the kitchen to the front and incorporating a dining area, leaving a larger space for a living room at the back.

Logistically, the new kitchen had a lot of work to do, as it needed to accommodate the boiler, washing machine and ventilation unit, as well as ample storage space. The cabinets’ exteriors may look simple, but there’s considerable ingenuity concealed behind the ply.

A drop in the ceiling above the tall units and the addition of nib walls around them creates a transitional zone between the kitchen and the living room. The cabinets are veneered in oak to match the parquet floor, with doors spray lacquered in warm grey, wall units featuring cork veneer to add texture, and a white Corian worktop to maximise reflected light. This muted palette allows the dining table to stand out, and acts as an effective backdrop to the clients’ art collection.