The Zen Kitchen

25 Jan 18

After living in the same London house for 15 years, the owners of this kitchen decided to renovate rather than move. The project quickly expanded to include digging out the basement and putting a rear extension to the house to create a large new multi-purpose living space overlooking the mature garden.

The heart of that living space is the bespoke Modulnova kitchen designed by Tom Karavla at DesignSpace London.  The clients worked with a Japanese interior designer to achieve a Zen-like peace and order throughout the house, in line with which Tom’s brief was to create “a calm kitchen”.

Oriented to make the very best of the garden views and natural light which floods the new space, the kitchen uses the Modulnova ‘Fly’ range.  Gloss lacquer (in Grigio Steel) on flush floor-to-ceiling wall cabinetry reflects light back into the room, whilst satin lacquer (in Soko Piombo) on the working island gives a more muted finish in that zone. 

Overall, the palette is deliberately kept natural and neutral, allowing the architectural lines of the kitchen to speak for themselves within the space.  For the same reason, much of the functionality of the kitchen is hidden away behind pocket doors when not in use, from the twin Miele dishwashers to the giant Gaggenau fridge and freezer.  Even the extractor is discreet, fitted flush to the ceiling above the island.

It all looks effortless – but behind the calm exterior this is a kitchen designed not just for family life but also for entertaining on a large scale.  Every cupboard and drawer interior has been painstakingly designed down to the last detail including storage not just for everyday necessities but also for party china, glass and crockery. The space served by the kitchen is also carefully planned, with the main dining area within the open plan space, a comfortable snug adjoining the kitchen and the new basement providing yet another entertaining zone, perfect for teenagers to have their own space.