Kitchen of the Week: Industrial Design’s Softer Side
The style was pretty well set when kitchen designer Jane Powell created this kitchen for Phoebe and Nick Bryans and their three kids. “Phoebe had a clear vision of what she wanted, which was design-led with a slightly industrial feel, using stainless steel and brick,” Powell says. But in addition to aesthetics, the functionality and atmosphere of the space were crucial too. “It had to be a relaxed family area,” Powell says. “Friendly and warm, not at all clinical, and somewhere that reflected the family’s personalities.”
Phoebe Bryans came armed with a mood board of images, and she and Powell worked closely together to design the space. “Her ideas were very much on the pulse of current trends,” Powell says. “One tear sheet she had featured an open shelf on an island, so we incorporated that here.”
Kitchen at a Glance
Location: London
Designer: Jane Powell, Roundhouse
Size: About 15 feet (5 meters) wide and 14 feet (4 meters) long
The finished room is a gorgeous lesson in contemporary design, but it has a wonderfully relaxed, sociable feel. It forms a beautiful and highly functional link between the other rooms and can be admired from all sides. “We used a combination of open and closed storage and a mix of textures, from wood to stainless steel, to get that industrial vibe,” Powell says.
“The cabinetry is in matte lacquer, and the warm gray color scheme is integral to the whole space,” the designer says. “If we’d gone for a safe choice — all white, for instance — it might have looked clinical and cold.” The kitchen is the Urbo handleless custom matte lacquer kitchen from Roundhouse, painted in Downpipe by Farrow & Ball.
“The central island is a key piece for the whole family,” Powell says. “The children can be at one end doing their homework while Phoebe or Nick are cooking at the other. Everyone can be seated without feeling tight for space.” The shelf in the island was Phoebe’s idea and is home to small stacks of white china and a row of cookbooks. “It contributes to the relaxed feel,” Powell says.
“This kitchen works beautifully for everyone,” Powell says. “It’s a huge open-plan room with the island at its center, a relaxed living space at one end and a dining area in the glass extension at the other. The kitchen links the two spaces beautifully.” Ample storage keeps the space functioning and looking orderly. A pantry beside the ovens, for example, holds food items such as dry goods and spices.
Kitchen of the Week: Industrial Design’s Softer Side
Kitchen of the Week: Industrial Design’s Softer Side
