Today we walk through the heart of the home, the soft and serene Kitchen of Keje.
The Plan
We did not move the entrance to the kitchen of Keje. We did, however, break down the brick wall to the left of the entrance and make a pocket wall instead, so that the door slides into it when open and doesn’t get in the way of anything.
The fridge is on the left as you enter, with a tall, pantry unit near it.
Since the facing wall is really long, we broke it up in the centre with a breakfast counter.
On the opposite wall, we have the hob with the chimney above it.
The client wanted two sinks in this kitchen. The main, big sink for washing utensils is on one side, near the dishwasher. A smaller sink, for washing vegetables, has been given on the opposite side.
The door to the right opens into the dry balcony where we have the washing machine and clothes line.
The Breakfast Counter
The breakfast counter is the first thing to catch your eye as you enter this lovely kitchen. This kitchen is more than sixteen feet long, which means the client had enough counter space and storage space than she really needed. I wasn’t too enthusiastic about giving sixteen feet of storage cabinets all in one line.
Placing a breakfast table in the middle of the counter worked really well here.
Notice how the kitchen counter is higher on the right than on the left of the breakfast counter? We needed the higher counter on the right to fit in the dishwasher. But generally, the client preferred a counter of a lower height. The breakfast table also helped us split the levels of both the counters, without making the difference in height obvious.
This counter along with the wallpaper mural above it, makes for a really pretty picture, and is the highlight of the kitchen.
The Hob Wall
Opposite the breakfast counter we have the hob and chimney. We have all the storage we need in an ‘L’ along the fridge wall and breakfast counter wall, so we decided to go light on this side.
We used a simple plywood box to conceal the chimney piping. Matching open shelves go from the chimney box to the ends of the walls on both sides.
The shelves are just right to place a few curios and some spice boxes if required.
The Kitchen of Keje
The client had only one specific requirement when we started designing this kitchen. She wanted to use a combination of green and yellow in the design.
The first images that flash in my mind when I think ‘yellow and green’ are all bright, contrasting shades. (Think of a sunflower, and that’s pretty much the yellow and green combination that comes to mind first)
But you have seen most of this home by now, right? It is subtle and understated. I couldn’t imagine doing anything bright and loud here. So we muted the yellows and greens, and this is the result.
We started with an off-white floral tile and a creamy counter stone to match. A light wooden floor tile and a light laminate on the shelves and chimney cover kept our colour scheme understated.
Then came the greens and yellows, but in muted shades. A sage green for the cabinets with a dull yellow leatherette on the bar stools. We continued with the same colours on the wallpaper, with the sage green leaves interspersed with small yellow flowers. Brass handles and bar stools add some glam, with the only bright pop of colour coming from the pendant lights above the breakfast counter.
We managed to fulfil the client’s requirement and keep the design aesthetic of the home intact. And the result is this gorgeous kitchen, which is soft, serene and glamourous, all at once.
Before and Afters
The kitchen of Keje, like the rest of the home, was a blank slate when we started work. These before and afters will give you an idea of how we created this beauty out of nothing at all!
Here’s the sixteen foot long breakfast counter wall…
The breakfast counter with the wallpaper mural above it made for a refreshing break between all that storage, and a pleasant visual for the eyes to rest on.
The hob wall on the opposite side..
With pretty tiles between open shelves, this area is light and balances the storage on the opposite side.
A view of the fridge wall…
…from a distance gives a good view of the layout of the entire kitchen.
This kitchen was a surprise to me. Left to myself, I would never have picked green and yellow in combination for a kitchen. But the client was very clear that’s what she wanted.
What I truly appreciate is the free hand she gave me in deciding how to use those colours and trusted me completely with it.
So here, we have this kitchen, and I am so proud of how it’s turned out.
But now your turn. I’d love to know what you think about it, so do write in below.
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Until next time,
.
Photography: Biju Gopal of @bizou.photos