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Kitchen Tour: A Beautifully Crafted Space for a Family of Four
Traditional Japanese techniques were the inspiration for a kitchen-diner that feels light, balanced and practical
It was a previous project by Howard and Hugh Miller that prompted the owners of this Edwardian home to hire H Miller Bros for their kitchen renovation. The Japanese-influenced joinery of the brothers’ Furniture Maker’s kitchen was just the type of aesthetic the couple were after.
During a carpentry fellowship in Japan, Hugh gained an understanding of the region’s design principles and now uses his knowledge to create unique furniture and spaces that are informed by Japanese homes rather than a direct copy. These traditional themes helped the brothers design a beautiful and practical space in which the family can feel completely at home.
During a carpentry fellowship in Japan, Hugh gained an understanding of the region’s design principles and now uses his knowledge to create unique furniture and spaces that are informed by Japanese homes rather than a direct copy. These traditional themes helped the brothers design a beautiful and practical space in which the family can feel completely at home.
The kitchen is made from British elm and consists of a large island framed by a run of base units along one wall and a fridge-freezer and larder cabinet to the side. The clever design of the island ensures it feels light in the space, despite its generous dimensions.
For each leg, four posts were cut to a width of 3cm, which is the ancient Japanese measurement known as 寸 (pronounced ‘sun’). Their narrow width and the fact there’s an air gap between them makes the furniture appear light, while the structure itself is incredibly strong. Cabinetry is then nestled within this framework.
Quartz worktop, Caesarstone.
For each leg, four posts were cut to a width of 3cm, which is the ancient Japanese measurement known as 寸 (pronounced ‘sun’). Their narrow width and the fact there’s an air gap between them makes the furniture appear light, while the structure itself is incredibly strong. Cabinetry is then nestled within this framework.
Quartz worktop, Caesarstone.
On the dining table side, there are some useful cupboards with drawers beneath to allow easy access for tall items such as vases.
A chevron design along the base adds interest and helps to ground the furniture in its space.
Find kitchen designers on Houzz.
A chevron design along the base adds interest and helps to ground the furniture in its space.
Find kitchen designers on Houzz.
The couple wanted their children to be able to lay the table, so cutlery drawers were installed inside a walnut box on the top of the worktop. On the other side of the box is another drawer for cooking utensils.
Howard created a handy smartphone ledge for viewing online recipes within the finger grip of the drawer. “It took a lot of testing to ensure it was the right size for a smartphone,” he says.
Hob, KitchenAid.
Hob, KitchenAid.
A table area at the end of the island is an ideal place for the kids to do their homework.
Above the island is a walnut light box, which echoes the shape and material of the cutlery box below. The hanging structure is lined with paper, which helps to diffuse the light for a warm, cosy glow.
At one end of the base units along the wall, Howard turned a champagne sink into a planter for herbs. “It’s lined with a green roof build-up and there’s a filter to stop soil going down the plughole,” he explains.
Sink; herb planter trough, both The 1810 Company. Casa Cemento floor tiles, Concept Tiles.
Above the island is a walnut light box, which echoes the shape and material of the cutlery box below. The hanging structure is lined with paper, which helps to diffuse the light for a warm, cosy glow.
At one end of the base units along the wall, Howard turned a champagne sink into a planter for herbs. “It’s lined with a green roof build-up and there’s a filter to stop soil going down the plughole,” he explains.
Sink; herb planter trough, both The 1810 Company. Casa Cemento floor tiles, Concept Tiles.
Howard didn’t install wall units, but instead designed a slatted screen to run above the sink area. As the light behind the screen shines through the slats, a warm, dappled glow is cast over the space.
Fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel. Oven; dishwasher, both Miele. Tap, Quooker.
Fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel. Oven; dishwasher, both Miele. Tap, Quooker.
The owners wanted to be able to see their herbs and spices easily without having to move things around, so the team designed angled supports within a drawer beneath the island hob.
Under this is a vinyl-lined drawer for bulky and fiddly baking equipment.
Under this is a vinyl-lined drawer for bulky and fiddly baking equipment.
Another drawer is fitted with sections for chopping boards, as well as pegs to hold pans and lids in place.
A niche to the side was the ideal place to tuck a roomy fridge-freezer and pantry area. The couple have a large collection of houseplants, so Howard thought the space above would make a nice home for them.
Fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel.
Fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel.
Sliding doors with old-fashioned privacy glazing obscure the items within the pantry while allowing a diffused light to shine through.
The interior of the pantry has been fitted out with shallow wooden shelves and a practical quartz worktop.
Ceramic tableware and vases, Attila Olah.
The interior of the pantry has been fitted out with shallow wooden shelves and a practical quartz worktop.
Ceramic tableware and vases, Attila Olah.
The chevron detail mentioned earlier is repeated at the bottom of the pantry, adding attractive texture to the cabinetry.
Alongside the pantry area, two structural columns form another niche, which gave the team an idea for storing some of the couple’s 200 cookery books.
“In Japan, homes often have a domestic shrine, called a tokonoma, occupying a niche,” Howard says. “The distinctive parts of a tokonoma are a raised step, a supporting column, a shelf, and a backdrop, so we used these ingredients to create a book and display shelf.”
“In Japan, homes often have a domestic shrine, called a tokonoma, occupying a niche,” Howard says. “The distinctive parts of a tokonoma are a raised step, a supporting column, a shelf, and a backdrop, so we used these ingredients to create a book and display shelf.”
Another slatted screen was positioned at the top of the shelving area, again with lighting behind. This time, however, the illumination is directed towards the floor to cast a glow down the wall.
The team designed the dining table, too, which sits opposite this shelf unit and can be seen in the first photo. “We made it in the same way as other furniture, but the legs are triangles to allow people to sit around it comfortably,” Howard says.
The team designed the dining table, too, which sits opposite this shelf unit and can be seen in the first photo. “We made it in the same way as other furniture, but the legs are triangles to allow people to sit around it comfortably,” Howard says.
The couple are over the moon with their new kitchen, saying, “[We] keep noticing new details and can’t get over how it manages to be both incredibly practical and so beautiful at the same time.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite feature in Howard and Hugh’s design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite feature in Howard and Hugh’s design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple and their two children
Location Hove, East Sussex
Property An Edwardian house
Room dimensions 10m x 6.3m
Designers Howard and Hugh Miller of H Miller Bros
This open-plan space was originally three separate rooms. Following an extension project, the team at H Miller Bros were brought in to design the interior of the large area, which runs along the whole width of the back of the house.
“Every kitchen we make is tailored to the person we make it for,” Howard Miller says, “so as well as asking the normal questions, we’ve developed a design process to tease out the more intangible stuff – an understanding of how the person wants to be and feel in the space.”
The owners love to cook, so practical features were fundamental, but the couple also wanted the attention to detail, lightness of materials and harmonious feel that can be found in Japanese design.