Muswell Hill HouseContemporary Kitchen, London
Gareth Gardner
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Layered lightingAs soon as you’ve planned your kitchen’s layout, think about where you’ll locate the lighting. Complement functional spots with some strategically placed task lights to create a lighting scheme that adds both depth and practicality to your space.In this room, the designers have chosen three beautiful pendants (one out of shot) to hang above the island. As well as lighting the island worksurface and creating an ambient glow, these also add a design feature.Spots have been placed beneath the wall units and extractor fan to brighten the perimeter worktops, while the downlights in the ceiling are perfectly placed to illuminate the centre of the room and the sink area.Find a huge range of kitchen lighting in the Houzz Shop
Keep it simpleEverything about this streamlined cookspace is elegant and chic, which gives the whole room a quality feel. The carcasses are Ikea, and have been fitted with bespoke MDF doors – cost-effective yet super-stylish. By keeping the look of the units very plain, the designers have been able to add elements to upgrade the look, including the Farrow & Ball Purbeck Stone paint colour, the black-framed window and the on-trend pendant lights.
Get the lowdown on MFC cabinet doors… MFC cabinet doors are the most budget friendly. They’re only available in a basic ‘slab’ style because MFC can’t be shaped or moulded, but you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to design. “Thousands of colours and textured effects are now available, such as woodgrains, concrete and slate,” says Lawrence. Always check the edging of MFC doors to make sure it’ll stand up to moisture and everyday knocks. “I would recommend PVC or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) edgings with a thickness of between 1.3mm and 2mm,” says Georgiev. If moisture gets through the joins in your doors’ edging, you may need to pay for repairs later on. Avoid the costs by looking for doors made with laser or infrared edgebanding machines: these provide a better contact between the two surfaces.
The family were keen on having a clean, smooth and uncluttered look in the kitchen, with flush finishes, handleless doors and plenty of storage to hide away all their cooking kit. The carcasses are from Ikea, with bespoke MDF doors painted in a specially mixed grey. ‘The doors have a slight curve behind the top edge to allow them to be opened easily,’ says Chris. For the top and full-length cabinets, the finger pool detail runs vertically for easy access. Behind the sink is a small bay window. ‘I was careful to position the windowsill at the same level as the worktop so there’s a generous, south-facing area where the family can grow herbs,’ Chris explains. Browse 8 contemporary kitchen schemes
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Photos in Muswell Hill House 1, London N10
Jones Associates Architects