1. CORIAN-CLAD CABINETS
‘Originally created for a seaside home on the coast, this bespoke kitchen combines the characteristic warmth of wood with linear Corian in a glacial white,' says Jack Trench, director of the eponymous kitchen brand.
2. WALL-TO-WALL SPRUCE
A seamless interior of pale spruce joinery defines this light-filled kitchen, part of a recent project by Southeast London studio Tikari Works. ‘The limited palette of materials minimizes visual clutter and creates an atmosphere that’s calm, tactile and comforting,’ says practice co-founder Nicola Tikari of the design, which looks more aligned with Scandinavian design than your typical London apartment block.
3. WARM WOOD MEETS COOL COLOR
When it comes to grey kitchen ideas, dark wood is the perfect complement. This striking dark-stained oak design was conceived by Swedish bespoke kitchen company Nordiska Kök, for an atmospheric 19th-century apartment in Gothenburg. ‘Together with the owner, we created a rustic wooden kitchen that featured an asymmetrical wall cabinet in a more contemporary design,’ says the brand’s founder and creative director Johan Lundkvist.
4. CHARACTERFUL RECLAIMED WOOD
‘The aim was to create a fun and cozy kitchen for a growing family. Something robust that would reflect their love of color,’ says architect Anthi Grapsa, who used accents of reclaimed iroko hardwood in this mustard-yellow kitchen that she designed in London.
5. AN ICONIC FLOATING DESIGN
Designed by Søren Hvalsøe Garde in 1999, Garde Hvalsøe’s beautifully crafted ‘Minimal’ model has since become a timeless classic, an icon of minimalism in interior design. ‘A distinctive aspect is the floating expression of the drawers,’ says the Danish brand’s CEO Søren Lundh Aagaard of the kitchen, shown here in the home of Michelin-starred chef Nicolai Nørregaard.
6. VINTAGE-INSPIRED CABINETRY
No conversation about modern kitchen ideas feels complete without referencing this one, an instant modern classic. ‘The kitchen is the center of this airy Scandinavian home,’ says DeVOL’s creative director, Helen Parker. ‘An eclectic mix of vintage furniture complements our Haberdasher's cupboards, which have a nostalgic feel that ensures they fit perfectly into the space without feeling either too modern or too contrived.’
7. STAINED TIMBER FOR SUBTLE COLOR
When architects Thomas Geldof and Carmine Van Der Linden designed the interior of this duplex on the Belgian coast, they took inspiration from the surrounding landscape and chose a sea-green stain for the wooden kitchen units. ‘We tasked Belgian joinery experts Deco-Lust with the custom birch cabinets, who did a great job achieving the color we wanted, says Thomas.
8. PLYWOOD AND PASTELS
The kitchen of this Victorian terraced house in east London is located in a former cellar, which means low ceilings and little natural light. ‘It was a dingy space, so we thought that the room needed some sunny tones,’ says Christian Ducker of Gundry + Ducker architects, who devised a palette of pale plywood and pastel shades - a wonderful take on kitchen color ideas.