Nicholas Denney Studio has created a masterful kitchen of dreams with pink poured concrete surfaces and cabinetry clad in oak.
Nicholas Denney Studio completed a kitchen redesign in Alloway, Scotland. Described by the client as “a functional piece of modern art” the finished kitchen saw the fine concrete specialists tackle a brief to create a bright and open family kitchen that would be sturdy enough to stand the test of time.
Led by award winning artist, designer and maker Nicholas Denney, the Studio draws on Nicholas’ family background in construction and his art and design practice informed by Brutalism, Modernism and 20th Century architecture. The clean lines, bold shapes and quality materials in the kitchen design draw inspiration from designers and architects such as Charlotte Perriand, Carlo Scarpa and Jean Prouvé.
Key to the early material selection was the concept of solidity. Budget and sustainability also had to be considered, so a balance was needed to achieve these goals. The large central peninsular alongside the sink, and other work surfaces were all cast in concrete and dyed using a unique technique developed by Nicholas Denney Studio. The sink was precast to bespoke very generous proportions, involving two large basins and a smaller sink for a macerator. The work surfaces were then poured in situ around the precast sink and engineered to be cantilevered off the cabinetry and supported by two dramatic curved stanchions.
Speaking about the project, Denney said, “A key design decision was around the dimensions of the peninsular worktop. A large Aga was specified by the client, and this needed to be central to the way the kitchen was used. In addition the brief requested as much workspace as feasible. This made the required design a real balancing act to accommodate an immense structure in the middle of the space, whilst keeping the atmosphere open and free flowing. This was achieved by using a very warm, yet light shade of pink for the concrete, allowing the surfaces to reflect light back up into the space without it feeling clinical. Warmth was always important to the project. The concrete structures were balanced throughout the space, from floor to ceiling, giving a sense of unity that countered the visual weight of the central peninsular.
“Concrete as a material offers design flexibility, permanence and certainly fulfils the brief of solidity. A nice touch and an idea proposed by the client was the continuous, curved splashback cast on site. Drawing on expertise within the team of skatepark construction we were able to minimise joins in critical areas and therefore increase longevity. It’s been great to be able to use my skills as a maker to offer clients solutions not generally available in the world of kitchens. Finally large format concrete tiles were used to bring texture and an architectural element into the space, alongside pre fabricated bespoke concrete shelf brackets.”
The bespoke cabinetry created in the Studio workshop consists of strips of oak clad eucalyptus structural plywood which needed to be strong enough to support the concrete elements, but affordable and sustainable. Nicholas Denney Studio managed all aspects of design and fabrication, which involved taking advantage of the existing architecture to create a light source over the kitchen sink. This opened up the ceiling to the roof where two skylights were installed. The ceiling height concrete wall tiles were then used to bring the light down into the space, giving the eye a subconscious path to follow. Lighting is provided by copper lamps above the Aga with dimmable bulbs and undershelf leds casting a glow onto the concrete tiles.
Bespoke copper taps were created for the large sink and the material was elevated by elongating the dimensions to add a little elegance and reflect the curve motif of the worktop. An integrated cat tunnel to an existing cat flap behind the sink was created and hidden within the concrete throughout the kitchen are five Lego characters, one for each member of the family (including Freddie the cat).
The Alloway Kitchen builds on the success of Nicholas Denney Studio’s award winning furniture design practice which has received Design Innovation prizes in Scotland and critical acclaim at London Design Festival.
www.nicholasdenneystudio.co.uk | IG: @nicholasdenneystudio
