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Kitchen Tour: Ingenious Extras Add Practicality to a Bright Space
Clever design features and a mix of materials bring interest and function to this plywood kitchen
Jami and Rowan, who own this beautiful Victorian home, were keen to blend a contemporary kitchen with the traditional elements of their property, so they called in kitchen designers Lozi, as they’d admired the team’s plywood cabinetry online. “We collaborated with the owners to find out how they would use the space,” designer Soroush Pourhashemi says, “and grouped things into areas that made sense.”
The hinged section folds out to form an additional casual dining space for guests, with the central leg rotating to hold it in place.
The tabletop is a material called maple edge grain, which is bought in small sheets from plywood manufacturers and is made by laying long strips of solid wood together to create a patterned surface.
“It’s quite solid, so we often recommend it for a table,” Soroush says. “It’s 2mm thick, so you can sand it down and re-oil it when needed.”
The tabletop is a material called maple edge grain, which is bought in small sheets from plywood manufacturers and is made by laying long strips of solid wood together to create a patterned surface.
“It’s quite solid, so we often recommend it for a table,” Soroush says. “It’s 2mm thick, so you can sand it down and re-oil it when needed.”
The worktop area of the island consists of a white Cortex surface above storage cabinets. Three pendant lights hang above to illuminate the area.
Soroush made the most of the room’s beautiful window by building a comfortable bench seat into the bay.
If you’d love a bespoke kitchen like this one, you can read reviews of cabinet-makers in your area.
Soroush made the most of the room’s beautiful window by building a comfortable bench seat into the bay.
If you’d love a bespoke kitchen like this one, you can read reviews of cabinet-makers in your area.
The windowsill above the upholstered seating is too shallow to safely place a cup, so Soroush designed nifty hidden surfaces into the bench. Two small cupboards either side have a secret mechanism built in that allows them to pivot out and form temporary tabletops.
“Jami and Rowan didn’t want extra furniture cluttering up the kitchen, so these are ideal,” Soroush says. “You can store small items such as coasters inside, and the cabinet also makes use of an otherwise awkward space.”
Bench upholstered by TS Design Studio in Alchemy fabric in Blue Lagoon, Bute Fabrics.
“Jami and Rowan didn’t want extra furniture cluttering up the kitchen, so these are ideal,” Soroush says. “You can store small items such as coasters inside, and the cabinet also makes use of an otherwise awkward space.”
Bench upholstered by TS Design Studio in Alchemy fabric in Blue Lagoon, Bute Fabrics.
It made sense to locate the breakfast area near the bench seat, so the team designed cabinetry to fit. A toaster and coffee-maker sit on the worktop, with pegboard above for hanging cups.
To the left is a cupboard containing pull-out sections for tall items, such as bottles and cereal packets. The cabinet on the right is fitted with shelves and a concealed microwave.
“We discussed what the couple needed to store first and carefully measured out the cabinetry to match,” Soroush says.
To the left is a cupboard containing pull-out sections for tall items, such as bottles and cereal packets. The cabinet on the right is fitted with shelves and a concealed microwave.
“We discussed what the couple needed to store first and carefully measured out the cabinetry to match,” Soroush says.
The team incorporated wicker drawers to bring in some texture and a more traditional feel. The baskets are set into solid oak collars slotted into runners.
Maple handles on the larger cupboards add further interest. “These contrast with the plywood and add a traditional element to the otherwise modern kitchen,” Saroush says.
Discover more ways to add character to a contemporary kitchen.
Discover more ways to add character to a contemporary kitchen.
The oven and sink are located along the opposite wall. A practical undermounted sink has been fitted with a boiling-water tap. The base cabinets include an integrated dishwasher. The owners chose a herringbone tile design as an interesting splashback.
Wall units above are a mix of open shelves and cabinets. A solid oak bar installed in the middle of an open shelf forms a nifty kitchen roll holder.
Wall units above are a mix of open shelves and cabinets. A solid oak bar installed in the middle of an open shelf forms a nifty kitchen roll holder.
The central cupboards are fitted with painted plywood sliding doors, which have a corrugated pattern etched into them. The cabinets either side have maple-veneered hinged doors.
The couple were keen to have a bar area near the dining table. The team attached a sheet of plywood with grooves cut into it beneath the wall cabinets for hanging glasses, and below is a wine rack with angled shelves, which adds an attractive design feature.
The adjoining space will be used as a family dining and living room. The team designed a floating sideboard in the same style as the kitchen cabinets.
Sliding corrugated doors in a darker blue conceal shelves and basket storage. Cable holes have been cut into the top of the unit, so the couple can integrate their media equipment.
Sideboard painted in Mazarine, Little Greene.
Tell us…
What do you like about this plywood kitchen and living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Sliding corrugated doors in a darker blue conceal shelves and basket storage. Cable holes have been cut into the top of the unit, so the couple can integrate their media equipment.
Sideboard painted in Mazarine, Little Greene.
Tell us…
What do you like about this plywood kitchen and living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? Film producer Jami and her husband, Rowan
Location West London
Property A Victorian terraced house with four bedrooms
Kitchen dimensions 3.2m x 7m
Designer Soroush Pourhashemi of Lozi
Budget £21,600
Jami and Rowan’s birch plywood kitchen is located at the front of their Victorian home. The layout consists of two runs of cabinets flanking a large central island.
“There are two levels on the island – one for food preparation and the other for dining,” Soroush explains. The side panel of the eating area is, in fact, a flip-out surface.
Bespoke cabinetry, Lozi. Cabinets painted in Goblin, Little Greene.