ITALIAN JOB
Looks that count
A unique approach to kitchen cabinetry was sought by the interior designer-owner of this home in Puglia, in southern Italy.
The Brief
The client was very clear that instead of a fitted kitchen, she wanted the cabinetry to look like pieces of freestanding furniture, and for every piece of kitchen paraphernalia to be hidden inside them. She asked that the furniture to be made of walnut and that the kitchen be designed so that it is very easy to use and keep clean, by herself or by guests, and that the finished look to be impressive and nothing like a kitchen.
The designer's solution comprises three cupboards, or pods, and a beautiful marble-clad island fitted with additional storage. Arranged along one wall, the walnut-veneered pods have flat-fronted pocket doors with recessed handles that open up to reveal the working elements of the kitchen and each is fully self-contained so the client can open and close them as she needs, helping to minimise the impact of the kitchen function on the wider space. In the 'wet pod', the stainless-steel sink is moulded into the worktop cum splashback, with a dishwasher below it and storage space for drying crockery above. The cookery pod contains an oven, a microwave, a Bora hob integrated into a moulded steel top cum splashback, and the extractor is hidden behind the panel of walnut above. Finally, the pantry hob is fitted to hold crockery, glassware, and a full-height fridge with its own walnut-veneered door.
Special Features
Tagline: walnut can be refinished easily, making it ideal for use in areas where dints and knocks can happen.
Finishing touches: the sink has a dripless front profile and a brass tap by Perrin & Rowe.
Materials & Finishes
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3.- Calacatta Gold Polished Marble
- Brushed Stainless Steel
- Natural Walnut
The process
