The designer: Katy Thompson at Naked Kitchens

The photographer: Edmund Sumner

The story: Naked Kitchens is the essence of the very finest in British manufacturing, offering a variety of kitchen styles and materials to suit all budgets.

Designer Q&A:

Q) What was your brief from the client?

The client wanted a finish that was natural and contrasting. Also, a space that was for entertaining and functional. They wanted it to tie in with other aspects of the property, which was natural and earthy. They did not want a busy-style door but something simple with no fuss.

Q) How did you answer the brief?

It was easy enough to meet the brief when it came to finish. We used our real oak veneered fronts with a J groove handle. This tied in with the other oak pieces in the room and the J groove is a non-fuss handle, which looks simple and sleek. When it came to a contrast, the painted grain visible units with bar handles slotted straight into the design. It was great that the room was of ample size, as it meant that there could be a large island in the space for entertaining whilst cooking and prepping food.

Q) Which products did you use and why?

Internally, the units were made from our oak-effect cabinetry, as this is a more cost-effective option that meant it kept within the client’s budget. Externally, the fronts were made from our exposed oak veneered J groove fronts and a real oak veneer finish on the painted doors to give the grain visible texture. This gave the fantastic contrast that the client wanted as well as the earthy and natural feel.

Q) Was there any building work invoived?

Yes, this project was in a new-build property so there were plenty of other elements going on at the same time.

Q) What elements do you think make the scheme so successful?

The large island is something that was a huge success, as it meant there was space for the hob, a prep sink and also the seating for entertaining. The shape of the room helped as well, as it meant we could mirror the painted tall units on both sides, which brings the kitchen together. Next to the fridge, the client opted for bi-folding doors which meant they could hide away the messier side of life like the toaster and kettle. This also meant there was more worktop space in the kitchen. The client thoughtfully selected lighting and furniture to reflect the circular feature window situated at the end of the room above the wall cabinets.

Q) Any advice for someone who may be planning a new kitchen?
Think about the space you have and use it wisely, as the more storage and worktop space you have, the better. Also, when choosing finishes, make sure to keep in mind what the room will be like in terms of natural light. This client had a beautifully open and light space so a dark colour looks great. However, if you have a smaller space, you might what to think about a lighter colour to avoid closing it in.

 Q) Any trend predictions for 2022?
Lighter and fresher colours seem to be very popular at present as well as greens. The mixture between an exposed timber and painted units is incredibly popular and we see this on many of our clients’ wish list. In terms of layout, we see a lot of kitchens with a run of units (either straight or L shaped) with an island too.

The details:

Space Tower by Blum

Appliances by Bosch, Bora and Samsung

Furniture, rugs and lighting by Couch Potato Company

Wellbeing products by Welltek

Archtecture by Foundations Architects

Hayley loves: the warmth that this real oak veneer creates in such a large space.