There’s a tendency in kitchen design to fill every inch of space with cabinetry. In this project, the restraint in design was key. The lack of cabinetry influenced the size and shape of the build. Designing from the inside out, form following function.

The whole room is centred around the whopping 3.2m long island - containing what most kitchens would in a long run of units or L-shape. Placing everything in the middle of the room meant a much more sociable kitchen space. Ample room all the way round for the kids to run riot, a space to cook, wash up, or sit down without getting in each other’s way.

Not only does the layout function well for a large busy household, but more importantly, it allowed for architectural tweaks that really made all the difference. Removing cabinetry along the external walls meant the window cills could be lowered, the proportions becoming more slender, and ultimately allowing more natural light into the space. A large section of wall also became crittal style bi-folding doors, really enhancing the open plan space.

Throw into the mix Paint & Paper Library’s earthy ‘Light Bronze Green’, an engineered oak floor, and a statement natural stone worktop, there’s your character.

So, before you start building let’s scribble all over those plans. Remove some cabinetry, make those windows a little bigger, and create space. Sometimes what you leave out is just as important as what you put it.