Family firm Kitchen Architecture was established in 2002 and its expertise in creating sleek, statement-making spaces has made it one of the most trusted names in the industry.

The company now has showrooms in London, Oxford and Cheshire, and is the largest global retailer of top-of-the-range bulthaup kitchens. These beautifully-crafted yet highly-practical kitchen systems combine the brilliance of German engineering with stylish aesthetics, and Kitchen Architecture specialises in personalising the bulthaup product.

The exceptional customisation service it offers has attracted clients from interior design and architecture firms to food experts including award-winning cookery writer Diana Henry and chef Heston Blumenthal – it just can’t promise one of its kitchens will improve your cooking.

The kitchen itself is often referred to as the heart of the home, and the trend for open-plan living has seen this position cemented in recent years. Designing a space used for cooking, eating, relaxing and entertaining needs careful consideration, and Kitchen Architecture believes that a site visit in the early stages ensures layout, style and functionality are all equally considered. In this pictured project, that process began when the clients got the keys to their property.

The house dates from the Victorian era and is bursting with character, boasting high-ceilinged rooms and a beautiful garden, which the clients were keen to incorporate into the design.

Kitchen Architecture is not one to shy away from larger-scale transformations, and initial discussions led to the removal of an internal wall and an extension being added across the rear and side of the property. The idea behind this was to create a generous open-plan space with easy garden access, for the couple and their four children to enjoy, and to bring in more natural light through the extension’s additional glazing and skylights.

It’s also important to consider the overall flow of the ground floor. In this case, it was crucial to understanding how the new space would connect with existing rooms, such as a separate dining room and snug.

Ease of movement within the room itself is aided by a large rectangular island. With bar stools alongside it, a separate dining area on the other side of the room and an open walkway between, the family can move freely around the space, and in and out of the garden.

The proportion was also a key consideration and at 4.3m long, the island is large enough to not get lost in the open-plan space. As well as functioning as a prepping surface, its grand size also accommodates a sink, breakfast area and storage.

A further run of tall cabinets behind the island houses all of the major appliances and even more storage – ideal for keeping the space tidy when entertaining guests. The tall furniture is recessed into stud walling, something to consider for a more sleek, streamlined finish.

As part of the personalisation element, the island features recessed grips and plinths in an antique bronze finish. The single lever mixer by Dornbacht and the Quooker boiling water tap are also both custom-finished in antique bronze. With handleless furniture, these metallic touches act as the focal points in an otherwise minimalistic and clean scheme, while pendant lighting directly above ensures it’s a practical space to cook.

The other statement piece in the room is the black five-oven AGA Dual Control range cooker. When built into units of the same colour, it makes a more traditional stove look like a strikingly bold and modern choice.

Additional top-of-the-range, family-size appliances include a large, matching wine storage unit and fridge-freezer by Sub-Zero; and a coffee machine, combination microwave, warming drawer and fully-integrated dishwasher by Miele. These items were a significant element of the budget but with a large space to entertain in, the technology needed to match, both in scale and capability.

As for the colour scheme, the now bright, light-filled room was in need of some contrast. Kitchen Architecture introduced an industrial edge with dark grey and white shades, concrete work surfaces and a polished concrete floor.

The concrete for the surfaces had to be cast on site and poured directly into a frame on top of the furniture, making it a truly one-of-a-kind finishing touch.
Kitchen Architecture’s bulthaup kitchens start at £50,000. A similar kitchen to the one shown in this feature would cost approximately £80,000