Sophie Owen
Qudaus Living Ltd
To highlight the Old Forge within a redeveloped modern building, I have kept to an Industrial style with exposed brickwork, Crittall windows and black steel pipework combined with distressed wood and concrete finishes throughout.
With exception of the island, all units are in the Nobilia ‘Inox’ range which provides brushed steel doors and plinth. This was to capture the history of the Old Forge, in which I have redeveloped into a modern fireplace, as they were historically used for heating materials such as metal and steel. This steel finish can be seen throughout the kitchen; for instance, the sinks, all appliances including the ovens being Siemens iQ700 with stainless steel strip panels and their stainless-steel downdraft extractor. Included within the extractor is a recirculation kit to ensure the extraction Is recirculated into the room.
To contrast this, the Island furniture and all end panels are kept in a concrete finish to match the 50mm pure concrete worktops with return ends. I have used this material for the worksurfaces not only for its durability, but to also avoid joins in the large corner section to provide a truly unique kitchen. As it can be customised, I have built the material up to 50mm to provide a chunky hard-wearing look.
I have included freestanding units on castors to increase the functionality of the kitchen. These can be moved around the kitchen if extra working space is needed providing a flexible and more efficient use.
The reverse of the Island includes storage above and below the distressed wooden low level breakfast bar, but also includes an open shelved unit for easy access and to maximise the storage within as the kitchen floor can also be used as a level of storage. This unit can also be removed and replaced with stools for high level seating if desired. Similarly, the opposite side of the island includes all drawer units to increase storage within.
Finally, the glass chimney styled units are used to replicate the Crittall windows to enhance the industrial look of the kitchen. As the house contains a large amount of glass in its construction, I wanted to link that in with the kitchen interior. Whilst the style is quite mechanical, the units remain handleless and mostly integrated to provide a modern high-end look.
