Hickling Kitchen Project
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Designer Project Notes – Hickling Kitchen Project
Kitchen Project Vision & Client Brief
For the Hickling kitchen, the brief focused on creating a warm, contemporary space that combined modern German cabinetry with a welcoming, sociable layout. The clients wanted a kitchen that felt stylish yet comfortable, with an emphasis on natural textures, atmospheric lighting, and efficient storage. Functionality, sociability, and everyday usability were key priorities.
Kitchen Design Concept & Aesthetic Direction
The overall concept centred around a balance of rich, deep-toned cabinetry and warm wood accents, creating a modern kitchen scheme with a grounded, homely feel. The dark blue cabinetry provides a sleek contemporary base, beautifully contrasted by the warm timber-effect tall units, feature panels, and worktops. This combination strikes the right balance between boldness and comfort, giving the space sophistication without feeling cold.
Soft, ambient lighting—particularly the warm LED strip beneath wall units and the cluster of pendant lights above the peninsula—enhances the richness of the materials and adds depth to the design.
Kitchen Colour Palette, Materials & Finishes
Kitchen Cabinetry
- Deep navy/graphite matt doors provide a modern, elegant aesthetic.
- The matt kitchen finish avoids glare and fingerprints, keeping the kitchen looking clean.
- Timber features in the tall unit bank, shelving, and peninsula wrap soften the look and introduce texture.
Kitchen Worktops & Timber Elements
- The warm wood-effect worktops create a cohesive flow from the tall units through the peninsula, tying the whole scheme together.
- The breakfast bar overhang extends functionality while maintaining the visual warmth the clients wanted.
Kitchen Splashback
- A simple matching splashback keeps the look streamlined and uncluttered, allowing lighting and cabinetry to take centre stage.
Kitchen Layout & Flow
The space is designed as a U-shaped kitchen with a peninsula, an excellent choice for maximising preparation space while keeping the footprint open and sociable.
Key layout features:
- Peninsula with seating creates a casual dining and social zone, ideal for morning coffee, homework, or entertaining.
- Tall housing wall maximises vertical storage and incorporates ovens at an ergonomic height.
- L-shaped run along the window wall provides generous workspace and easy access to the sink and cooking areas.
- Corner solutions ensure that no space is wasted, a hallmark of German kitchen design.
The flow between sink, hob, and prep areas is efficient, making this layout ideal for busy day-to-day use.
Kitchen Lighting Strategy
Lighting was a significant part of the design, helping shape the mood and functionality.
Three-layer lighting design:
- Ambient lighting: Discreet ceiling downlights give even illumination across the room.
- Task lighting: Warm LED under-cabinet lighting highlights the splashback, improves visibility on worktops, and subtly elevates the aesthetic.
- Feature lighting: The pendant cluster above the peninsula adds personality, texture, and visual focus, reinforcing the kitchen’s social feel.
The warm colour temperature of all lighting complements the timber finishes perfectly.
Kitchen Appliance Integration & Practicality
- Appliances are fully integrated or positioned cohesively to maintain clean sightlines.
- Ovens sit within the tall bank, keeping the workspace uncluttered and improving usability.
- The induction hob is centred neatly beneath wall units, with ample workspace on either side.
- A matt black tap and sink add a striking contemporary touch while tying in with the darker cabinetry.
Kitchen Storage & Internal Planning
German cabinetry allowed us to incorporate storage efficiently without disrupting the clean exterior lines.
Key storage features include:
- A full-height run for bulk storage and appliances
- Deep pan drawers beneath the hob
- Open timber shelving at the tall unit end, softening the corner and offering a place for display items
- Well-planned internal configurations to keep clutter off work surfaces
This thoughtful mix of closed and open storage supports both practicality and visual interest.
Kitchen Design Strengths & Why This Kitchen Works
- The contrast of dark kitchen cabinetry and warm timber creates a timeless yet modern look.
- The U-shaped layout with peninsula maximises both workspace and social interaction.
- Lighting adds warmth, clarity, and evening ambience.
- The kitchen design balances clean lines with tactile, inviting materials, making the space feel comfortable rather than stark.
- Storage is abundant but unobtrusive, supporting everyday living without clutter.
The result is a refined, functional German kitchen that feels equally suited to busy family life and relaxed entertaining.
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