Kitchen islands are found in many different styles of homes and suit a wide range of different layouts. They create a central hub in the kitchen, providing you with the space to share special moments with friends and family whilst cooking. Kitchen islands with seating are especially popular, serving as a dining space as well as a prep area.
Our clients, a couple owning this 220m2 duplex apartment in the heart of Paris’ 7th arrondissement, enlisted our support to install an open-plan kitchen with an island. They wanted to settle indefinitely in France after several years abroad and, as part of that process, decided to completely renovate their home. The goal was to create a pleasant space for everyday living, where it was easy to welcome children and grandchildren.
A kitchen island with seating
Beyond just looking good, the kitchen was designed to be easy to live in. The central kitchen island invites family members and guests to interact with the cook as they meal prep, sharing conversations and creating precious memories.
The spacious layout of the kitchen means everything is easily accessed. Each unit was carefully selected to be as practical as possible and make efficient use of the space. Retractable units allow for small kitchen appliances to be hidden away, keeping countertops clear and tidy.
A stylish open-plan kitchen
On entering the kitchen, your eye is immediately drawn to the colour combinations: Silk Mist Grey unit fronts, warm Natural Oak on the central kitchen island and dark grey Neolith Mar del Plata details. The light grey brings a freshness to the space, giving the kitchen a warm, contemporary feel.
The FINE model from Santos, with its minimalist lines and handle-less unit fronts, is ideal for mixing materials and colours without overwhelming the space.
The kitchen is centred around the island, made in melamine in the Natural Oak finish. Melamine is robust yet elegant, making it extremely fit for purpose on a kitchen island, which needs to be functional as well as aesthetically-pleasing. The kitchen island, with seating, was designed to be an extra food prep space as well as an area where family and friends could gather and sit around the bar area.
Touches of Natural Oak in the retractable unit interiors and the open shelving help to make this kitchen inviting and harmonious, with the wood once again nicely contrasting the Neolith Mar del Plata.
The all-important details
We used Neolith Mar del Plata for the wall panel and countertop which added refinement to the kitchen. The stone adds an interesting texture that contrasts the smooth Silk Mist Grey unit fronts and wooden kitchen island. It also works well to protect the walls from any cooking splatters and is easy to clean.
The Night Birds lights from Brokis, suspended above the central island, add another element of design to this space. Shaped like birds, they light up the kitchen island, highlighting the natural beauty of the Natural Oak finish and adding a warm ambiance to the kitchen.
These are not the only lights in the kitchen, however. The open shelving and retractable unit shelves are also equipped with a lighting system designed to softly light the worktops.
In summary, this space, centred around a kitchen island with seating, ticked all the boxes for our clients. The Silk Mist Grey unit fronts keep the space bright, balancing out the Natural Oak and dark Neolith Mar del Plata details. There’s ample space for storage, cooking and socialising, making this an ideal space to welcome family members or friends.
Would you like our support in the renovation of your kitchen or living space? Contact our team.
