At eba, each project is a chance to create high-quality, elegant living spaces that are both functional and aesthetically-pleasing. This particular project - a large, open-plan black and wood kitchen - was no exception: a 39m2 space designed to be the heart of the family home. The open-plan kitchen with Black SM and Earth Walnut cabinets, built using our minimalist LISSE and FINE series, is refined and elegant whilst being practical for everyday use.
An open-plan kitchen made for family life
Our clients’ number one wish was to have a kitchen that would support them through the ins and outs of everyday life. To deliver on this, we built a large central island that could become the open-plan kitchen’s central hub. The spacious island is big enough to encourage family interactions whilst allowing people to focus on separate tasks – parents cooking whilst the children do their homework, for example. The island has ample space on all sides, allowing for ease of movement around the room.
An open-plan wood and black kitchen
A key element of this design is the pairing of walnut wood with a black lacquered finish, which brings warmth and depth to the space. The unit fronts in the Black SM lacquered finish and the Vertical Earth Walnut pattern melamine are timeless and sophisticated.
The use of black and walnut wood plays with contrasts and brings warmth and character to kitchen without overwhelming it. Walnut, a dark-toned wood, softens the black.
Ergonomic kitchen elements
Aside from high-quality materials and impactful colour choices, it’s this open-plan kitchen’s layout which makes it stand out. For optimum functionality that didn’t compromise on aesthetics, we added retractable pocket door units, glass door units and stackable units above tall units that make use of every last inch of space. These elements, discrete but effective, provide our clients with maximum storage without detracting from the overall look.
The Smoked Glass door units are practical and stylish, with built-in LED lights that highlight decorative items. The use of Smoked Glass was intentional to help the open-plan kitchen fit the style of the rest of the house, ensuring that the kitchen doesn’t feel like a stand-alone space.
The central island is full of practical storage solutions that enable the kitchen to remain clutter-free. Our modular ranges made it possible for the island to house three units of 90cm x 70cm, with sliding pull-outs, which provide the client with extra storage in comparison to standard 50cm-deep units. The island also features a bar area with stools.
Linking the open-plan kitchen living area to the outdoors
The exterior of the house is very classic, so the kitchen was devised to marry more traditional elements with contemporary ones. The open-plan kitchen is elegant and refined, with subtle nods to nature. Quartzite work surfaces and large sliding glass doors opening onto the garden reinforce the link between the two.
The success of this black and wood kitchen can be credited to the use of high-quality materials, a well-considered layout and clever storage solutions. Keeping function and aesthetics top of mind has resulted in an open-plan kitchen that brings the whole family together. This project demonstrates how a kitchen can be much more than a simple, functional space, but the heart of a home, working in harmony with the rest of the house.
If you would like to discuss a potential kitchen project with eba, get in touch with our teams.
