2 minute read
Great Leighs Case Study
When the client came to en masse with a brief for an extensive refurbishment at a property in Great Leighs, Essex, there were only a few walls left from the original building.
A liveable social kitchen was requested but the designers were asked to create a space that could easily be refinished at a later stage, if they so desired.
The kitchen ceiling was a particular problem as there were bulk heads and columns which were needed to support the roof. These ruined the flow of the open plan area and broke up the view. After a first consultation with David Conlon, en masse’s head designer, a hand cut roof was proposed, creating a much stronger solution which supported itself. Updating the ceilings to form one uniform area, and then mirroring this throughout with the flooring also levelled, created a blank canvas and a vast space for the kitchen to be placed.
Really wanting the kitchen to be the hub of the home the space was designed with entertaining in mind. A seated area for breakfast and informal dining was also requested.
The final design utilises the two-module look, which is particularly timeless and a design that is favoured by homeowners and designers alike. The symmetry with the island and the bank of ovens creates a pleasing balance to the eye and makes the perfect space for entertaining.
A stylish yet simplistic look and feel was used with natural materials balancing harder more man-made composites to create a striking yet sophisticated space. Designed to be minimal but very functional with numerous appliances and lots of drawer and cupboard space.
Worktops created from concrete were originally specified, however the function of a corian worktop was appealing. In the end a grey corian was chosen, reminiscent of the concrete that had first appealed.
A vast island is the centrepiece, created from corian. The doors on the island are sprayed in a grey lacquer to match the corian which creates a wraparound seamless flow. Over the seating end hang three pendants which are made from concrete, these add a focal point to the space.
In a contrasting warm colour, the bank of units running across the back of the kitchen are specified in hand laid oak veneer. All the cabinetry is handmade and bespoke, with the appliances fully integrated. Corian is used to surround the oven bank, the grey colour simply highlighting the area from the surrounding wooden doors. Solid oak flooring from France completes the design, bringing a warmth and a natural material that compliments the harsher, solid finish of the corian.
en masse met the brief for a liveable social kitchen that could be re-finished and last the test of time. Both the floors and the corian can be refinished meaning the kitchen will last the lifetime of the property.
