For our latest Portfolio project, we’ve chosen a commission which is very close to home for us, as it’s Majik House founders Tim and Carol’s own family kitchen.
Tim Burrow: “We’ll start by saying that, in size, it is quite a modest kitchen and one which we don’t mind saying has proved to be something of a personal challenge for us over the years.”
“We’ve had two top-end kitchens since we moved here in 1998, both of which were really well designed, well made and featured lighting and tech which were state-of-the-art at that point in time.”
“But as everyone knows, there have been so many advances in lighting design, control systems and technology in general since the last kitchen was installed around 12-years ago, so this was an opportunity to do things differently, how we really wanted.”
The existing kitchen was due for refurbishment and initially the plan was to retain the original cabinets and frames but replacing the front panels, albeit with the new lighting design introduced.
It’s a familiar and often cost-effective approach but, as discussions progressed with the design team at Kirkland Carvetti, the conclusion was quickly reached that a completely unique and customised solution was required.
Of course a complete new kitchen would be more expensive but it also provided the opportunity to better incorporate the technology that would both enhance the space and improve how the kitchen is used.
Truly bespoke starts with a wish list
Carol Burrow: “I had compiled a detailed wish list to help inform our initial consultations with Carvetti Kirkland – what we wanted in terms of usability and how we wanted to live with our kitchen. Everything had to be easily accessible, yet with adequate storage so that the work surfaces could be kept clear of the appliances and accoutrements that inevitably clutter kitchens.”
“The word ‘bespoke’ gets used glibly but it invariably means that the customer ends up with a standard product that has had a few cosmetic alterations. Not for us; this would need to be a truly unique commission that makes optimum use of the available space and ticks every box on that wish list.”
Tim also had a very clear vision for the lighting design – LED down-lights, feature lights and back-lit panels – as well as the choice of surface materials.
Where there is dark, let there also be light.
“The kitchen is literally, physically, in the heart of our home, absolutely dead centre, with no direct natural light as there are no kitchen windows. The only natural light is from the adjoining family living area, a combination of windows, patio doors and Velux roof lights, but nothing that directly looks into the kitchen, so the lighting scheme would always have to work hard to compensate for this.”
“Because of the small space, and with no natural light, the assumption would be that a lighter-coloured kitchen would be the only option. Carol’s list included a range of dark cobalt blue cabinets that she had fallen in love with.”
“By creating the lighting scheme in conjunction with the kitchen design, not just as an afterthought, meant there were never any constraints. Knowing that we’d be working with the darker cabinets informed how we approached the lighting design and control.”
Twin ovens are positioned in a corner which is the furthest from any natural light, however LED strips incorporated into the cabinet reveals combined with soft ceiling down-lighters and a custom-made backlit panel creates a warm and welcoming feel to this area and every inch of the kitchen.
“A primary consideration for the lighting design was to illuminate this dark corner and improve the food preparation areas. But when you’re not prepping food and it’s time to relax and enjoy entertaining friends, the preset lighting scenes change the feel to more ambient tones.”
The bespoke back-lit feature panel
The illuminated marble effect splash-back is very much a feature and an instant draw to the eye, and is equally practical as it is attractive. This was created by Majik House utilising ‘dotless’ LED strips positioned on very close centres to achieve uniform light distribution across the panels.
“The panels themselves are made from a composite resin and, through a degree of experimentation, we found an optimum distance between the LED strips and the panels which would provide the even and consistent light across the entire length and depth.” explains Tim.
“To achieve the effect, a large number of lights was required but, being LED, they emit very little heat and are equally less demanding on energy consumption to power them. As with all lights in the kitchen, these LEDs are also fully dimmable and controlled by the Lutron lighting control system.”
The illuminated ‘letterbox’ space was actually Carol’s idea; an area where she could prepare meals under a soft, ambient light; not the overly-bright directional task lighting typically associated with so many kitchens, but still of ample luminous intensity to work comfortably.
Has it worked? Absolutely. The light is even, it’s mellow, yet completely functional and without any harsh shadows or ‘hotspots’.
Collaboration a key component
“By having a truly collaborative approach – us as clients, the Carvetti Kirkland kitchen designers, and Majik House for the lighting design – we’ve proven that smart lighting design can offer the freedom to choose the kitchen that you really want, and not end up settling for one where you have had to compromise.”
“Having Carol’s wish list from the outset helped inform the project throughout with everyone clear on the requirements. Collaboration can often result in compromise but not on this project – this is a truly bespoke, truly unique commission with absolutely no corners cut.”
Further design considerations have been included such as brushed stainless steel touch points within the handle-less cabinets, which don’t show any finger marks and can be easily cleaned when needed.
These stainless steel insets may seem a relatively minor touch, but they are something which Kirkland Carvetti had never done before and which was specified by Tim: “They add an extra functional design element to the kitchen which will help keep it looking its best for many years to come.”
It is a kitchen that Carol emphatically says she enjoys being in, to working in and welcoming people into, and the lighting design plays a big part in that.
“Being able to change with whatever I’m doing, the lighting also helps the flow of the kitchen between hob, sink, fridge and ovens; wherever I am in the kitchen and whatever I’m doing, I have the right amount of light, and the right type of light.”
“The new kitchen has also heralded a move away from a gas hob which we had in our previous kitchens. We’ve all become acutely aware of the many reasons to make the change to electricity, and the latest generation of induction hobs have just as much control as their gas predecessors.”
Tim and Carol installed solar panels and super efficient battery storage around 18-months ago and the system now generates and stores around 98% of their home’s total electricity requirements – lighting, heating and hot water, and all the AV and control systems. Although the existing gas supply is still connected to the house, it is now entirely redundant.
“The bottom line is that the kitchen works and it’s very much the kitchen I wished for.” concludes Carol.
“It’s an easy kitchen to live with and work in; it’s easy to keep clean, and it’s efficient. Given the open-plan layout of our main living area and kitchen, it just had to work with both spaces feeling part of one another, and we know we’ve achieved that.”
