Kitchen Case Studies

Project:

Signature Bespoke open plan kitchen with integrated workstation

Design Inspiration:

The kitchen was to be designed as an open plan lifestyle space that also included a full workstation that could be concealed when not in use.

What Searle & Taylor created:

The kitchen was part of an extension to a detached house that was built during the 1990’s. The extension was designed as an open plan lifestyle space that incorporated a kitchen and separate dining area, a ‘snug’ seating area and importantly, a workstation that could be hidden from view when socialising and entertaining.

Floor to ceiling cabinets were designed against the back wall with a large linear island in front. To soften the look of the room, the corner units were curved at equal angles on either side and includes a tall walk-in larder with internal shelving at separate heights. Also integrated is an extra wide 90cm Liebherr fridge freezer with ice maker and a bank of built-in cooking appliances, as specified by the client.

The large central island with granite worksurface houses nine drawers with shell handles and is designed with a dual purpose: for food preparation and cooking on one side and for relaxed seating with a cantilevered solid oak breakfast bar on the other. The cooking area houses a centrally positioned full surface induction hob, which is directly beneath a flush mounted ceiling hood.

As requested, to the right hand side of the cabinets, a work station was created that could accommodate files, folders and a large screen PC. In order to be as functional as possible, a set of pocket doors were developed on a bi-fold system that return into side pockets to leave the workstation clear and open. Complementing the rest of the cabinetry, the doors feature carved semi-circles within clean lines together with semi-circular handles that reveal a mandala-inspired design when closed

Project:

Contemporary open plan kitchen and lifestyle space.

What Searle & Taylor created:

Due to the extremely generous size of the room the owner wanted to explore every option so that the space was maximised for a large family and regular entertaining and a large island unit of an unusual shape was always part of the brief. Using cabinetry by Austrian brand, Intuo we designed the largest island possible for the kitchen whilst taking into account a sensible gap all the way around. We also had to consider the large glass ceiling lanterns and position a ceiling extractor between these. Therefore, the position of the hob was very important as the extractor had to be directly over it to ensure it worked to its optimum level.

The island was too big to have the Silestone quartz worktop made from one single slab; instead, we create two thicknesses, which also provided contrast. The seating section is built up to 80mm whereas the working side of the island is 20mm. To work with the vast amount of windows in the room a two-tone kitchen was designed using glass fronted Intuo cabinets in Quartz contrasted with Panna colourways.

This kitchen is highly functional because almost all the base units are pull-outs and the ovens are positioned in tall cabinets. Appliances are by Neff: together with the bank of four ovens and large warming drawers, the tall run of Anthracite units holds a full height fridge, full height freezer and two full height larder units with internal pull-out drawers. The plinth beneath was specially ordered in stainless steel slats to provide the necessary airflow required for the integrated fridge/freezer.

Project:

This design was created for the Drawing Board feature in September 2017’s Kitchens Bedrooms and Bathrooms magazine. The verdict of the article began with the word ‘Wow!’

Design Inspiration:

The clients had a huge open plan space in which to fit an entire living and dining area, but they wanted additional factors incorporated such as relaxed seating and a mixed-use space where adults and children could be entertained. A feature window taking up the entire width of the room was also a consideration.

What Searle & Taylor created:

Given the luxury of space for this project, a kitchen and lifestyle area was designed to work in parts and as a whole. The kitchen was designed exactly in the centre of the room with a circular island unit directly and centrally under the large ceiling lantern, as this was an obvious focal point. All main working areas and seating faced the stunning views that are all visible through the existing glazed doors.

The 30mm thick in-frame Signature Bespoke furniture was a mix of hand-painted fronts using two different paint colours. This run of cabinets centrally houses the ovens with an integrated fridge and freezer installed symmetrically either side of a curved walk in larder with internal shelving. At one end of this unit near the dining area is a false front concealing a bar area behind pocket doors. The leathered granite Silestone counter matches the kitchen and backlit glass shelving was used for bottles and glasses above.

The central kitchen includes a large circular island incorporating a Nicola Tesla downdraft induction hob. Casual seating at the cantilevered semi-circular oak bar provides a relaxed space for informal dining. Two further curved islands mirror each other with painted fronts and angled oak backs. One includes the sink area with an integrated dishwasher and pull-out bin, while the other separately stores crockery and cutlery.

Project:

Hampshire Bespoke Hand-painted Kitchen and Lifestyle Space

Design Inspiration:

The client requested a luxury open plan kitchen, living and dining space that would be in keeping with the stunning oak beamed ceiling in their home.

What Searle & Taylor created:

This full bespoke open plan design features Shaker fronts on chamfered frames and cabinetry with a walnut finished interior with solid walnut edging and dove-tailed drawer boxes. All cabinets were hand-painted in Bottle Rack Grey by Finnish paint company, Valtti. The central kitchen island was designed as the focal point, but also as a fully functional unit with a walnut breakfast bar at one end and a circular end-grain walnut drum with end-grain chopping board at the other, which incorporated further hand-made walnut chopping boards and tea trays encased beneath. Together with storage drawers and under counter cabinets within the island, an integrated wine fridge was also included. The black granite worktops are Marron Cohiba and appliances are from Gaggenau, Liebherr and Elica, with sinks by Franke and hot water tap by Quooker.

A further Shaker style seating area was designed facing the island with a hidden shelf directly behind concealing a pop-up widescreen TV. A further hand-painted oak dresser was designed and made to complement the client’s oak dining table. This incorporated slide and hide pocket doors.

Project:

Hampshire Handmade Bespoke Kitchen

Design Inspiration:

The customer wanted a pale hand-painted kitchen that featured a modern twist on a traditional style

What Searle & Taylor created:

Darren Taylor designed an in-frame kitchen with cock bead detailing around the frame and small bead detail inside all doors, all with ball-knob handles. The uniquely designed kitchen island hand-painted in F&B Manor House Grey incorporated with escalating drawers with on-trend shell handles on one side and deep storage cupboards on the other. A bespoke hood was also created to accommodate a hidden Elica extractor above the customer’s range cooker.

To add a modern aspect, a distressed oak breakfast bar was counter-levered from the island unit. A Silestone Blanco Rivers quartz worktop was used throughout the kitchen because its aesthetic replicates the paleness of Carrera marble.

The client also requested a single area for food storage so a large pantry was created with a full-height integrated Liebherr fridge plus separate freezer (with ice maker) together with a larder unit with pull-out drawers either side. A further unit was designed to accommodate the Liebherr wine cooler, with a drawer above to store a cork screw and associated utilities. To add a further contemporary twist, a Quooker hot water tap was also specified.