We have been very impressed by the KBB Review Retail & Design Awards 2023 Winners, and are delighted to bring you a look at the winning project from Archispek. Designer Huse Kilic won the award for Kitchen Designer of the Year, project cost up to £30,000.

WINNING PROJECT DESIGNED BY HUSE KILIC, ARCHISPEK

Huse Kilic is delighted with the response to his winning design, ‘It was a real pleasure getting recognised as a designer for my work. I put a lot of passion and time into my projects, which my clients appreciate and I was really happy this came across to the judges too. We packed a lot of cool features in here, from the pocket doors to hidden internal glass fronted drawers, all for under £30,000. We used reputable brands, including Quooker, Blanco, Siemens, Blum, Caesarstone and Salice, which gives me confidence for the all-important longevity of the kitchen. I will approach all future  projects with the same ethos of carefully and lovingly designing spaces – and an award is a bonus!’

THE PROJECT HAS A HINT OF SCANDINAVIAN STYLE, WITH SOFT GREEN PAINT FINISHES

Huse explains his clients wanted a contemporary look with colour and natural materials for a bright and uplifting look. The ground floor had been re-configured by their architectural team, leaving a bright and uplifting space for the kitchen. ‘The overall layout of the kitchen is very functional as a whole – there is a small but useful island which faces the room and a sink behind which makes for a really compact but practical kitchen. The real stars of the show are the open shelves which allow our clients to express their design choices and display all their unique items. The reason this created such an interesting feature is because we hid the ovens behind a pocket door system allow the eye to only be drawn to the open units’. We look forward to seeing more projects from Archispek, a new website is on its way, (www.archispek.com), contact the team on 01620 849142 and follow them on Instagram @archispek

NOBLE GREY 5211 SURFACES BY CAESARSTONE

It’s always good to get news about latest colours and surfaces, and to see them used in realistic settings. This kitchen uses Caesarstone Noble Grey 5211, which underlines the importance of choosing a long-lasting and durable surface material. Head of Design at Caesarstone, Mor Krisher, says ‘Kitchens are a busy place and the work surfaces takes the brunt of this. Whilst cabinetry can be repainted in many cases, updating or changing a work surfaces isn’t so easy. Caesarstone now offers a lifetime warranty with work surface designs, showing that investing in a high quality work surface is truly a lifetime choice’. Shown here, a polished finish, available in two thicknesses, 20mm and 30mm, from the Supernatural collection.

OCEAN FOAM 6141 BY CAESARSTONE IN PLUCK KITCHEN

This fun and colourful kitchen from Pluck Modern Kitchen Furniture features Ocean Foam 6141 polished quartz by Caesarstone, with a spectacular waterfall edge island. The whole look is light and airy, with this project judged the Ideal Home Kitchen Award Winner 2023. Here the choice of a pale work surfaces allows the zingy cabinetry to stand out in a cheerful and exciting burst of colour. Mor Krisher continues ‘Natural yet sophisticated, lighter colours such as beiges, greys and whites promise to bring a serene and calm feel to a kitchen. Utterly timeless, these hues pair beautifully with other colours and can make a quiet statement on their own through subtle detailing’. Architects, PADSTUDIO, photography, Malcolm Menzies.

A NEW KITCHEN DESIGN IN ASH FOR SEPTEMBER 2023 BY OLIVE & BARR

The appeal of pale wood finishes is still strong, so we were delighted to receive news of the latest design from Olive & Barr. The new addition to their Shaker kitchen collection is launched in September, and is an ideal way of bringing a contemporary look to traditional Shaker designs. Ash is strong and durable, so will withstand the daily wear and tear of a busy family kitchen. The pale finish of Ash means that it can be paired with lighter paint finishes and work surfaces for a subtle, streamlined look, or can equally work well as a pale contrast to darker painted shades.

ASH AND PAINTED FINISH COMBINED BY OLIVE & BARR

Al Bruce, Founder of Olive & Barr, comments ‘We have noticed an increase in demand from homeowners who want to invest in an authentic look that adds tone and texture to their project. It also needs to stand the test of time, and an all-wood kitchen provides this in abundance. We have moved on from outdated and clunky wood kitchens to new seamless and elegant designs which celebrate the beauty and versatility of natural wood. We opted to work with ash for our new range, due to its exceptional durability and beautiful grain patterns. It can also adapt to various styles of kitchen décor, and delivers all the requirements of a modern kitchen’.

CHEF’S KITCHEN IN POGGENPOHL’S HAMPSTEAD STUDIO

Delighted to hear that the Poggenpohl Hampstead studio is back in action, after a period of closure because of a fire, and then a complete re-fit of the building. There are ten displays and two fully operational kitchens, which allow the team to entertain clients as well as run events and private functions. This is the Chef’s Kitchen with doors in Sand Grey Matt lacquer and Anthracite Bronze. There’s a touch of glamour from the Bronze Showcase glass cabinets, which have satin bronze back panels. Work surfaces are Calacatta Gold porcelain.

DRAMATIC +MODO DISPLAY IN POGGENPOHL HAMPSTEAD

The Poggenpohl Hampstead Studio isn’t just about brand new designs and introductions, it also includes the Poggenpohl classic design +MODO, which is a long-standing favourite with their customers. Shown here, +MODO doors in Pebble Grey Satin lacquer and Medium Oak veneer, with dramatic Desert Soul porcelain work surfaces.

ADDING ARMCHAIRS … BY GARDEN TRADING

Finding the right style of chairs for open plan kitchen-living spaces can be tricky – they need to suit a light-filled space, perhaps with an air of ‘garden room’, and perhaps also be suitable for outdoor use as well. Hampstead Armchairs from Garden Trading are the perfect solution, and the collection also includes a corner sofa and side table.

THE BENTO STARCK BOX BY DURAVIT

This is such a clever idea, and needless to say, it’s a Philippe Starck design, from Duravit, the Bento Starck Box bathroom basin with divided areas, wet and dry. Inspired by Japanese lunch box design.

BEAUTIFULLY BLUE LUMA SKY TILES FROM TILE MOUNTAIN

If you’re working on a bathroom design and need some tile inspiration, take a look at a new collection, Luma. These are Luma Sky Blue Gloss Decor from Tile Mountain, a plain design without the curved riven texture is also available, as well as other colours.