Eight homes with light-filled kitchens from Australia to Slovenia
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight homes with light-filled kitchens from Australia to Slovenia

For our latest lookbook, we’ve chosen eight kitchens in contemporary homes where strategically placed windows and glazing create well-lit spaces for cooking and spending quality time with family and friends.

These light-filled kitchens feature different finishes, including marble, concrete, wood and glass, but are joined together by the sunlight that streams through their large windows, glazed doors or skylights.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.


Monroe Street House by TBo
Photo is by Matthew Williams

Monroe Street House, USA, by TBo

New York studio TBo updated a 124-year-old townhouse in Brooklyn to meet the demands of a modern, multi-generational family’s lifestyle.

Featuring a window that stretches from the worktop to the ceiling and glass doors that lead to an outdoor deck, the kitchen has maximised access to daylight and to the outdoors.

Find out more about Monroe Street House ›


Kitchen with concrete flooring, wood ceiling and a large kitchen island with seating
Photo is by Rohan Venn

Sydney bungalow extension, Australia, by Emily Sandstrom

Australian architect Emily Sandstorm restored this out-of-use 1930s bungalow in Sydney with reclaimed materials from the demolition of its small rear kitchen.

She sees the new kitchen, which features a kitchen island with a worktop of recycled Australian hardwood, as the centre of the home. A window wall creates views of an outdoor dining area and fills the room with light.

Find out more about the bungalow ›


Photo is by Nick Dearden

Glazed house extension, UK, by DHaus

As part of the rear extension to a house in Hertfordshire, UK, London studio DHaus opened up the original dark and cramped kitchen with a material palette of concrete, glass and Douglas fir timber.

The studio lowered the kitchen floor by one metre and connected the interior to the garden, with glazing lining the entire end of the extension to create a bright, welcoming space.

Find out more about the glass extension ›


AB design california renovation
Photo is by Jason Rick

Quarry House, USA, by AB Design Studio and House of Honey

West Coast-based architecture practice AB Design Studio renovated the Quarry House in California, a 1954 house that had fallen into disrepair, in collaboration with House of Honey, which was responsible for the interior design.

The kitchen was renewed with textured marble surfaces and a kitchen island, as well as Crittall-style windows and doors.

Find out more about Quarry House ›


House MM by a202 Arhitekti is a home in Slovenia
Photo is by Ana Skobe

House MM, Slovenia, by A202 Arhitekti

A202 Arhitekti transformed the traditional gabled house in Slovenia by removing all non-structural interior elements and adding a timber extension inside while preserving the shell of the property.

The studio built the kitchen with light-coloured materials in a minimalist style, adding a large window with a comfortable window seat for reading or contemplation.

Find out more about House MM ›


The kitchen is covered with marble clads
Photo is by Lorenzo Zandri

House extension, UK, by ConForm

Designed by ConForm, the light-filled kitchen in this Hampstead home is covered with white marble panels.

The patterns of light grey veins on adjoining surfaces were unmatched to “encourage a natural and textural language”, the studio said. Sliding doors open the room up to the garden.

Find out more about the Hampstead extension ›


Photo is by Peter Bennetts

10 Fold House, Australia, by Timmins + Whyte

Australian studio Timmins + Whyte added an extension with a folded roof that brings in extra natural light to this Melbourne home.

The kitchen included in the extended space was combined with the living room through a shared material palette of ribbed wood, marble and grey terrazzo.

Find out more about 10 Fold House ›


Photo is by Jeroen Verrecht

House C-DF, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten

Belgian studio Graux & Baeyens Architecten was tasked to maximise the space in a narrow townhouse in Ghent that already had a rear kitchen extension.

The studio changed the gap between the old extension and the original house into a skylight and replaced the wall between the garden and the kitchen with a glass sliding door, which introduced additional light to the ground-floor kitchen.

Find out more about House C-DF ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

Reference

Eight textural kitchens that combine stone and wood surfaces
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight textural kitchens that combine stone and wood surfaces

For this lookbook, we’ve collected eight kitchen interiors that marry the natural textures of wood and stone to create visual interest while remaining practical.

Stone is a hardwearing and durable material, making it a popular choice for kitchen worktops, while wood adds a sense of warmth to interior spaces when applied to walls, floors or kitchen cabinets.

In these kitchens, the natural grain of wood is complemented by striking stone surfaces, including cool-toned limestone, travertine, and a range of dramatically veined marble.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring mid-century home renovations, interiors centred around dining tables and spaces finished in reclaimed materials.


Kitchen inside Low Energy House designed by Architecture for London
Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian Brailey

Muswell Hill house, UK, by Architecture for London

English studio Architecture for London renovated and extended this Edwardian home in London using natural materials in a bid to keep embodied emissions to a minimum.

In the kitchen, cabinets were lined with oak wood while pale grey limestone was used for the floors, worktops, prep counter and a chunky window seat.

The studio also exposed the original timber roof beams and complemented the minimal material palette with lime plaster on the walls, forming an airtight layer to mitigate heat loss.

Find out more about the Muswell Hill house ›


Wood-lined kitchen interior with a marble island by DAB Studio
Photo by Daniëlle Siobhán

Zwaag family home, Netherlands, by DAB Studio

For the kitchen renovation of this home in Zwaag, the Netherlands, Dutch interiors practice DAB Studio covered the walls and cabinets in Afromosia wood, and the floors and ceilings in smoked black-oiled oak.

The Afromosia wood was quarter-sawn to reveal a decorative grain pattern and add a sense of playfulness to the space, while an Arebescato Orobico marble kitchen island acts as the room’s centrepiece.

Find out more about Zwaag family home ›


Travertine stone kitchen island and backsplash with oak cabinets
Photo by David Dworkind

1980s Quebec home, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind

A sculptural travertine island sits at the centre of the kitchen in this 1980s home in Quebec, which was renovated by Canadian architecture studio Ménard Dworkind.

The studio also used a travertine slab to create a sliding backsplash, inserted into the warm oak cabinetry to conceal additional storage space.

Find out more about the 1980s Quebec home ›


Kitchen in Twentieth house by Woods and Dangaran
Photo by Joe Fletcher

Twentieth, USA, by Woods + Dangaran

For this kitchen in a Santa Monica home, Los Angeles studio Woods +Dangaran used a dark grey marble with bold white veining to form the island worktop and the surrounds of a recessed space in the wall units.

White oak lines the floors, while a darker shade of walnut was used for wall panelling, cupboards and the sides of the island.

Find out more about Twentieth ›


Palm Beach house in Sydney by YSG with stone kitchen island

Sydney Palm Beach house, Australia, by YSG

Informed by the rustic beach clubs of Ibiza and Cancun, Australian interiors studio YSG overhauled a holiday home in Palm Beach, Sydney, with a mix of sunny colours and textures.

In the kitchen, the studio sanded down the wooden floorboards to achieve a warmer tone and added an island made from two types of stone – Giallo Siena marble and travertine – to recall “the ombre shades of a freshly poured tequila sunrise”.

Find out more about the Sydney Palm Beach house ›


Minimal interiors of forest retreat designed by Norm Architects
Photo by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects

Forest cabin, Sweden, by Norm Architects

Danish studio Norm Architects kept the material palette minimal and rustic for this holiday cabin in a Swedish forest.

Handleless kitchen cupboards are finished in oak to match the floors, complemented by a stone worktop that extends up into a short backsplash.

Find out more about the forest cabin ›


Brooklyn Loft by Dean Works
Photo by Daniel Salemi

Brooklyn Loft, USA, by Dean Works

White marble with grey-and-blue veining provides an eye-catching worktop, backsplash and shelving in the kitchen of Brooklyn Loft, an apartment designed by local studio Dean Works.

Surrounding the marble is a large Baltic birch plywood storage unit that doubles as a room divider to separate the kitchen from the bedroom. A dark stone kitchen island was added to contrast the otherwise light-toned interior.

Find out more about Brooklyn Loft ›


Sunderland Road house in London by 2LG
Photo by Megan Taylor

Forest Hill house, UK, by 2LG Studio

Playful pastel colours characterise the interior of this Edwardian home in London, which was renovated by 2LG Studio.

The local firm aimed to balance Italian influences – in the form of the marble backsplash and kitchen island – with Scandinavian design elements such as the arched cabinets and grooved wood siding.

Find out more about the Forest Hill house ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring mid-century home renovations, interiors centred around dining tables and spaces featuring reclaimed materials.

Reference

Eight sunny yellow interiors from kitchens to living rooms
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight sunny yellow interiors from kitchens to living rooms

One-palette rooms and statement staircases are featured in our latest lookbook, which explores the best yellow interiors from the Dezeen archives.

From soft, buttery hues to vivid primary colours and deeper mustards, these residential and commercial spaces have challenged the use of traditional shades to create unique, eye-catching yellow interiors.

The use of yellow has been incorporated into bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and facades, whether it is contrasting with brighter colours, blending with other honey tones or standing out against neutral materials.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with lime plaster walls, Barbiecore pink aspects and retro nods to Wes Anderson.


Beresford Road by Russian for Fish
Photography is by Peter Landers

Beresford Road property, London, by Russian for Fish

This London-based apartment features a statement yellow kitchen that was used to brighten the basement and complement the other colours in the space. Russian for Fish used the same vivid shade throughout the entirety of the kitchen, which also continues to the staircase.

Plant pots are added to the area to create dimension, with the green tones adding more colour to the otherwise yellow and neutral home.

“Yellow is a great colour – it brings out the ochre tones of the natural concrete floor, compliments the off-white walls, and creates warmth throughout the flat, even on the dullest of days,” says architect and founder at Russian for Fish, Pereen d’Avoine.

Find out more about Beresford Road property ›


Seven Lives by Anna and Eugeni Bach
Photography is by Eugeni Bach

Seven Lives, Spain, by Anna and Eugeni Bach

Spanish architecture studio Anna and Eugeni Bach built this apartment block in Barcelona, adding primary yellow features to the facade that add a vibrant touch to the interiors.

The building has yellow window frames and grills, balconies and blinds that are all visible from the apartments, as well as yellow internal doors to the balconies. These statement attributes contrast with the grey stucco and internal walls.

The shade – which was selected as it was approved by the area’s regulators – is also used in the communal staircase.

Find out more about Seven Lives ›


Bright yellow modular kitchen in compact apartment
Photography is by René de Wit and Pim Top

Residential complex, The Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism

A variety of bright colours were used to decorate this residential complex designed by Shift Architecture Urbanism in Amsterdam. The 235 apartments feature shades of yellow, green, blue, red in the furniture, fixtures and appliances to create a playful atmosphere.

The homes feature laminate floors, white walls and concrete ceilings that create a neutral base for the additional colours used for the modular units, cupboard-style bedrooms and ceramic tiled walls.

Find out more about the residential complex ›


Photo of a room with a yellow ceiling
Photography is by Jesper Westblom

Apartment, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor

This apartment in Stockholm uses plenty of primary colours, with reds, blues and yellows used on the walls and on the furniture.

A butter shade decorates the walls of the main and children’s bedrooms, and is complimented by a sunshine hue on the ceiling. Soft yellow shades are also used to contrast maroon tiles and doors throughout the home.

Yellow accents can also be found on its accessories, such as lamps, crockery and artwork.

Find out more about the Stockholm apartment ›


Interiors of Casa Collumpio by MACH
Photography is by Del Rio Bani

Casa Collumpio, Spain, by MACH

MACH designed this industrial-style house in Barcelona with lemon-yellow steelwork used on the interior and exterior.

Used as a focal point among grey concrete and wooden cladding, a bright yellow staircase with a protective mesh panel connects the upper floors of the building. To complement the feature, yellow stripes are added to the white kitchen cupboards.

The colour continues on the steelwork around the door, forming a decorative statement around the windows at the front and back of the home.

Find out more about Casa Collumpio ›


Duplex in Sant Gervasi by Arquitectura-G
Photography is by José Hevia

Apartment, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

Arquitectura-G designed the interiors of this apartment in Barcelona with pastel yellow tones to create a lighter, more open space. The walls and floor of the space are covered in glazed square tiles, with the metal kitchen units matching in a similar tone.

Yellow furniture, such as a sofa and cupboards, complement the apartment’s colour palette.

“We prefer to use the same colour in the whole project, in order to give a strong visual impact and make it an essential part of the house’s identity,” sids Arquitectura-G.

Find out more about the Spanish apartment ›


Photo of a cafe in Stockholm
Photography is by Mikael Lundblad

Cafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA

ASKA has created a picturesque cafe in Stockholm informed by film director Wes Anderson’s aesthetics, using shades of mustard, cream, pink and brown to adorn the space.

The yellow checkerboard floor was influenced by traditional Cuban styles of interiors and mirrored by similar tones in the tiled table tops.

“In order to create an environment that feels harmonious we work with subtle layering and tone in tone methods,” said ASKA co-founder Madeleine Klingspor. “The same yellow is used on the walls, lamps, tables and floor but in different scales and intensity,”

Find out more about Cafe Banacado ›


Pink, grey and chrome Kitchen in JJ16 apartment by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
The photography is by Jose Hevia

JJ16, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil

Citrus yellow offsets petal pink in this Madrid apartment by Lucas y Hernández-Gil, with a yellow built-in bookshelf lining the length of the corridor.

The hallway leads to the kitchen, which features a contrasting soft pink floor and walls and matte grey units.

The rest of the space has been decorated with similarly vivid colours and prints, including neon orange storage hidden by white doors, blue checkerboard flooring and an aubergine wardrobe.

Find out more about JJ16 ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with lime plaster walls, Barbiecore pink aspects and retro nods to Wes Anderson.

Reference

Eight kitchens with tiled worktops that are practical but pretty
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight kitchens with tiled worktops that are practical but pretty

A kitchen with a statement oxblood-colour island and another with curved child-friendly counters feature in our latest lookbook, which spotlights eight worktops that are covered in tiles.

Tiled worktops can be a functional yet attractive addition to a kitchen, able to withstand hot pots and food stains while also creating an opportunity for decoration.

The examples in this lookbook range from tiled worktops designed as focal points to more utilitarian counters that blend in with surrounding walls, illustrating the potential of tiles in a kitchen and proving they are not limited to just splashbacks and flooring.

This is the latest in Dezeen’s lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from our archive. Other recent editions showcase wine storage solutions, bedrooms with desk spaces and interiors that draw on Mediterranean living.


Tiled worktops of Fruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects
Photo by Megan Taylor

Fruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects

London studio Nimtim Architects opted for bright white tiles to cover the worktops of this kitchen and teamed them with plywood cupboards, shelves and drawers for a deliberately simple look.

Some tiles have curved edges, helping to create seamless transitions between the counters and splashback while also eradicating sharp corners so the space is safer for the client’s children.

Find out more about Fruit Box ›


East Village Apartment kitchen, USA, by GRT Architects
Photo by Nicole Franzen

East Village Apartment, USA, by GRT Architects

The focal point of this kitchen in an East Village apartment is an island covered in oxblood-coloured tiles, which stand out against a backdrop of white-oak cabinetry with oversized handles.

This rich, jewel-toned finish was complemented by chequerboard mosaic tiling across the floor and shiny brass legs for the end kitchen counters.

Find out more about East Village Apartment ›


Tiled worktop in West Bend House, Australia, by Brave New Eco
Photo by Peter Bennetts

West Bend House, Australia, by Brave New Eco

Duck-egg blue tiles adorn the surfaces of this galley kitchen, which studio Brave New Eco created in West Bend House in Melbourne.

This includes an island running through its centre, where square tiles are used on the worktop and the sides are lined with long, slender versions. They are teamed with wooden joinery and slender bar stools.

Find out more about West Bend House ›


Kitchen interior of De Sijs co-housing by Officeu Architects
Photo by Stijn Bollaert

De Sijs, Belgium, by Officeu Architects

Officeu Architects combined a mix of pastel-hued square tiles to decorate the worktops in this kitchen, which features in the De Sijs co-housing project in Leuven.

The dusky colours of the surfaces are complemented by a mix of fern-green and wooden cabinets and help draw attention to playful furnishings and fixtures, including hanging lights and bright red pots.

Find out more about De Sijs ›


Bright pink and green kitchen island in Palma Hideaway by Mariana de Delás
Photo by José Hevia

Palma Hideaway, Spain, by Mariana de Delás

Green tiles are used to create focal points throughout this lofty apartment, which architect Mariana de Delás has hidden in a former motorcycle workshop in Palma de Mallorca.

This includes the kitchen, where the tiles crown a statement island supported by chunky pink legs. This watermelon-like colour combination pops against a concrete floor and wooden cabinets.

Find out more about Palma Hideaway ›


Interior of Screen House by Ben Allen
Photo by Henrietta Williams

Screen House, UK, by Studio Ben Allen

This pared-back kitchen features inside Screen House, a north London flat that was modernised and reconfigured by Studio Ben Allen.

To align with a strict budget, the kitchen features utilitarian fixtures and combines simple wooden joinery with white-tiled surfaces. The end tiles are curved to form a smooth edge to the counter.

Find out more about Screen House ›


Tiled worktop in Dawnridge House kitchen, USA, by Field Architecture
Photo by Joe Fletcher

Dawnridge House, USA, by Field Architecture

Large grey tiles are used across the countertops of this wooden kitchen, which Field Architecture designed within a house in California.

They form part of the natural-looking material palette used throughout the home, for which the studio drew on the surrounding Los Altos Hills landscape that includes a creek and large oak trees.

Find out more about Dawnridge House ›


Industrial kitchen inside Bismarck House by Andrew Burges Architects in Bondi, Sydney
Photo by Peter Bennetts

Bismarck House, Australia, by Andrew Burges Architects

At Bismarck House in Bondi, Andrew Burges Architects used a palette of what it described as “outdoor materials” across the ground floor.

Alongside exposed brick, concrete and steel elements, this utilitarian palette includes tiled kitchen worktops and is intended to blur the boundary between the inside and robust exterior of the home.

Find out more about Bismarck House ›

This is the latest in Dezeen’s lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from our archive. Other recent editions showcase wine storage solutions, bedrooms with desk spaces and interiors that draw on Mediterranean living.

Reference

Eight pared-back kitchens with minimalist storage solutions
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight pared-back kitchens with minimalist storage solutions

Sometimes the simple solutions are the best, as seen in this lookbook featuring tidy kitchen interiors where minimalist closed cabinets are combined with decorative materials.

In these kitchens, found in homes from Sweden to Mexico, architects and designers largely chose simple storage solutions but added material interest in the form of marble, steel and brick details.

By hiding utensils and crockery away, benches and kitchen islands are freed up to use for food preparation. In some of these kitchens, open shelves above the work areas also provide spaces to hold decorative plates, bowls and cookbooks.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes where the wardrobe is the focal point, bedrooms with statement headboards and homes with pergolas.


Interior of Steele's Road House by Neiheiser Argyros
Photo by Lorenzo Zandri

Steele’s Road House, UK, by Neiheiser Argyros

The original brickwork was uncovered in parts of this London flat, including in the kitchen where it forms the backdrop to the room’s minimalist cabinets.

Pale-wood cupboards sit underneath the brick wall, which also features shelves to add more storage.

Designers Neiheiser Argyros added a curved window seat, as well as a wooden kitchen table and stool to match the cabinets and give the room a more natural feel.

Find out more about Steele’s Road House ›


Canal Saint-Martin apartment by Rodolphe Parente
Photo by Giulio Ghirardi

Hausmann apartment, France, by Rodolphe Parente

This Parisian apartment in a 19th-century Haussmann building in Paris was given an overhaul by interior designer Rodolphe Parente, who took cues from the owner’s art collection.

In the kitchen, stainless steel cabinets were used to form storage and workspaces, creating an industrial feel that is tempered by pastel-pink walls.

“The kitchen is a deconstructed block sitting in the Haussmanian environment,” Parente told Dezeen. “It is connected to the historical elements through its composition.”

Find out more about the Hausmann apartment ›


Kitchen in Studio Vaaro's House M
Photo by Scott Norsworthy

House M, Canada, by Studio Vaaro

Studio Vaaro used oak cabinetry for the kitchen of this home in Canada, while matching oak shelving provides additional storage above the workspaces.

To contrast the warm wood, the studio chose grey marble for the countertops and splashbacks, which gives the kitchen an organic feel. Additional storage can be found in the pale grey cabinets that frame the kitchen.

Find out more about House M ›


Kitchen in apartment by Holloway Li
Photo by Edmund Dabney

London apartment, UK, by Holloway Li

A kitchen clad in circle-brushed stainless steel clads one wall in this London flat by local studio Holloway Li. Designed in reference to the city’s many fish-and-chip shops, it features a striking curved splashback.

Above the workspaces, a built-in open shelf provides space to store glasses and cooking utensils, with the rest of the storage is hidden behind patterned-steel cabinet doors.

Find out more about London apartment ›


Quesnel apartment
Photo by Ronan Mézière

Montreal apartment, Canada, by Naturehumanie

Fresh minty hues decorate the kitchen of this Montreal apartment, which was given a modern update while retaining many of its traditional details.

The green colour matches that of the apartment’s existing stained glass doors. And the kitchen island and cabinets both have inviting curved forms, finished in a glossy paint that complements the rougher tiles above the counters.

Find out more about the Montreal apartment ›


Kitchen in Highbury House by Daytrip
Photo by Gareth Hacker

Highbury House, UK, by Daytrip

Located in Highbury in north London, this home juxtaposes a gallery-like minimalism with more organic forms.

This is evident in the kitchen, where pared-back storage cabinets in an unusual rectangular shape sit underneath a decorative marble countertop.

Sculptural vases, plates and cooking utensils decorate the matching marble kitchen island as well as a small ledge that functions as both storage and display counter.

Find out more about Highbury House ›


Kitchen with white oak and Florida Brush quartzite
Photo by Yoshihiro Makino

Eastern Columbia Loft, US, by Sheft Farrace

Architecture studio Sheft Farrace renovated this flat, which is located in the iconic art deco Eastern Columbia building in Los Angeles, creating minimalist interiors that draw on the building’s exterior.

In the kitchen, this can be seen in the curved corners of the counters and the elongated cabinet hardware, which reference 1930s design. Florida Brush quartzite was used to cover much of the kitchen, adding a striking decorative detail that is complemented by white oak.

Find out more about Eastern Columbia Loft ›


Kitchen inside Archipelago House by Norm Architects
Photo courtesy of Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects

Archipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects

Danish studio Norm Architects designed this home on the west coast of Sweden to embody both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics.

In the white-walled kitchen, a stainless-steel kitchen island offers both a practical workspace and cupboards for storage. Open wood shelving was decorated with black ceramics to create an art installation-style feature on one wall.

Find out more about Archipelago House ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes where the wardrobe is the focal point, bedrooms with statement headboards and homes with pergolas.

Reference

Eight concrete kitchens with raw and tactile surfaces
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight concrete kitchens with raw and tactile surfaces

Kitchens with exposed concrete surfaces take centre stage in this lookbook, which includes homes in Mexico, Japan and Ireland.

Concrete is a ubiquitous material in architecture, but it is less commonly used in interiors – particularly in residential spaces such as kitchens.

However, its durability and impermeability make it an ideal surface material for cooking and food preparation, while its raw aesthetic can create a striking backdrop for dining and entertaining.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase airy balconies, marble bathrooms and gallery interiors.


Concrete kitchen of House in Jiyugaoka
Photo by Toshiyuki Yano

House in Jiyugaoka, Japan, by Airhouse Design Office

Airhouse Design Office created this kitchen as part of its renovation of an apartment for a fashion fanatic in Nagoya, Japan.

Like the rest of the home, the kitchen’s walls, floor and ceiling have been stripped back to expose the concrete beneath. While some areas were left with chipped edges and plaster, others have been polished for a smooth finish.

Find out more about House in Jiyugaoka ›


Interior of Casa H3 by Luciano Kruk
Photo by Daniela Mac Adden

Casa H3, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk

This open-plan kitchen and dining room sits on the ground floor of a holiday home by architect Luciano Kruk in Mar Azul.

Blending seamlessly into the home’s concrete structure, it features geometric shelving and kitchen counters that extend from the walls and floor. Its industrial look is complemented by an enamel pendant light and a pair of wireframe chairs.

Find out more about Casa H3 ›


Concrete kitchen of Casa Alférez by Ludwig Godefroy
Photo by Rory Gardiner

Casa Alférez, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy

In a pine forest in Mexico, architect Ludwig Godefroy created a brutalist cube-shaped home that is built from concrete cast in situ.

This includes its kitchen, where the shelving and worktops are also all cast from concrete. Here, their raw finishes are juxtaposed with delicate ceramics and Danish designer Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chairs, visually softening the space.

Find out more about Casa Alférez ›


Sunken kitchen inside Flower House by Ezzo
Photo by João Ferrand

Flower House, Portugal, by Ezzo

The concrete worktops of this sunken kitchen double up as a smooth floor for the dining room at Flower House, a renovated dwelling in Porto.

Wood-fronted cabinets slot in beneath the flooring, which was hand-poured on site and has been covered with a waterproof coating to give it a polished look.

Find out more about Flower House ›


Interior of Toad's House, Mexico, by Espacio 18 Arquitectura
Photo by Onnis Luque and Fabian Martinez

Toad’s House, Mexico, by Espacio 18 Arquitectura

Throughout the minimalist Toad’s House on Zapotengo Beach in Oaxaca, architecture studio Espacio 18 has left the concrete structure unfinished and exposed.

In the bar-style kitchen, the board-marked walls are teamed with glass ornaments and woven baskets, while a central island has been topped with a wooden countertop.

Find out more about Toad’s House ›


Concrete kitchen of House T, Japan, by Suppose Design Office
Photo by Toshiyuki Yano

House T, Japan, by Suppose Design Office

This concrete kitchen is among the purposely dark and cave-like living spaces in the monolithic home that Suppose Design Office designed for its founder in Tokyo.

Its concrete walls and worktops have tactile finishes, which stand against a backdrop of large stone floor tiles and wooden furnishings.

Find out more about ›


Hollybrook Road extension in Ireland by TOB Architect
Photo by Aisling McCoy

Hollybrook Road, Ireland, by TOB Architect

Irish studio TOB Architect designed this concrete kitchen extension to evoke the feeling of “being a child under a very robust table”.

It was cast in situ as one geometric form with the goal of creating a seamless and cavernous look inside. The architect chose an otherwise restrained material palette of terrazzo, walnut and Accoya wood in an effort to retain focus on the texture of the concrete.

Find out more about Hollybrook Road ›


Interior of Casa Golf, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk
Photo by Daniela Mac Adden

Casa Golf, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk

Another concrete kitchen by architect Luciano Kruk is found in Casa Golf, a holiday home on the Argentinian coastline.

Paired with black cabinets and extractor ducting, its dark-grey surfaces add texture to the space without distracting from the outward views framed by the variety of windows that line the space.

Find out more about Casa Golf ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase airy balconies, marble bathrooms and gallery interiors.

Reference

Eight earthy kitchens where terracotta tiles add warmth and tactility
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight earthy kitchens where terracotta tiles add warmth and tactility

For this lookbook, we’ve collated eight kitchens from Dezeen’s archive that use terracotta tiling to bring a sense of warmth into the functional space.

Terracotta – meaning baked earth in Italian – technically refers to any object made from fired clay. But most commonly, the term is used to describe pottery made from a porous type of earthenware clay that is high in iron oxides, giving it a rusty reddish brown colour.

Unlike ceramic stoneware or porcelain, terracotta is fired at lower temperatures so it does not vitrify – meaning the clay retains a coarse, organic texture and isn’t waterproof unless it is glazed.

Used as a backsplash or flooring, this can bring some much-needed colour and texture into the kitchen while helping to create a connection to the outdoors.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and sunken baths.


Budge Over Dover house in Sydney designed by YSG
Photo by Prue Ruscoe

Budge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG

Australian studio YSG used narrow terracotta tiles to “draw the outside in” to this house in Sydney, spilling from the floor of the garden patio onto the adjacent kitchen and dining area, which can be opened up to the exterior using sliding glass doors.

The rough clay is paired with shiny aubergine-coloured plaster and travertine in the sunken living room beyond, creating a contrast between raw and polished surfaces.

Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›


Dining area in Farley Farmhouse by Emil Eve Architects
Photo by Mariell Lind Hansen

Farley Farmhouse, UK, by Emil Eve Architects

When Emil Eve Architects added a gabled kitchen to a farmhouse in Wiltshire, the British studio set out to mirror the material palette of the existing home by adding arrowhead terracotta tiles to the extension’s exterior.

Inside, matching rectangular tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern on the floor while a row of clay pendant lights hang from the wooden roof beams.

Find out more about Farley Farmhouse ›


Hygge Studio by Melina Romano
Photo by Denilson Machado

Hygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano

Terracotta flooring and tan brick walls lend a “rustic charm” to this São Paulo apartment, designed by Brazilian designer Melina Romano.

The tiles spill out across the entire home including the bedroom and lounge, which is framed by a screen made of decorative perforated cobogó blocks.

Find out more about Hygge Studio ›


Photo by José Hevia

Las 3 Marías, Spain, by Bajet Giramé and Nicolas Burckhardt

All-over terracotta flooring was one of the ways that Spanish studio Bajet Giramé found to connect the kitchen of this 1960s holiday home to its generous backyard, alongside the addition of generous arched openings and perforated steel doors.

“We ended up working on the whole plot, treating both house and garden as a playful matrix of varied interconnected rooms,” the studio told Dezeen.

Find out more about Las 3 Marías ›


Interiors of La Odette apartment by Crü
Photo by Adrià Goula

La Odette, Spain, CRÜ

To create a bright, open floor plan inside this apartment in a Barcelona housing block that dates back to 1877, Spanish studio CRÜ tore down most of the internal petition walls

Instead, the kitchen is now delineated by a statement wall clad in terracotta tiles – left over from the flooring and turned back-to-front to reveal their ribbed underside.

Find out more about La Odette ›


Kitchen of West Bend House in Melbourne, designed by Brave New Eco

West Bend House, Australia, by Brave New Eco

Three kinds of tiling provide textural interest inside the kitchen of this “forever home” in Melbourne, with sections of rustic terracotta contrasted against a backsplash of teal-glazed ceramics.

Corrugated tiles were also folded around the pendant light above the island that illuminates the work area, courtesy of Australian lighting brand Southdrawn.

Find out more about West Bend House ›


Como Taperia by Ste Marie
Photo by Conrad Brown

Como Taperia, Canada, by Ste Marie

Both the seating area and the open kitchen of this Spanish tapas bar in Vancouver were lined with terracotta, in a nod to the brick chimneys of Barcelona’s industrial Poble Sec power station.

Other Catalan references can be found in the restaurant’s cobalt blue accents – informed by the paintings of Joan Miró – and various abstract details that nod to the work of architect Antoni Gaudí.

Find out more about Como Taperia ›


Conde Duque apartment by Sierra + De La Higuera
Photo by German Sáiz

Conde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera

Different spaces in this open-plan apartment in Madrid were defined by traditional Moroccan zellige tiles, with glossy yellow and green glazes and organic handcrafted surfaces.

To balance out these flashier surfaces, terracotta was used to ground the kitchen and dining area, paired with plain white walls and custom timber joinery.

Find out more about Conde Duque apartment ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and sunken baths.

Reference

Eight tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions

As people’s interest in ultra-organised homes shows no signs of abating, we’ve collected eight clutter-free kitchens with smart storage solutions in our latest lookbook.

Spearheaded by Japanese organisational guru Marie Kondo, well-organised interiors have become a global trend. In no room is this more evident than in the kitchen, where pantries are stocked up with decanted jam jars, spice racks are labelled and shelving units are customised to house specific utensils.

The following projects, which range from compact apartments to home extensions, use hooks, nooks, racks, shelves, cubby holes and display units to create tidy kitchens where not a grain is out of place.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Spanish apartment renovations, cosy cabins and interiors with statement carpets.


MAP House by SAM Architects
Photo is by Edmund Sumner

Map House, UK, by SAM Architects

Paolo Vimercati and Melanie Schubert of SAM Architects demolished a garage hidden behind several listed buildings in south London in order to create this mews house for themselves.

Designed to accommodate their “modern lifestyles”, the home’s interior is clad in vertical planks of charred larch and has plenty of open-plan spaces.

The kitchen has pink, blue and orange plywood units that are filled with cooking books and glassware, while a pegboard display area is used to hang crockery.

Find out more about Map House ›


Fifth Avenue Kitchen by Handwerk Art and Design
Photo is by Perry E Hall

Fifth Avenue Kitchen, US, by Handwerk Art and Design

Space-saving storage solutions can be found in Fifth Avenue Kitchen, a compact New York apartment created by interior design studio Handwerk Art and Design for a client who works in the film industry.

Aiming to make the most of the 160-square-foot (15 square-metre) space, Handwerk retrofitted the kitchen with features including a pegboard wall for hanging mugs, aprons and other items.

“Starting with a study of their cooking habits and spatial needs, we designed a set of custom cabinets for the whole kitchen that placed everything specifically and precisely,” said the studio.

Find out more about Fifth Avenue Kitchen ›


A kitchen interior by Nimtim Architects
Photo is by Megan Taylor

Fruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects

Plywood and planed softwood structures with square tiles characterise this playful galley kitchen designed by Nimtim Architects for a home extension project in Forest Hill, London.

A kitchen island features a tiled waterfall countertop above a sink and shelving. The kitchen walls were designed to be filled in to increase privacy, or easily removed to maximise open space depending on the family’s future needs.

Find out more about Fruit Box ›


The Family Playground by HAO Design
Photo is by Hey Cheese

The Family Playground, Taiwan, by HAO Design

This family home in Taiwan was reorganised by studio HAO Design so that its occupants could spend more time with each other. In the kitchen, the parents are able to watch their children play games or listen to them play the piano while they are making dinner.

High ceilings in the kitchen meant there was room for a large black steel storage rack to be hung above a white-tiled island. The cage-like storage system serves as a “visual focus” and can also be used to hold plants or kitchenware.

Find out more about The Family Playground ›


Air BnP by Position Collection
Photo is courtesy of Position Collective

Air-BnP, Hungary, by Position Collective

This former studio flat in Budapest was reorganised by Hungarian studio Position Collective to create an Airbnb property suitable for two guests. Rather than rearranging the layout – and mindful of the small budget – the studio installed a plywood furniture and storage system that caters to temporary occupants’ needs.

In the kitchen, it features a modular pegboard storage wall with adjustable shelves to showcase different pieces of local Hungarian art books, home accessories and cooking equipment.

Find out more about Air-BnP ›


Curve Appeal kitchen interior
Photo is by Megan Taylor

Curve Appeal, UK, by Nimtim Architects

London studio Nimtim Architects transformed a 1920s semi-detached house in Southwark using multifunctional plywood partitions with arched openings and alcoves for storing belongings.

A limited, neutral-toned material palette was employed in the kitchen, comprised of handmade terracotta floor tiles, laminated countertops and sustainably sourced plywood.

Find out more about Curve Appeal ›


Kitchen of Maison Pour Dodo by Studio Merlin
Photo is by Richard Chivers

Maison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin

For the revamp of a flat in Stoke Newington, British interior firm Studio Merlin added an abundance of storage to form serene, clutter-free living spaces.

An opening in the living room connects the kitchen, where there’s a wall of deep-set IKEA cabinets with smokey blue door fronts and a seating nook. Above this, a series of pantry-style shelves means the owner can easily access jars of cooking ingredients.

Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›


A kitchen with wooden shleving units
Photo is by Cristobal Palma

Punta Chilen, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados

Named after the peninsula of land that the residential complex sits on, this red home extension was constructed by Santiago-based architecture studio Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados using pine stilts.

An open-plan room in the heart of the home is a communal space designed for cooking and eating. Large pine shelves filled with ornaments and tableware line the walls.

Find out more about Punta Chilen ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with sliding doors, earthy bedrooms with natural colours and kitchens with marble surfaces.

Reference

Eight kitchens that benefit from generous marble surfaces
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight kitchens that benefit from generous marble surfaces

From veiny and earthy to sleek and spotless, our latest lookbook features eight kitchens from the Dezeen archive that prominently feature marble.

Marble is a metamorphic stone formed when limestone rock is heated and pressured in the Earth’s crust, making it crystallise and form a streaky, swirly mix. The smooth stone can be used on walls, floors and other surfaces, often in bathrooms or kitchens.

In larger kitchens, marble can be used to form sturdy islands, breakfast bars or dining tables while in smaller spaces, it can be used as an easy-to-clean splashback or countertop for meal preparation.

Here are eight interior projects that feature marble kitchens, including a playful apartment in Melbourne and a minimalist house in Canada.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes informed by biophilic design, colourful 1970s interiors and homes with sliding doors.


Apartment 207 by BST Arquitetura
Photo is by Eduardo Macarios

Apartment 207, Brazil, by Belotto Scopel Tanaka

For the revamp of a 75-square-metre apartment in Brazil, architecture studio Belotto Scopel Tanaka employed a simple material palette of glossy, dark wooded cabinetry against black and white marble.

On one side of the marble breakfast bar, there is space for the residents to sit and enjoy meals; on the other, there are several drawers for crockery and kitchenware storage.

Find out more about Apartment 207 ›


Lawyers office by Arjaan De Feyter
Photo is by Piet-Albert Goethals

Deknudt Nelis, Belgium, by Arjaan de Freyter

Blackened steel, dark walnut fittings and deep-green marble slabs fill the interior of this pared-back office that Belgian studio Arjaan de Freyter designed for law firm Deknudt Nelis.

The same veiny stone used for the striking kitchen island has also been used to line the inner shelves of a full-height storage unit. Architect De Freyter chose the material to convey “decisiveness and professionalism,” he told Dezeen.

Find out more about Deknudt Nelis ›


Kitchen with terrazzo floor
Photo is by Benjamin Hosking

Brunswick Apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart

Like the majority of this Melbourne apartment, its L-shaped kitchen pays homage to the 1960s, with the same pistachio green tones and speckled flooring as its original mid-century interior.

The designers used Rosa Alicante marble on the top of the custom-made steel frame table and long countertops, which complements the terrazzo floor tiles beneath.

Find out more about Brunswick Apartment ›


Brooklyn Loft by Dean Works
Photo is by Daniel Salemi

Brooklyn Loft, US, by Dean Works

New York studio Dean Works added a statement multi-functional plywood unit in the kitchen of this Brooklyn apartment, giving its occupants some much-needed storage space.

Its in-built grey and white marble countertop was cut away to make space for a traditional white sink and a gas hob, while the shelves provide space above the counter for tableware, crockery and cooking utensils.

Find out more about Brooklyn Loft ›


Apartment in Belgium features green kitchen
Photo is by Piet-Albert Goethals

Belgian Apartment, Belgium, by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof

Local architects Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof designed this coastal two-floor apartment to reflect its calm countryside surroundings.

Seaweed-coloured joinery and streaky Alga Marina marble surfaces make the kitchen the focal point of the residence and contrast the panelled birchwood cabinets and shelves.

Find out more about Belgian Apartment ›


Beaconsfield Residence by Sudio AC
Photo is by Andrew Snow

Beaconsfield Residence, Canada, by StudioAC

Located in Toronto, this Victorian townhouse renovated by StudioAC combines clean white hues with wooden furnishing and flooring.

The overhaul included opening up the interior by reorganising the layout, as well as installing a black marble-covered kitchen island to provide a darker contrast.

Find out more about Beaconsfield Residence ›


Light marble counter tops in a kitchen
Photo is by Raphaël Thibodeau

Cottage on the Point, Canada, by Paul Bernier Architecte

Designed by local studio Paul Bernier Architecte, this sun-drenched kitchen sits within a house extension in Cottage on the Point, a lakeside dwelling in Quebec.

The large glass windows that frame views of the surrounding trees and night skies also allow light to bounce across the pale marble surfaces that line the table, shelves and countertops.

Find out more about Cottage on the Point ›


Kitchen in Barwon Heads House
Photo is by Timothy Kaye

Barwon Heads House, Australia, Adam Kane Architects

Australian studio Adam Kane Architects blanketed the barn-style extension of Barwon Heads House in a monochrome interior palette and contemporary finishes.

The open plan kitchen and dining area is divided by a large marble dining table, while elsewhere in the cottage, matching slabs of travertine marble are used as countertops and coffee tables.

Find out more about A Barwon Heads House ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with Eames chairs, memorable pop-up shops and interiors informed by Bauhaus principles.

Reference

Helping commercial kitchens manage food waste
CategoriesSustainable News

Helping commercial kitchens manage food waste

Spotted: According to one report, as much as half a pound of food is wasted for every restaurant meal, including from kitchen waste and what’s left on customers’ plates. While some of this can’t be helped (peels, rinds, food that has gone off), there is a lot of scope for improvement. That is the goal of Dutch startup Orbisk, which has developed a computer vision-based system that helps food service operators identify and cut down on waste. 

Orbisk’s system includes a smart camera connected to a scale, which is installed near a facility’s waste bin. Staff hold food destined for the bin under the camera before throwing it away. The system identifies the exact foods and how much is being thrown away. The artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm then delivers data that helps the restaurant monitor exactly what and how much is being thrown away, and why.

The system works for both pre- and post-preparation foods and the results help operators manage their kitchens and supply chains to minimise waste. For example, if a lot of a particular raw ingredient is going off before it can be cooked, the kitchen knows it needs to order less of that ingredient. Or, if leftovers of a particular dish are being thrown away frequently, this may mean the portion sizes of that dish are too large.

The company describes its goal as “a mission to make the world’s food system more sustainable. We do this by using progressive and innovative technology to tackle one of today’s biggest challenges: food waste. Our solution provides hospitality organizations with a complete insight into their food waste and helps them cut their waste in half.”

Orbisk is not the only company developing solutions to reduce food waste. Winnow, in the UK, makes a similar AI-powered system aimed at driving operational improvements and cutting waste. Other innovative ways of tackling food waste highlighted here at Springwise include making fabric out of food waste and a countertop system for turning home food waste into compost. 

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Email: info@orbisk.com

Website: orbisk.com/en

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