Kitchen Tour: Dark Green and Oak Bring the Outside In
Before and after photos show how a lush garden and a love of nature informed the design of this calm family kitchen
When you’ve inherited a gorgeously lush garden, it seems rude not to make the most of it. The couple who bought this house wanted to do just that, not only by fitting glazing along the back wall to get the best view of the jungly planting, but by bringing in colours and materials that would connect harmoniously with the greenery.
The existing extension was structurally poor and awkwardly configured, so the owners needed professional help to realise their dream. They contacted Yoko Kloeden of Yoko Kloeden Design – in part because her projects often have a nature connection – and asked her to create a sociable space that flowed beautifully and brought the outside in.
The existing extension was structurally poor and awkwardly configured, so the owners needed professional help to realise their dream. They contacted Yoko Kloeden of Yoko Kloeden Design – in part because her projects often have a nature connection – and asked her to create a sociable space that flowed beautifully and brought the outside in.
As well as the structural issues, the previous, industrial-style kitchen (seen here) was not to the couple’s taste. The U-shaped layout of the units also blocked views of the garden from the middle reception room.
So Yoko and her team demolished the existing extension, keeping only the two side walls.
So Yoko and her team demolished the existing extension, keeping only the two side walls.
The new, insulated extension is 3m high and the intrusive pillars have been replaced by a hidden steel beam.
Planning to revamp a room – or more? Easily find and hire interior designers on Houzz.
Planning to revamp a room – or more? Easily find and hire interior designers on Houzz.
Here, you can see the full-width step that cut the space in two, as well as the second pillar.
Removing the step by raising the back of the room has changed its whole look and usability. “We levelled the floor all the way to the garden, so it was one seamless surface,” Yoko says, who also built up the patio to extend the space outdoors.
The view from this middle reception room is greatly improved, too, thanks to the galley kitchen layout, allowing that flash of greenery to be enjoyed from in here, as well.
The view from this middle reception room is greatly improved, too, thanks to the galley kitchen layout, allowing that flash of greenery to be enjoyed from in here, as well.
The overhead glazing has been reduced, while sliding glass doors and a picture window bring in natural light and maintain a connection with the garden.
There’s a lot of wood in the room – inspired by the owners’ love of parquet flooring and plywood – so Yoko had to balance this with the green and white elements to avoid a “ski chalet” look.
She also layered various cuts and textures of oak to give the elements a subtly different look, but was careful to echo the surfaces across the room; the back of the island and the banquette base, for instance, both feature fluted oak panels. “There are quite a lot of intricate details that we repeated,” Yoko says.
“The client also likes plywood, so inside the cupboards there’s ply edging and also on the dining table and hanging shelves,” she continues. “The cladding on the back wall, inside and out, is also oak ply. The only different wood we used was the dining table legs, which are walnut.”
There’s a lot of wood in the room – inspired by the owners’ love of parquet flooring and plywood – so Yoko had to balance this with the green and white elements to avoid a “ski chalet” look.
She also layered various cuts and textures of oak to give the elements a subtly different look, but was careful to echo the surfaces across the room; the back of the island and the banquette base, for instance, both feature fluted oak panels. “There are quite a lot of intricate details that we repeated,” Yoko says.
“The client also likes plywood, so inside the cupboards there’s ply edging and also on the dining table and hanging shelves,” she continues. “The cladding on the back wall, inside and out, is also oak ply. The only different wood we used was the dining table legs, which are walnut.”
Yoko took advantage of the lovely garden view and pulled that jungly feeling into the house through these hanging shelves, which hold numerous houseplants. “I’m so glad [the owners] went for it, because they have the height and it works so well, as it really connects with the outside,” she says.
Because it casts a shadow on the island, Yoko fitted recessed downlights into the bottom shelf. “This works really well,” she says.
The oak of the wall cabinets has been broken up thanks to reeded glass door panels – which echo the fluted woodwork – and simple open shelves, as well as all the white surfaces, including Corian worktops and light-catching textured wall tiles.
Kitchen, Sustainable Kitchens. Splashback tiles, Smink Studio. Wall lights, Mullan Lighting.
Because it casts a shadow on the island, Yoko fitted recessed downlights into the bottom shelf. “This works really well,” she says.
The oak of the wall cabinets has been broken up thanks to reeded glass door panels – which echo the fluted woodwork – and simple open shelves, as well as all the white surfaces, including Corian worktops and light-catching textured wall tiles.
Kitchen, Sustainable Kitchens. Splashback tiles, Smink Studio. Wall lights, Mullan Lighting.
In the dining corner, the bench seating contains useful storage. The wide table was custom-made to comfortably seat up to nine guests.
Remote control blinds hidden in the ceiling can be lowered over the window and sliding doors when necessary. “This side of the house gets a lot of sun,” Yoko says.
Dining table, Konk. Pendant light, Hay.
Remote control blinds hidden in the ceiling can be lowered over the window and sliding doors when necessary. “This side of the house gets a lot of sun,” Yoko says.
Dining table, Konk. Pendant light, Hay.
The solid oak parquet is tumbled for a vintage look. There is underfloor heating, but it can’t be turned above 27 degrees with this flooring, so Yoko added a small radiator in the corner of the kitchen (see the first photo) for really cold days.
Aged Vintage Oak Parquet flooring, Broadleaf.
Aged Vintage Oak Parquet flooring, Broadleaf.
Looking back into the room, you can see two white cabinets in the corner behind the dining table. The one nearest the hall wall is a laundry cupboard containing a stacked washing machine and tumble dryer, plus a water tank. Next to it is a breakfast cupboard, then there’s oak shelving onto the dining area.
Yoko has layered the lighting, including spotlights, a pendant, and wall lights. “I think a space comes together when you have different levels of lighting,” she says. “Wall lights are always good, because you can make it really cosy, rather than just having a full set of ceiling lights.”
Yoko has layered the lighting, including spotlights, a pendant, and wall lights. “I think a space comes together when you have different levels of lighting,” she says. “Wall lights are always good, because you can make it really cosy, rather than just having a full set of ceiling lights.”
The exterior of the extension is clad in oak plywood. The now-raised patio is covered in porcelain tiles, and the team made the raised beds to match.
The project went smoothly for everyone. Yoko spent lots of time consulting with the owners to get the colour and materials balance right and delivered the flowing, serene space they wanted. In addition, she used Houzz Pro software to issue invoices, which made the process easier for the owners to manage their payments.
The couple are very happy with their calm, beautiful kitchen. “They love the space,” Yoko says. “They have two children – one is at university and the other has come back – and they’re probably having one set of parents moving in, so it’s a nice space for the whole family to congregate.”
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Tell us…
What do you like about Yoko’s inside-outside design for this kitchen-diner? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The project went smoothly for everyone. Yoko spent lots of time consulting with the owners to get the colour and materials balance right and delivered the flowing, serene space they wanted. In addition, she used Houzz Pro software to issue invoices, which made the process easier for the owners to manage their payments.
The couple are very happy with their calm, beautiful kitchen. “They love the space,” Yoko says. “They have two children – one is at university and the other has come back – and they’re probably having one set of parents moving in, so it’s a nice space for the whole family to congregate.”
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Tell us…
What do you like about Yoko’s inside-outside design for this kitchen-diner? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple with two young adult sons
Location Chiswick, west London
Property A three-storey, semi-detached Victorian house
Kitchen-diner dimensions 37 sq m
Designer Yoko Kloeden of Yoko Kloeden Design
Contractor Canyon Design & Build
Project year 2023 into 2024
Photos by Anna Stathaki
The house had already been extended 20 years previously, but the addition was in poor condition. As a sociable space, it didn’t really work, as it had a step down towards the back and two pillars impeding the flow and usability.
Despite attempts to fix it, the roof leaked. In addition, a large expanse was glazed, so the room was scorching in summer, but the structure was poorly insulated, which made it cold in winter – and the underfloor heating didn’t work.