ELEGANT ENTERTAINER
A magic box of treats
Having been inspired by the stunning minimalist designs they had seen on Sola Kitchen's social media pages, when the owners of this large family home in Manchester needed a kitchen worthy of their project to open up the back of the house with vast windows and add an architect-designed extension with a double-height pitched ceiling, they knew exactly where to turn.
The Brief
The clients envisioned their large open-plan space, which is separated from the main house by nearly ceiling-height glazed doors, to feature ultra-clean lines and a sleek look, ideal for large-scale cooking and entertaining. Inspired by a Sola Kitchens design with a large island, where the doors and drawers were mitre-cut to the worktop and at all four corners to create a wooden box effect, they requested something similar. They wanted a palette of pale woods and white to contrast with dark grey walls and dark-stained slatted timbers that line the ceiling, complemented by stainless steel detailing. Additionally, they desired a handy bookshelf for their cookery book collection.
The designer's solution features white-oiled oak flat-fronted cabinetry paired with a matching solid oak worktop to create a statement wooden island. This is offset by a wall of pure-white-painted tall cabinets, achieving a sleek, linear look with tactile warmth to avoid a clinical feel. The island, designed as the kitchen's functional hub without compromising its handsome good looks, with a built-in chef’s-style table, incorporates a sheet of matt stainless steel seamlessly moulded to include a Blanco sink and cut to fit the downdraft Bora hob. Integrated into the prima finished-oak worktop, the insert remains nearly invisible from the front. The island also houses bins and a dishwasher, while the Neff ovens, fridge-freezer, and pantry are enclosed in the tall wall cabinets.
Special Features
Pull not pop: having push-to-open drawers immediately beneath the worksurface can mean they pop open when you lean against them. In this kitchen, the drawers in the island have grouted handles along the bottom edges of each drawer front so they can be pulled open from there.
Finishing touches: to maintain the smooth finish, a column of shelving for the cookery books was tucked into the side of the wall cabinets, out of sight from the main room but easily accessible, and a colourful point of interest when seen from the garden.
Materials & Finishes
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3.- Satin Matt Sanded Stainless
- White Pigmented Oak
- Spray Painted Smooth In 'White'
The process
