Kitchen of the Week: Supersized Storage in a Striking Surrey Kitchen

A bold and beautiful island stretches along the length of this kitchen, providing plenty of space for cooking, seating and storage

Jo Simmons 16 June 2015

Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!

Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More

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Having renovated several homes in a row, the family that bought this house in Surrey was drawn to its neat and new appearance. It had been recently built and needed very little work – or so they initially thought. It was only after they’d moved in that they realised the kitchen needed help. ‘It was not completely finished, with some of the doors falling off,’ says Sofia Bune Strandh of Sola Kitchens, who redesigned the space. ‘The layout wasn’t great either.’ Time for a rethink. The owners had spotted a kitchen they loved in a magazine and copied it exactly. ‘They basically said, “We want this one!”’ says Sofia. The design is home to an impressive amount of cabinets, with a giant island workstation its striking centrepiece. ‘Now, the owners can cook, socialise and store everything in this space,’ says Sofia, ‘with key appliances designed in, so they can enjoy views of the garden beyond while cooking.’

Sola Kitchens

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A Swedish couple with their three children
Property A five-bedroom detached house
Location Cobham, Surrey
Size 15m x 5.5m
Designer Sofia Bune Strandh of Sola Kitchens

‘Storage and work space were priorities for the owner,’ says Sofia. The previous kitchen had little of either, so Sofia designed in a supersized island. ‘It measures 5m by 1.2m,’ says Sofia. ‘It’s big! Now, the children and any guests have somewhere to sit while the owner prepares meals.’ The Bianco Crystal granite worktop overhangs the units at one end and the cabinets dogleg in on this side, so that stools can be positioned here to create a seating area.

Sola Kitchens

Mounting the large island on legs helped it to look lighter and created a floating effect. ‘It was a challenge to do this, though, because of its sheer size and weight,’ says Sofia. ‘For extra stability, the cupboards are supported by thick steel beams hidden inside the legs.’

Sigma dual-fuel range, Britannia. Dining table and chairs, Skandium.

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Sola Kitchens

Adjacent to the island, a long run of cabinets contains further storage, a concealed fridge-freezer at one end, a larder at the other and a sink in the middle. ‘The eating area at the far end of the room has a dresser that’s about 5m long,’ says Sofia. ‘It’s in the same style as the run of units, with those little glass insets at the top of the doors, and has the same dimensions. It means this long wall looks completely symmetrical.’

Curtains and wallpaper in muted tones help to soften the monochrome of the cabinets. They were suggested by interior designer Georgie Rudge of Town House Interiors who worked with Sofia on this project.

Ceiling-mounted extractor fan, Westin. Arte Flamant Suite V wallpaper in Lin Smoke, Brian Yates.

Sola Kitchens

The owner’s huge collection of cookbooks is stored in this cabinet. For balance, an identical cabinet stands on the other side of the doorway. There is a formal dining space beyond, but the family eat most of their meals at the round table, situated at the opposite end of the kitchen.

Sola Kitchens

The kitchen was made in Sweden and hand-painted on site, and channels many features of classic Scandi style. ‘It’s quite sleek with no fussy details,’ says Sofia. ‘The doors and drawers have a little bit of beading around them. We don’t put a panel on the fronts, to keep them flat for a very clean look.’ The cabinet fronts are all made from solid ash. ‘It has a very beautiful grain,’ adds Sofia, ‘which is visible through the paint.’ The handles are polished chrome.

Newport Shaker-style kitchen, Sola Kitchens.

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Sola Kitchens

The owner wanted the range cooker to be incorporated into the island. ‘It means she can look out towards the garden when cooking,’ says Sofia. A prep sink was also included in the island for practical reasons. ‘Now, you don’t have to carry hot pans from the island over to the main sink behind,’ says Sofia. ‘A small sink right next to the cooker is a safer solution.’

The ceiling spotlights were already installed. ‘There are a lot of them, so it does look a bit like a landing strip!’ says Sofia. ‘We added the pendant lights over the island and the chandelier over the table to create a slightly cosier light.’

Sink, Blanco.

Sola Kitchens

Solid oak drawers in the larder provide storage for bread and vegetables. All the cabinet interiors are unpainted oak, so the timber can be enjoyed in its natural state. It also makes a warm contrast to the black and white door and drawer fronts.

Sola Kitchens

Lights fitted inside the tall larder come on when the doors are opened. ‘The ceiling height is about 3m in this room and we built up to about 2.75m,’ explains Sofia. ‘This makes the most of that very tall ceiling and also means the kitchen looks well proportioned.’

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