Sophie Owen
Qudaus Living Ltd
A kitchen is said to be the heart of the home; to highlight this I have located the kitchen in the rear area of the plan so as you enter the room, you are welcomed by the main family space.
This rear section of the plan has been designed to be more functional as it allows the family to cook, socialise, work, and entertain all in one space. Children can do homework whilst the family supervise and prepare dinner at the same time. The dining/ lounge area has been located nearer to the patio doors to create a more intimate feel and to provide stunning outdoor views when relaxing.
The design consists of two islands, the main work/prep area alongside a smaller ‘floating’ unit created using a mirrored base. This area was designed mainly for the children so they can help out when baking and feel included whilst parents and grandma use the main part of the kitchen. The two work areas are connecting with a breakfast bar; useful for socialising especially as it is near the bar area. This layout compliments the shape of the room and reduces risk of the room feeling overcrowded.
Zoned lighting has been used throughout the design in various ways. Task lighting has been highlighted using various statement pendants. Ambient lighting is shown through spotlights which helps to brighten the room in its entirety. Accent lighting can be seen around the TV feature panel which is back lit making it stand out more, and other areas such as undercabinet / shelf lights and within grip rails. Natural light has also been maximised by 3 large sky lights covering one side of the pitched roof.
The furniture used is from Rotpunkt as they use BioBoard carcases made from 90% recycled wood proving to be super sustainable. Doors are from the HPL XT range which include anti-fingerprint doors; this is more practical for the large family of 5, especially with young children who love to bake!
Quooker is the brand of boiling tap that has been specified for this client, alongside an additional CUBE which provides sparkling and chilled/filtered water. Long-term, this will reduce the number of plastic bottles used and brought by the family. Bamboo flooring has been used due to its ability to grow as a rapid rate. Extraction in this design will be recirculating to allow the air to be cleaned, purified, and put back into the room. This model includes a long-life recirculation kit so the clients will not have to replace it as often, proving to be energy efficient. A venting hob model has been specified as opposed to ceiling hoods due to the location of the hob. All the appliance’s specifications have been analysed against sustainability and proved to be more energy efficient for the client.
Overall, this contemporary design has provided to be functional, integral and zoned without it feeling like separate areas.
