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Kitchen Tour: Cool Scandi Style in an Open-Plan Family Room
The Beckers wanted to replicate the elegance of the kitchen in their previous home – but in a larger space
When the Becker family needed more space, they moved to a larger property just next door, but there was one feature of their old house that they desperately wanted to retain – the kitchen. They loved the cool, calm, simplicity of their original kitchen, which was designed by Sola Kitchens, so they called on the company’s managing director, Sofia Bune Strandh, to do it all again. “It’s exactly the same style and colour,” says Bune Strandh, “but, of course, the layout is different as this is a larger space.”
Having loved the cool, streamlined Scandinavian vibe of the kitchen in their previous house, the Beckers decided to opt for the same style and colour tones.
“The spray-painted white units with handleless groove are from a Swedish manufacturer, and are exactly the same as the clients’ previous kitchen in the house next door,” says Bune Strandh. “It’s actually just one shade off bright white.”
The kitchen is a practical U-shape with a central island unit as a focal point.
Sletten units, Sola Kitchens. Oven, combi-steam oven and fridges, all Miele. Freezer and wine cabinet, Gaggenau.
“The spray-painted white units with handleless groove are from a Swedish manufacturer, and are exactly the same as the clients’ previous kitchen in the house next door,” says Bune Strandh. “It’s actually just one shade off bright white.”
The kitchen is a practical U-shape with a central island unit as a focal point.
Sletten units, Sola Kitchens. Oven, combi-steam oven and fridges, all Miele. Freezer and wine cabinet, Gaggenau.
Storage was high on the agenda for a busy family, especially in an open-plan kitchen that’s constantly on view to the eating and living zones.
So Sola Kitchens factored in bespoke solutions, such as the compartmentalised birch pull-out drawer on the island and tall cabinets that stretch to the ceiling to accommodate a bank of streamlined integrated appliances, offering masses of extra storage.
“We built the tall cabinets to about 2,750mm high to take advantage of the height of the ceiling,” says Bune Strandh. “There’s now space to store less-often-used platters and serving dishes.”
Planning your kitchen? See how to get the storage right
So Sola Kitchens factored in bespoke solutions, such as the compartmentalised birch pull-out drawer on the island and tall cabinets that stretch to the ceiling to accommodate a bank of streamlined integrated appliances, offering masses of extra storage.
“We built the tall cabinets to about 2,750mm high to take advantage of the height of the ceiling,” says Bune Strandh. “There’s now space to store less-often-used platters and serving dishes.”
Planning your kitchen? See how to get the storage right
Sola Kitchens persuaded the owners to go with slightly different worktops in this design.
“The clients chose the white-oiled oak flooring first, so we matched this with a light, white-stained oak worktop on the island. In the other house we’d used walnut,” explains Bune Strandh. “Here, we also went with a light composite worktop instead of a dark grey.”
Radianz Quartz worktop in Everest White, Samsung. White-stained solid oak worktop (on island), Spevka. Caravaggio matt pendant lights (above island), Ambiente Direct.
“The clients chose the white-oiled oak flooring first, so we matched this with a light, white-stained oak worktop on the island. In the other house we’d used walnut,” explains Bune Strandh. “Here, we also went with a light composite worktop instead of a dark grey.”
Radianz Quartz worktop in Everest White, Samsung. White-stained solid oak worktop (on island), Spevka. Caravaggio matt pendant lights (above island), Ambiente Direct.
Bright, and filled with natural light, the kitchen is simple yet effortlessly stylish.
The streamlined silhouette is enhanced by the sleek undermount sinks and flush induction hob.
Blanco Claron undermount sink, Blanco. Induction hob, Gaggenau. Stratus ceiling cooker hood, Westin.
The streamlined silhouette is enhanced by the sleek undermount sinks and flush induction hob.
Blanco Claron undermount sink, Blanco. Induction hob, Gaggenau. Stratus ceiling cooker hood, Westin.
The seamless oak flooring enhances the fluidity of the large, open-plan room.
Conveniently, the kitchen can also be accessed from a separate side door.
Not sure about kitchen flooring? Discover the best type for your needs
Conveniently, the kitchen can also be accessed from a separate side door.
Not sure about kitchen flooring? Discover the best type for your needs
There’s a second sink on the island end which can be reached from every angle.
Blanco Rondo Sol-IF stainless steel prep sink, Blanco.
Blanco Rondo Sol-IF stainless steel prep sink, Blanco.
The owners suggested the idea of built-in banquette seating to create a relaxed breakfast area.
“They’re a family of six and the kids often have friends over, so they need a lot of seating,” says Bune Strandh.
Tulip chairs and Saarinen oval table, Knoll.
“They’re a family of six and the kids often have friends over, so they need a lot of seating,” says Bune Strandh.
Tulip chairs and Saarinen oval table, Knoll.
The grey upholstered banquette bench and modern white dining table and chairs complement the serene Scandi-style ambience of the décor that the family like so much.
A walk-in utility room was designed next to the breakfast zone to house the laundry appliances and provide yet more storage.
“It’s more like a large pantry with a big broom cabinet, plus storage for overflow kitchen items and a pull-out dog bowl drawer,” says Bune Strandh. “The owners had this slightly romantic view of a big countryside pantry. Hence, we decided to do it in a more classic style, and in a soft grey shade, compared to the main kitchen.”
“It’s more like a large pantry with a big broom cabinet, plus storage for overflow kitchen items and a pull-out dog bowl drawer,” says Bune Strandh. “The owners had this slightly romantic view of a big countryside pantry. Hence, we decided to do it in a more classic style, and in a soft grey shade, compared to the main kitchen.”
Even the family dog has its own pull-out drawer where bowls and food are stashed.
The huge extension at the back of the house is saturated with natural light and features fluid zones for dining, relaxing and preparing food.
The cool, calm, grey and white palette provides the perfect backdrop for the simple, Scandinavian furniture in pale woods and light-coloured upholstery.
Slice oak dining table, Adventures in Furniture. About a Chair dining chairs, Hay. Atto 5000 pendant lights by Secto, Skandium.
What do you think of this large, open-plan, Scandi-style kitchen-living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Slice oak dining table, Adventures in Furniture. About a Chair dining chairs, Hay. Atto 5000 pendant lights by Secto, Skandium.
What do you think of this large, open-plan, Scandi-style kitchen-living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Karoline and Mark Becker and their four children
Location Southwest London
Size 4m x 4m, plus an additional larder/utility area; part of a 1920s detached house with 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms
Kitchen designer Sofia Bune Strandh of Sola Kitchens
With four children, the Beckers had outgrown their house, so they moved next door to a roomy detached 1920s property with six bedrooms.
The house had been lived in for more than 45 years by an elderly couple and it needed a complete renovation and modernisation. The Beckers also added a huge extension across the back of the property to accommodate a large, open-plan living-dining-kitchen hub.
“The kitchen is in the same spot as the original one, but the walls were opened up to create an open-plan layout,” explains Bune Strandh. “The main kitchen area measures 4m x 4m, but we also added a larder/utility space.”