Ten L-shaped kitchens with extensive countertop space
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten L-shaped kitchens with extensive countertop space

The latest lookbook in our series exploring kitchen layouts highlights 10 examples from Dezeen’s archive that have two connected countertops that form an L-shaped layout.

L-shaped kitchens are organised in the shape of the letter L usually with a long row of cabinetry adjoined to a slightly smaller projecting section. However, in some instances, the countertops can be equal in length.

Appliances, sinks and cookers are usually placed on opposite sides of the kitchen with ample storage and workspace around and between. In larger spaces, islands can be incorporated into the design between the L-shaped counters to provide additional space.

The L-shape is of the most common kitchen layouts along with U-shaped kitchens, one-wall kitchens, island kitchens, galley kitchens and peninsula kitchens.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related posts feature breakfast bars, compact kitchens and kitchens with skylights.


l-shaped by baumhauer

Farmhouse, Switzerland by Baumhauer

Fitted in a vaulted space within a traditional farmhouse, this L-shaped kitchen uses clean lines to contrast with the historic nature of the building.

The kitchen consists of two stainless steel counters with stainless cabinetry with drawers, cupboards and appliances fitted below.

One arm of the L contains a cooker positioned directly in front of a framed window to give the residents views across a Swiss valley while they are cooking. The other counter has a sink embedded opposite a serving hatch that punctures the thick stone wall between the dining and kitchen space.

Find out more about Farmhouse ›


plywood kitchen by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter

Cabin at Rones, Norway by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter

Fitted against a wrap-around corner window, this birch plywood kitchen designed by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter includes an L-shaped row of base cabinetry.

A steel sink that incorporates a large drainer was placed at the centre of the row of units, while an electric cooker was placed on the other.

The cabinetry and drawers below have a minimalist look with units aligned flush with the kitchen’s wooden countertops and featuring cut out handles.

Find out more about Cabin at Rones ›


L-shaped kitchen by hayhurst and co

London flat, UK by Hayhurst and Co

This kitchen at the rear of a London flat was built beneath a part-sloping wood-lined ceiling that follows the topography of the garden.

A row of white floor units topped with a marble countertop with an embedded sink was placed below a large full-width window that looks out to the sloping garden. The counter extends along the kitchen’s wall to form an L that contains an electric hob.

Find out more about London flat ›


l-shaped kitchen by vaughn mcquarrie

Oneroa House, New Zealand by Vaughn McQuarrie

This timber New Zealand home overlooking the Hauraki Gulf uses materials chosen for their texture and robustness.

The open-plan kitchen-diner sits beneath a mono-pitched roof with north-facing clerestory windows.

Plywood kitchen units line two of the walls with the sink positioned next to a large window with views across a bay.

Find out more about Oneroa House ›


Ikea customised kitchen by Reform

Stine Goya headquarters, Copenhagen by Reform

This communal kitchen at fashion brand Stine Goya’s headquarters runs along two walls of a room that has butter-yellow walls and light timber floors.

Danish brand Reform updated IKEA cabinets with brass doors and handles to create a metallic look. The counters are topped with a contrasting black laminate countertop that matches the black appliances.

Find out more about Stine Goya headquarters ›


green stained kitchen by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof

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

Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof stained the birch cabinetry in this L-shaped kitchen a seaweed green to connect the space with its coastal surroundings.

Alga Marina marble was used for the kitchens countertops to add a neutral contrast to the deep green.

Find out more about Belgian apartment ›


l-shaped kitchen by karin matz and francesco di gregorio

Föhr apartment, Germany by Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matz

Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matzhay converted the hayloft of a thatched roof farmhouse on the island of Föhr in Germany into this apartment.

Its L-shaped kitchen is tucked away against the sloping roof, between a bathroom and bedroom. The architect duo lined the walls with thousands of ceramic tiles, each drilled with a singular hole to reveal a blue dot to form a sea of polka dots.

Wooden base cabinetry blends with the apartments wood flooring and houses the kitchen’s appliances and storage. Because of its small footprint, a circular sink, electric stove and oven were organised beside each other within the longer countertop against the tiled wall.

Find out more about Föhr apartment ›


L-shaped kitchen by Lagado Architects

Workhome-Playhome, The Netherlands by Lagado Architects

Ashwood cabinetry, burnt-orange niches, blue terrazzo floors and teal hued cupboards fill this L-shaped kitchen in Rotterdam.

A wall of squared white tiles frames teal coloured overhead cabinetry that is suspended over a sink, stovetop and granite worktops.

Teal cabinetry complements the kitchen’s blue terrazzo floors, which marks the area from the light wood floors in the living space. A breakfast bar in front of a window becomes an extension of the work area and can be used as additional prep space.

Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›


L-shaped kitchen by ras arquitectura

Corsega Apartment, Spain by RAS Arquitectura

This simple kitchen combines bright white cabinetry, steel appliances, grey-veined marble and exposed pipework.

Overhead cabinetry surrounds a veined marble splashback and extends across the countertop, which extends into the room and doubles as a breakfast bar.

A steel oven and microwave were fitted within the cabinetry at the end of the kitchen, tying together with the metallic handle and exposed extractor fan piping.

Find out more about Corsega Apartment ›


L-shaped kichen by Denizen Works

Extension One, UK by Denizen Works

An oak countertop wraps around white cabinetry in this residential extension by Denizen Works. A white-tiled splashback wraps around the L-shaped countertops below a chunky oak shelf and rectangular window that overlooks the garden.

The studio added a large L-shaped skylight supported by large oak beams above the counter containing the sink.

Find out more about Extension One ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing colourful interiors, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Seven wooden kitchens that offer a different take on timber
CategoriesInterior Design

Seven wooden kitchens that offer a different take on timber

Wood has long been used to create kitchens, but architects and designers are finding subtle ways to reimagine the material in the cooking space. Interiors reporter Natasha Levy selects seven standout examples in our latest Dezeen Lookbook.



Wooden kitchens: The Rye Apartments by Tikari Works

The Rye Apartments, UK, by Tikari Works

Spruce-wood cupboards inset with subtle grooves feature in the kitchens of these apartments in south London’s Peckham neighbourhood.

The cabinets and the surrounding cross-laminated timber walls are meant to lend the homes a cosy, domestic atmosphere. Extra warmth is provided by brass door handles and amber-flecked terrazzo that runs across the floors.

Find out more about The Rye Apartments


Wooden kitchens: Ti Clara by Atelier Espaco P2

Ti Clara, Portugal, by Atelier Espaço P2

Atelier Espaço P2 felt that a natural material palette offered “the most honest and true solution” for the overhaul of Ti Clara, a historic home in the Portuguese municipality of Ansião.

The kitchen has therefore been set within a wood-lined gabled niche. Pale plywood has been used to craft its cabinets, as well as the triangular extractor hood above the stove. Contrast is offered by the grey stone countertop, splashback and floor tiles.

Find out more about Ti Clara


Wooden kitchens: Southgrove Road by From Works

Southgrove Road, UK, by From Works

A photograph of a moss-covered stone inspired the earthy green hue of this stained plywood kitchen suite, which design studio From Works incorporated into a Sheffield family home.

“[The photo] sparked conversation about trying to create a space and a material palette that referenced Sheffield’s special position as an earthy regenerating city uniquely connected to the beautiful surrounding Peak District.”

Find out more about Southgrove Road


Wooden kitchens: Urban Cabin by Francesca Perani

Urban Cabin, Italy, by Francesca Perani

Surfaces throughout the kitchen of this 25-square-metre apartment in Albino, Italy are covered in oriented strand board (OSB) – a type of engineered timber made by compressing strands of wood in different directions.

Although architect Francesca Perani was more accustomed to seeing OSB used on building sites, she thought its continuous pattern helped make the micro-sized kitchen appear bigger.

“I love its textural irregularity, random organic composure and recycled properties,” she added.

Find out more about Urban Cabin


Wooden kitchens: Powerscroft Road by Daytrip

Powerscroft Road, UK, by Daytrip

Design studio Daytrip didn’t want the interiors of this London townhouse to seem “over-designed or mass-produced”, so applied a selection of textured and patterned materials.

In the kitchen, grainy Douglas fir wood has been used to make the cabinetry and the base of the central breakfast island. Countertops are pale Evora marble, while walls have been limewashed to leave a “painterly” finish.

Find out more about Powerscroft Road


Wooden kitchens: An Attic for David by MH.AP Studio

An Attic for David, Spain, by MH.AP Studio

The kitchen and all the storage elements of this Barcelona apartment are made from matte-finish MDF.

While this type of engineered wood is often appreciated for being cost-friendly, MH.AP Studio also thought it would create a warm, “enveloping” ambience inside the home – especially when combined with oak parquet flooring.

Find out more about An Attic for David


Wooden kitchens: Hackney House by Applied Studio

Hackney House, UK, by Applied Studio

A jet-black timber kitchen suite forms a striking focal point inside this east London home.

“[The clients] wanted vivid contrast between the background and feature elements,” explained Applied Studio.”We worked with them to introduce natural elements to soften this, hence the visible grain in the joinery.”

Find out more about Hackney House

Reference

Ten home kitchens that use colour to make a statement
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten home kitchens that use colour to make a statement

In our latest Dezeen Lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 residential kitchens by designers who have experimented with bright tiles and coloured cabinets to challenge the ongoing trend of all-white cooking spaces.



Duck-egg blue kitchen with pink terrazzo breakfast bar

Plaster Fun House, Australia, by Sans-Arc Studio

A pink-terrazzo breakfast bar is complemented by duck-egg blue cabinetry, spherical pendant lights and abundant brass detailing in this kitchen by Sans-Arc Studio.

It was built as part of an extension to a cottage in Torrensville and takes its cues from art deco and P&O architecture – a style that emerged following the popularity of cruise liners in the 1930s.

Find out more about Plaster Fun House ›


Mustard yellow kitchen with orange splashback tiles

Delawyk Module House, UK, by R2 Studio

R2 Studio introduced mustard-yellow cabinets to the cooking space of this 1960s home on a London council estate, as part of a playful redesign of the dwelling for a young family.

The kitchen units are teamed with retro, orange splashback tiles, minimal silver handles and an oak floor has been stained dark for contrast.

Find out more about Delawyk Module House ›


Bubblegum-pink kitchen with parquet blue tiles

Nagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman

A bubblegum-pink kitchen suite sits at the heart of this Tokyo apartment that Adam Nathaniel Furman designed as “a place of happiness, joy and lightness” for a retired couple.

The units are paired with slender, blue wall tiles that are arranged in a herringbone pattern and a stripy watermelon-green floor. There is also an adjoining breakfast nook with a lilac carpet that is intended to resemble icing.

Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›


Bright yellow and turquoise kitchen

House P, China, by MDDM Studio

MDDM Studio combined vibrant yellow walls with earthy terrazzo fixtures made from green, orange and beige stones to create this colourful kitchen in a Beijing apartment.

Contrasting turquoise accents, seen on the cabinets and sliding doors to the room, were also added to accentuate the colour of the green stone in the terrazzo.

Find out more about House P ›


Terracotta-coloured kitchen and breakfast bar

Klinker Apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture

Terracotta-coloured cement lines the ceiling, wall and floor of the kitchen inside of Klinker Apartment, a holiday home by Colombo and Serboli Architecture in an art-nouveau building in Barcelona.

These warm surfaces are complemented by matching cabinetry and a central breakfast island but contrasted with the surrounding patterned floor tiles that were saved from the flat’s previous fit-out.

Find out more about Klinker Apartment ›


Seaweed-coloured kitchen with marble worktops

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

The birch-wood cabinets and shelving that line this apartment’s kitchen have been stained a murky shade of green to evoke seaweed and marram grasses, paying homage to its setting on the Belgian coast.

They are paired with a dusky plaster wall finished in the same colour, alongside chunky industrial steel detailing, light marble worktops and a speckled grey floor.

Find out more about Belgian Apartment ›


Multi-coloured kitchen with concrete countertops

Kennington House, UK, by R2 Studio

Kennington House’s multi-coloured cooking space was designed by R2 Studio as “a kitchen that doesn’t scream ‘kitchen'” by avoiding the use of cold and shiny surfaces.

Instead, it is lined with birchwood cupboards that have cobalt blue, lemon yellow and sage green matt finishes, adorned with coral-hued stools and concrete countertops.

Find out more about Kennington House ›


Plum-purple kitchen with green cabinetry

Esperinos, Greece, by Stamos Michael

This kitchen is one of several rooms in a guest house in Athens that Greek designer Stamos Michael overhauled to evoke a gallery-style space.

Warm plum-purple walls are animated by a large piece of modern art and set against emerald-hued cabinetry and black, industrial-style shelves.

Find out more about Esperinos ›


Blush-pink kitchen with grey cabinets

Apartment in Born, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture

Blush-coloured quartz was used to craft the flecked breakfast island and splashback inside this kitchen in a 13th-century apartment in Barcelona.

They are offset with grey kitchen units with brass handles, exposed oxblood-hued extraction ducting and a coral-coloured arched volume on one side that conceals a small toilet.

Find out more about Apartment in Born ›


Bright green kitchen with terrazzo detailing

White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

A large green kitchen island with an overhanging monochrome worktop made from terrazzo is positioned at the centre of this kitchen in Gundry & Ducker’s White Rabbit House.

The island is teamed with a backdrop of matching built-in wall cabinets, arched windows and doorways, and a floor lined with large slabs of luminous white, blue and grey terrazzo.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›

Reference

Thirty kitchens designed by architects
CategoriesInterior Design

Thirty kitchens designed by architects

Looking for inspiration for your dream kitchen? In our latest Dezeen Lookbook, we’ve rounded up 30 architect-designed kitchens from our archives.


This roundup is the latest in a series of stories that bring together visual inspiration for the home. See our recent posts showcasing ten colourful kitchen interiors, thirty bathrooms designed by architects and seven bedrooms with statement walls.


John Pawson's minimalist kitchen

Home Farm by John Pawson

British architect John Pawson designed three kitchens for his own retreat, Home Farm, including this minimal example with pale lime plaster walls.

Find out more about Home Farm ›


Emerald green kitchen in Paris

Paris Apartment by Atelier Sagitta

An emerald-green apartment is the focal point of this apartment in Paris overhauled by Atelier Sagitta, which features grooved oak cupboards made by a local cabinet maker.

Find out more about Paris Apartment ›


Exposed brick and steel kitchen extension

Makers House by Liddicoat & Goldhill

Deep blue cabinets provide a contrast to the exposed brick walls,  steel beams and polished concrete floor of this London home.

Find out more about Makers House ›


Gold IKEA hack kitchen

Stine Goya’s House by Reform 

Danish brand Reform gave a standard IKEA kitchen set a glitzy golden makeover for the house of a Copenhagen-based fashion designer.

Find out more about Stine Goya’s house ›


Amin Taha cherry wood and brass kitchen

Caroline Place by Amin Taha

Cherry wood cabinets and a kitchen island topped by dark brass surfaces feature in this 1950s house in London updated by Amin Taha Architects.

Find out more about Caroline Place ›


All-black kitchen in a prefab cabin

Shelter by Vipp

An all-black kitchen sits underneath a light chimney in this steel-framed prefabricated cabin with floor-to-ceiling glazing.

Find out more about Shelter ›


Blue kitchen with resin floor

Slab House by Bureau de Change Architects

Every surface of this kitchen designed for a London house extension by Bureau de Change Architects is blue, including the ceiling and the resin floor.

Find out more about Slab House ›


White tile and pink cabinet kitchen

Oscar Freire Apartment by Claudia Bresciani and Júlia Risi

Bright white square tiles and baby pink cabinets define this kitchen in São Paulo, which has a walk-in pantry that’s painted turquoise.

Find out more about Oscar Freire Apartment ›


Sink and stover overlooking an olive grove

The Olive Houses by Mar Plus Ask 

The sink and stovetop of this off-grid house in Mallorca, Spain, overlook an ancient olive grove framed by pink stucco walls.

Find out more about The Olive Houses ›


Kitchen overlooking the South Pacific

House in Los Velos by Ryue Nishizawa

A jaw-dropping view of the ocean provides the backdrop to this kitchen made of wood in a house built on a spit of land jutting into the Pacific Ocean in Chile. All the kitchen elements are housed in three central islands, leaving the windows unobstructed.

Find out more about House in Los Velos ›


Exposed timber in kitchen built in ruins

The Parchment Works by Will Gamble Architects

This kitchen built in the ruins of a cattle shed and a 17th-century parchment factory in England features exposed timber beams.

Find out more about The Parchment Works ›


Chunky terrazzo kitchen island

Glyn House by Yellow Cloud Studio

Yellow Cloud Studio created a kitchen island using black terrazzo with oversized chunks as a counterpoint to the pale oak cupboards and splashback of terracotta tiles in this London extension.

Find out more about Glyn House ›


Japanese ceramic tile splashback

Kew Residence by John Wardle Architects

The founder of John Wardle Architects used specially sourced Japanese ceramic tiles for the kitchen while remodelling his house in Melbourne, Australia.

Find our more about Kew Residence ›


Birch plywood kitchen in a cabin

Cabin at Rones by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter 

Big windows make the most of the views from this kitchen in a cabin on a rocky outcrop in Norway, featuring simple birch plywood furniture and a concrete floor.

Find out more about Cabin at Rones ›


Yellow, teal and terrazzo kitchen

House P by MDDM Studio

Chunky terrazzo used for the island and the splashback contrasts with the bright yellow walls and teal cupboards of this kitchen for an apartment in Beijing by MDDM Studio.

Find out more about House P ›


Kitchen with pass-through window onto outdoor grill deck

Hood Cliff Retreat by Wittman Estes

The kitchen opens right out onto the deck of this cabin in the Pacific Northwest designed by Wittman Estes. A pass-through window allows the outdoor grill to become a seamless culinary extension.

Find out more about Hood Cliff Retreat ›


Plywood kitchen with cubby hole for a cat

Parisian Apartment by SABO Project

SABO Project designed this apartment in Paris to be as kid-friendly as possible with a birch plywood kitchen complete with a cosy nook for the family’s pet cat to retreat to.

Find out more about Parisian Apartment ›


Dark grey kitchen in the Alps

Z House by Geza

Z House is a gabled house set into the slopes of an Alpine village in Italy. The dark kitchen of steel and wood is designed as a backdrop to the sweeping views of the mountains.

Find out more about Z House ›


Pink kitchen with tiled floor

Mixtape Apartment by Azab

Architecture studio Azab gave a 1960s apartment in Bilbao a fun makeover centred on a baby-pink kitchen with wood-trimmed cupboards and a mosaic-style herringbone tiled floor.

Find out more about Mixtape Apartment ›


Pale green kitchen with terrazzo tops

The Mantelpiece Loft by Note Design Studio

The sage-green kitchen of this reconfigured apartment in Stockholm, Sweden, has contrasting countertops of terrazzo flecked with orange stone.

Find out more about The Mantelpiece Loft ›


IKEA kitchen in Edinburgh apartment

Edinburgh Apartment by Luke and Joanne McClelland

This refurbished Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, has an open plan kitchen with herringbone floors made of oak and affordable kitchen units from IKEA.

Find out more about Edinburgh Apartment ›


Kitchen with hemp walls and yellow cupboards

Flat House by Practice Architecture

The hemp walls of this house on a farm in Cambridgeshire are a feature in the kitchen, which has sunshine-yellow cupboards below floating wooden shelves.

Find out more about Flat House ›


Kitchen with hanging open shelves

Marine Extension by David Barr Architects

David Barr Architects used pale birch plywood for this bright kitchen in Perth, Australia, which displays a crockery collection on open shelves hanging from the ceiling.

Find out more about Marine Extension ›


Yellow tile and steel counter kitchen

Duplex in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi by Arquitectura-G

Bright yellow is a theme in this Barcelona apartment designed by Arquitectura-G. The kitchen is no exception, with lemon-coloured square tiles to contrast the brushed steel worktop.

Duplex in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi ›


Teal kitchen counter with copper handles

Casa Mille by Fabio Fantolino

Copper handles accent the blue-green cabinets of the kitchen with herringbone floors in this Turin flat renovation by Italian architect Fabio Fantolino.

Find out more about Casa Mille ›


Terracotta floors and pale brick walls

Hygge Studio by Melina Romano

Brazilian designer Melina Romano used terracotta flooring and vertical brick walls in the kitchen of an apartment in São Paulo themed around the Danish concept of cosiness.

Find out more about Hygge Studio ›


Two tone splashback and plaster walls

Apartment XVII by Studio Razavi

Studio Razavi overhauled an abandoned apartment in Lyon, France, plastering the walls and creating a serene kitchen with sea-green coloured MDF cabinets and a patterened splashback to match.

Find out more about Apartment XVII ›


Seaweed green kitchen with marble and steel island

Belgium Apartment by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof

This duplex in the dunes of the Belgian coast has a kitchen with seaweed-coloured birch cabinetry and a marble-topped steel island.

Find out more about Belgium Apartment ›


Rusty orange kitchen with grey cupboards

Paris Apartment by Sophie Dries

French architect Sophie Dries renovated a 19th-century flat in Paris, France, using bold colour blocking of dark grey cabinets against rusty-orange floors, walls and countertops for the kitchen.

Find out more about Paris Apartment ›


Three colours of minty green kitchen

Apartment on a Mint Floor by Fala Atelier

As the name suggests, this two-bedroom apartment in Porto, Portugal, by Fala Atelier has a mint-green epoxy resin floor complimented in the kitchen by the two shades of turquoise used for the kitchen cabinets.

Find out more about Apartment on a Mint Floor ›

Reference

Ten calming green kitchens that bring natural tones into the home
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten calming green kitchens that bring natural tones into the home

For our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten fresh and airy kitchens that use shades of green to give a hint of the natural world.


From soft sage to bright emerald, green is this year’s kitchen colour trend, often paired with natural local materials.

Perhaps inspired by our craving for nature during the pandemic, calming sea greens, grassy hues and mossy tones are popular choices for kitchen cabinetry, walls or tiles.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbook series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series showcased living rooms with statement shelving, peaceful bedrooms and designer bathrooms.


Kitchen with murky green cabinets

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

Local architects Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof designed this duplex for a coastal location surrounded by sand dunes on the Belgian coast.

To contrast the marble-topped counters, the architects choose to colour the splashback, shelving and panelled birch-wood cabinets in a shade of green that recalls seaweed and beach grasses.

“The colour choice of the wood subtly brings in the seaweed colour from the adjacent sea and the marram grasses in the surrounding dunes,” the architects explained.

Find out more about Belgium Apartment ›


Kitchen with countertops of terrazzo flecked with orange stone

The Mantelpiece Loft, Stockholm, Sweden, by Note Design Studio

Note Design Studio painted furniture in green and pink throughout The Mantelpiece Loft to stand out against its white walls.

Sage green was used for one of the staircases and a bedroom, as well as the kitchen cabinets that were paired with contrasting countertops of terrazzo flecked with orange stone.

Find out more about The Mantelpiece Loft ›


Green kitchen in Lyon apartment

Apartment XVII, Lyon, France, by Studio Razavi

Studio Razavi combined pale-grey plaster, a light wooden floor and sea-green cabinets in this renovation of an apartment in a Renaissance-era building in the historic Vieux Lyon neighbourhood of Lyon in France.

The green kitchen cabinetry has a matching splashback with a stepped silhouette.

Find out more about Apartment XVII ›


Kitchen with sea-green cabinetry

Casa Mille apartment, Turin, Italy, by Fabio Fantolino

Italian architect Fabio Fantolino used pops of green and petrol blue throughout the interior of this apartment in Turin that he designed for himself.

In the herringbone-floored kitchen, sea-green cabinetry is paired with copper handles.

Find out more about Casa Mille ›


Stained-green kitchen cabinets

House extension, Sheffield, UK, by From Works

The bespoke kitchen of this house in Sheffield was designed to incorporate the materials and colours of moss-covered rocks found in the nearby Peak District.

It combines green-stained plywood with grey fossil limestone worktops and splashback sourced from a Derbyshire quarry.

Find out more about Sheffield house extension ›


Green kitchen

Waterfront Nikis Apartment, Thessaloniki, Greece, by Stamatios Giannikis

Architect Stamatios Giannikis used colour-blocked walls painted in flamingo pink, azure blue and pastel green to define the different rooms in this seaside apartment in Greece.

The green chosen for the kitchen cabinets and walls was designed to be in sharp contrast with the apartment’s original geometric red and black cement-tile flooring.

Find out more about Waterfront Nikis Apartment ›


Apartment with a mint-green floor

Apartment on a Mint Floor, Porto, Portugal, Fala Atelier

As the name suggests, Fala Atelier created a mint-green floor from epoxy resin throughout this two-bedroom apartment in Porto, Portugal.

To complement the floor, the apartment’s kitchen unit doors were coloured two subtly different shades of turquoise.

Find out more about Apartment on a Mint Floor ›


Green kitchen in Paris apartment

Parisian apartment, Paris, France, by Atelier Sagitta

French practice Atelier Sagitta added an almost entirely green kitchen to this previously characterless apartment in Paris.

The emerald-green walls and cabinets, combined with grooved oak cupboards made by a local cabinet maker, make the kitchen the focal point of the apartment.

Find out more about Paris Apartment ›


Plum-purple kitchen walls

Esperinos guesthouse, Athens, Greece, by Stamos Michael

The kitchen of this guesthouse in Athens was painted a plum-purple hue to contrast with the rest of the largely moss-green interiors.

Green was also introduced in the kitchen where dark emerald cabinetry was matched with black, industrial-style shelves that display crockery.

Find out more about Esperinos guesthouse ›


Dark green kitchen cabinets

Apartment #149, Lviv, Ukraine, by Roman Shpelyk

Interior designer Roman Shpelyk designed this apartment in the Ukrainian city of Lviv to have largely simple white interiors.

Colour was added with a plant-filled shelving unit and the forest-green laminated-plywood cabinetry in the kitchen.

Find out more about Apartment #149 ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Ten architect-designed kitchens with terrazzo details
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten architect-designed kitchens with terrazzo details

The terrazzo trend shows no sign of slowing down, with the decorative speckled material cropping up in residential projects as well as in restaurants and workspaces. For this lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten playful and practical terrazzo kitchens.


Terrazzo is a composite material made by mixing marble, granite, quartz or glass chips with a binder such as cement or resin. The rough mixture is applied to walls and floors before being polished.

The protruding stone pieces create an irregularly flecked surface that adds a fun, organic feel to interiors. Alternatively, terrazzo can be pre-cast into tiles, surfaces or objects such as vases and basins.

White Rabbit House by Gundry + Ducker
Terrazzo has an irregularly flecked surface, seen here in the kitchen of White Rabbit House

The material originated in Italy, where it was developed as a way of using up stone offcuts. Its popularity has grown over the past few years and today it comes in many different colours and designs.

The material is hardwearing and easy to wipe down, making it suitable for heavily-used areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

These ten terrazzo kitchens from the Dezeen archive all feature clever takes on how to best use the eye-catching material.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.


White Rabbit House by Gundry + Ducker

White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

When architecture studio Gundry & Drucker gave this 1970s house in London an overhaul, it used terrazzo both for the exterior and the interior, decorating the house’s facade as well as its floors with the material.

In the kitchen, a white terrazzo slab lines the floor and is matched with a green kitchen island with a black-and-white terrazzo top. The whole kitchen has been painted a vibrant green, creating a colourful contrast to the more subdued terrazzo.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›


Black kitchen island with oversized terrazzo

Glyn House, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio

In Glyn House (above and top), designers Yellow Cloud Studio used a playful, oversized terrazzo for the kitchen island, which is inlaid with colourful chunks of aggregate.

The furniture piece adds a graphic, almost Memphis-style touch to the otherwise traditional kitchen.

Find out more about Glyn House ›


Terrazzo floor in Spanish apartment

Galla House, Spain, by Cavaa

A pale-blue terrazzo floor with darker chips marks the kitchen area in this compact apartment in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain. The flooring continues into the hallway to cleverly connect the two rooms and create a surface where the owners and guests can store shoes without creating a mess.

The speckled pattern adds interest to the otherwise pared-down flat, especially in combination with the turquoise wooden detailing used throughout the space.

Find out more about Galla House ›


Mài Apartment in Vietnam designed by Whale Design Lab

Mài apartment, Vietnam, by Whale Design Lab

Whale Design Lab’s design for Mài apartment was informed by modernist architecture, and especially the work of Louis Kahn. The studio used terrazzo to create this striking kitchen area as it was a big trend in southern Vietnam in the 1960s.

“Modernist architecture was introduced into the south of Vietnam in the mid-20th century,” explained the studio.

“The popular construction materials of modern buildings in the United States such as exposed-aggregate surface, terrazzo and cement became trendy in Saigon.”

Find out more about Mài apartment ›


Kitchen with terrazzo floor

Melbourne apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart

Another project to pay homage to the 1960s is this Melbourne apartment that was renovated using the same colours and materials as its original mid-century interior.

Here, the architects used terrazzo floor tiles that were salvaged excess stock from a larger project to complement the original terrazzo flooring that still remains in the bathroom. The tiles feature unusually large stone chips in a brownish hue against a flecked black-and-white background.

Find out more about Melbourne apartment ›


Terrazzo kitchen splashback

Liberty House, UK, by SODA

It’s not just in residential projects that terrazzo has become popular, but also in workspaces and restaurants. In London office building Liberty House, designers SODA chose terrazzo from London-based producer Altrock to create the oversized patterns used for the practical kitchen splashback.

The studio also collaborated with Altrock to create custom-made surfaces with colours that match the rest of the design.

Find out more about Liberty House ›


Kitchen at Frame House by Bureau de Change

Frame House, UK, by Bureau de Change

Terrazzo is everywhere in Bureau de Change’s design for Frame House. A terrazzo floor in different shades unites the ground floor and upper stories of the split-level house, going from a pale taupe in the kitchen to darker hues.

The white kitchen island was given a red, white and black terrazzo with an almost marbled effect that adds a luxurious touch of colour and pattern to the space.

Find out more about Frame House ›


Terrazzo coffee bar with wooden shelves

Coffeebar, US, by Walker Warner Architects

This American coffeebar in the San Francisco Bay Area has a back wall and service area entirely clad in classic black-and-white flecked terrazzo.

Simple wooden shelving and cups and jugs in monochrome ceramics complement the practical terrazzo to create a simple yet stylish design.

Find out more about Coffeebar ›


Alfondac guest apartment by Aixopluc

Alfondac guesthouse, Spain, by Aixopluc

When Catalan architect Aixopluc created an experimental apartment above its office in Reus, it chose brown-and-white-speckled terrazzo surfaces for the kitchen and bathroom areas.

The slabs are made by tile brand Huguet from recycled glass and marble aggregate mixed with “green label” cement, which is meant to emit 35 per cent less carbon than standard cement.

Find out more about Alfondac guesthouse ›


House P by MDDM Studio

House P, China, by MDDM Studio

Colourful terrazzo fixtures decorate this Beijing apartment, with both the kitchen, bathroom and playroom clad in an off-white terrazzo with large chips.

“We wanted to use a material that could bring together the cement finishing of the floor and ceiling with the yellow walls,” designer Momo Andrea Destro told Dezeen.

“The colourful terrazzo is produced in the south of China by a specialized manufacturer who assisted us on a careful selection of the stones.”

The kitchen cupboards were painted turquoise to pick up the colour from the terrazzo slabs.

Find out more about House P ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.

Reference

Ten bright kitchens that are flooded with natural light
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten bright kitchens that are flooded with natural light

In the first of a trio of spring lookbooks this Easter weekend, we’ve selected ten bright kitchens that are flooded with light from wide windows, skylights and full-height glass doors.


This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature inspiring outdoor living spaces, calming green kitchens, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.


Kitchen in Tibur House by Paul Archer Design

Tibur House, UK, by Paul Archer Design

This 15-square-metre addition to the rear of a house in north London contains a bright, open-plan kitchen and dining area.

Architecture studio Paul Archer Design topped a side extension with a skylight that runs the length of the kitchen while full-height glass doors let light into a dining area.

Find out more about Tibur House ›


Light-filled kitchen in Akari House

Akari House, Spain, by Mas-aqui

Mas-aqui renovated an apartment near Barcelona into a light-filled home named Akari House after a Japanese term for light.

The apartment has a large skylight built into a roof terrace above that provides the kitchen with light.

Find out more about Akari House ›


London kitchen extension with green details

Overcast House, UK, by Office S&M

Designed for a colour consultant, this kitchen extension by Office S&M in London combines several on-trend colours including Millennium Pink and Mint Green.

The space also doubles up as an area for the consultant to work and meet with clients, so it was essential that the kitchen was evenly lit.

Find out more about Overcast House ›


Timber kitchen

Vikki’s Place, Australia, by Curious Practice

Curious Practice used birch plywood throughout the interiors of this multi-generational home in the Australian city of Newcastle.

In the kitchen, which is bookended by sliding glass doors, birch plywood was also used to make simple open-face cabinets that were paired with countertops clad in stainless steel.

Find out more about Vikki’s Place ›


Light-filled kitchen with full height glass walls

House in Los Vilos, Chile, by Office of Ryue Nishizawa

Designed as a retreat on the Chilean coast by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Ryue Nishizawa, House in Los Vilos has a spectacular kitchen flanked on both sides by full-height glass walls.

Set under the home’s wavy concrete roof, the kitchen has expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.

Find out more about House in Los Vilos ›


Apartment in Brasilia with lattice-like wall to let in light

Brasília apartment, Brazil, by Bloco Arquitetos

Brazilian studio Bloco Arquitetos stripped back this 1960s apartment in Brasília and divided it up using translucent partitions.

At the front of the apartment, the kitchen is backed by a lattice-like wall with square cutouts that provides natural light and air to the apartment.

Find out more about Brasília apartment ›


Interior of house on stilts in Chile

Casa Aguantao, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados

This rural house in Chile occupies a pair of structures elevated on stilts and topped with grooved-metal roofs.

Placed at the end of one of the raised buildings, the long kitchen is enclosed by a wall of full-height glazing to give views across the surrounding countryside.

Find out more about Casa Aguantao ›


London house extension

AR Residence, UK, by DeDraft

Architecture studio DeDraft added a kitchen extension clad in green aluminium panels to this house in London.

The compact addition contains a small dining area alongside large windows and a glass door next to a kitchen that is topped with a skylight.

Find out more about AR Residence ›


Bright kitchen in house in USA

Wyoming house, USA, by Olson Kundig

In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US studio Olson Kundig designed a house with large windows that can be covered in wooden shutters.

On the ground floor, the kitchen was positioned alongside one of the large windows so that it receives plenty of light.

Find out more about Wyoming house ›


Skylight covered London house extension

Burrows Road, UK, by Rise Design Studio

Rise Design Studio created a large kitchen-cum-dining room at the rear of this mid-terrace house.

To bring plenty of light into the space, an extension made almost entirely of glass was added to the side of the home with full-height glass doors at the rear.

Find out more about Burrows Road ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Eight compact U-shaped kitchens designed by architects
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight compact U-shaped kitchens designed by architects

In the latest in our series exploring kitchen layouts, we’ve picked eight examples from Dezeen’s archive with U-shaped configurations to make efficient use of space.


As the name suggests, U-shaped kitchens consist of three worktops connected to form an open rectangle.

Popular in smaller interiors, the practical layout creates plenty of counter space for food preparation with room for storage underneath and in wall-hung cabinets above.

The design also creates a compact and efficient work triangle, with everything close to hand.

The U-shape is of the most common kitchen layouts along with one-wall kitchens, island kitchens, galley kitchens and peninsula kitchens.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous roundups include living rooms with statement shelving, spa-like bathrooms and home-working spaces.


Red and black U-shaped kitchen

Paris apartment, France, by Sophie Dries

French architect Sophie Dries combined two mid-19th-century flats in Paris to create a single large apartment.

At the centre of the apartment, this U-shaped kitchen combines dark grey floor and wall cabinets with soft red worktops, walls, floor and ceiling.

Find out more about Paris apartment ›


Yellow kitchen

Delawyk Module House, UK, by R2 Studio

R2 Studio created playful interiors within this 1960s home on a London council estate. Set alongside an open-plan living and dining area, the bright kitchen combines yellow units and custom orange splashback tiles.

Countertops are arranged in a U-shape with the sink placed under a window and one arm of the U dividing the kitchen from the other communal areas.

Find out more about Delawyk Module House ›


Small architect-designed kitchen

Highgate apartment, UK, by Surman Weston

Built within a 1920s residential block in the Highgate, the kitchen and living space in this small apartment are connected by a timber-framed porthole window.

Within the small kitchen, the sink sits under a narrow window with turquoise-blue countertops inlaid with timber to create a terrazzo-like finish, positioned along the walls. The room is finished with cabinets made from fluted panels of oak finished with brass handles.

Find out more about Highgate apartment ›


U-shaped kitchen in Australia

Ruffey Lake House, Australia, by Inbetween Architecture

Local studio Inbetween Architecture overhauled a late 20th-century house in Melbourne to create a home for a family of five.

The ground floor was opened up to create an open-plan living and dining space that steps down to the kitchen. The cooker was located at the end of the U with the sink on one arm and space for food preparation on the other.

Find out more about Ruffey Lake House ›


Barcelona apartment

Barcelona apartment, Spain, by Adrian Elizalde and Clara Ocaña

Spanish architects Adrian Elizalde and Clara Ocaña tucked the kitchen into a niche that was left over when they demolished the internal walls in this apartment in Barcelona’s Eixample neighbourhood.

More of a J-shape than a U, the asymmetrical kitchen is defined by a tiled floor. The white countertop wraps around three walls and extends into the living area, which is demarked by timber flooring.

Find out more about Barcelona apartment ›


Australia interior

Carlton House, Australia, by Reddaway Architects

Lit by a skylight, the kitchen separates the more enclosed spaces in this house’s original structure from a large open living and dining space within an extension.

The kitchen, which has a marble countertop above pink cabinets, extends out from the wall in a J-shape to create a partially enclosed food preparation and cooking space.

Find out more about Carlton House ›


Concrete counter tops in kitchen extension

The Cook’s Kitchen, UK, by Fraher Architects

Fraher Architects added a black-stained timber extension to this London flat to create a larger kitchen for a client who loves to cook.

A window extends up the wall to meet a roof light that extends the length of the kitchen, which has a single, in-situ-poured concrete countertop.

The painted plywood cabinets feature patterns of randomly drilled holes that double as recessed handles.

Find out more about The Cook’s Kitchen ›


U-shaped kitchen

HB6B – One Home, Sweden, by Karen Matz

Karen Matz created this kitchen within a small, 36-square-metre apartment that she designed for herself.

The end counter contains the sink and cooker, while one of the arms can be used as a breakfast bar. The third arm is topped with storage space and supports one side of the apartment’s raised mezzanine bedroom.

Find out more about HB6B – One Home ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing colourful interiors, outdoor fireplaces and rooftop gardens.

Reference

Ten compact kitchens by architects that make the most of limited space
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten compact kitchens by architects that make the most of limited space

Not everyone has room for a huge kitchen so for our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten designs with a small footprint.


One solution is a single-wall kitchen, in which everything is arranged in a single run against a wall.

Other more creative designs feature kitchens tucked in nooks, hidden behind doors or even pop-up kitchens that fold away when not in use.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related posts feature breakfast bars, kitchens with islands, green kitchens, terrazzo kitchens and kitchens with skylights.


Wooden kitchen

Pocket House, UK, by Tikari Works

Aptly named Pocket House, this London extension measures just 35 square metres. Designers Tikari Works fitted the compact kitchen along a wall, with a skylight above providing natural light.

Custom-made plywood cabinets by Uncommon Projects provide storage including a run of units above the counter with sliding doors that hide everything from gadgets to plug sockets, allowing the counter to remain clutter-free.

Find out more about Pocket House ›


Small wooden kitchen

LIFE micro-apartments, South Korea, by Ian Lee

Like the walls in this tiny apartment in Seoul, South Korea, the storage spaces in this small kitchen have been lined with pale birch wood.

The kitchen has a stainless steel sink and a miniature hob beneath a small steel extractor. Two of the birch shelves have been left open, giving the owner space to display their earthenware.

This creates a simple, decorative touch and breaks up the streamlined design of the wooden cabinets.

Find out more about LIFE micro-apartments ›


Tiny kitchen in Paris apartment

Studio apartment, France, by Pierre-Louis Gerlier

A curved wall with scalloped wood panelling decorates this Parisian studio apartment where space is at a premium. Designer Pierre-Louise Gerlier built it into a partition to save space in the open-plan interior.

Cabinets in a bright, springlike green sit above a sink and small hob. The wall behind the kitchen area has been rendered in concrete that contrasts with the brass electrical sockets.

A vintage campaign chair in bright orange adds another touch of colour to the space.

Find out more about the studio apartment ›


Casa Mami by Working Holiday Studio

Casa Mami, USA, by Working Holiday Studio

Holiday homes often need functional but space-saving kitchens and this one in the California desert is no exception. Designers Working Holiday Studio took cues from Japanese and Scandinavian design when creating this pale-wood kitchen.

Cabinets and drawers have holes instead of handles. A small black cafe table and slender chairs pick up the black colours of the mismatching sink, fridge and cast-iron cooking utensils.

Find out more about Casa Mami ›


Tiny El Camarin apartment by IR Arquitectura

El Camarin, Argentina, by IR Arquitectura

Bright white cupboards and shelves give this small Argentine kitchen a light, relaxing feel. Built-in furniture adds plenty of storage space to the small kitchen next to a caged balcony.

A small table can be folded out to create a dining space, and the fridge and washing machines are also hidden behind the doors.

Find out more about El Camarin ›


Pink Spanish apartment

Minimal Fantasy Apartment, Spain, by Patricia Bustos Studio

The only minimal thing in the Minimal Fantasy Apartment is the footprint of the kitchen, which has been built against one wall in the completely pink apartment.

Colourful cabinets have geometric shapes and blue hues that break up the monotone pink. A small pale-pink sink sits on a pink-tiled countertop. Spherical wall lights add a festive feel.

Find out more about Minimal Fantasy Apartment ›


Majamaja off-grid cabin by Pekka Littow

Majamaja, Finland, by Pekka Littow

Majamaja is an off-grid cabin in the Finnish seaside that was created as a holiday home by architect Pekka Littow.

He added clever space-saving tricks such as fold-down furniture and a kitchenette that can be hidden behind birch plywood doors when not in use.

The doors have matching shelves above the stainless-steel sink, hob and splashback.

Find out more about Majamaja ›


Brooklyn Loft by Dean Works

Brooklyn Loft by Dean Works

This former studio apartment in Brooklyn was reorganised around a multi-functional plywood volume. In the kitchen, where it has been lined with grey and white marble, it forms cabinets and countertops.

The module holds both the since and a gas hob, as well as a built-in oven. Open shelves lend the feel of a display case and allow the owners easy access to crockery and cooking utensils.

Find out more about Brooklyn Loft ›


Sanwa unveils latest collection of tiny kitchens for micro homes

Sanwa kitchen, Japan, by Sanwa

Japanese brand Sanwa designed this tiny kitchen, which is made from bamboo, especially for micro-homes. When closed, the kitchen doubles as a compact work desk.

An inbuilt electric motor opens the lid up to turn it into a fully functional kitchen with kitchen and washing facilities in one single unit.

The kitchen is one of a range of compact kitchens by the brand.

Find out more about Sanwa kitchen ›


Tiny Holiday Home by i29 interior architects

Tiny Holiday Home, The Netherlands, by Chris Collaris and i29 Interior Architects

Pale wood meets black wood to create a sculptural, striking kitchen design in this Dutch holiday home.

The house was designed to be “spatially efficient” and make use of every centimetre. This can also be seen in the wardrobe-like kitchen, which features bespoke full-height cabinetry designed by i29 Interior Architects and Chris Collaris to echo the graphical form of the house.

Find out more about Tiny Holiday Home ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Ten kitchens with islands that make food preparation easier and more enjoyable
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten kitchens with islands that make food preparation easier and more enjoyable

For this lookbook, we’ve chosen ten kitchen interiors featuring kitchen islands that are both practical and sociable.


Kitchen islands are freestanding counter-height units that are usually rectangular in shape and offer additional storage and preparation space.

They work particularly well in open-plan spaces, providing a clear line of sight between the kitchen and dining areas and offering a place where people can gather.

Here are ten architecture and interior projects that feature kitchen islands including one utilising a repurposed carpenter’s bench and another informed by the work of artist Donald Judd.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related posts feature green kitchens, terrazzo kitchens and kitchens with skylights.


Casa Aguantao, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados

Casa Aguantao, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados

Santiago studio Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados used pale pine for this linear kitchen, with the multi-functional island drawing the eye down the length of the narrow, glazed dwelling towards the living area and terrace beyond.

The kitchen island features a large stainless steel sink and a hob at one end, with the other end serving as a dining table. The far end of the island incorporates a wood-burning stove that faces the lounge.

Find out more about Casa Aguantao ›


White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

For the revamp of a 1970s house in London, British architecture studio Gundry & Ducker added this kitchen island painted a striking shade of absinthe green.

The countertop, which features a large cantilever on one side to create a breakfast bar, is made of dark terrazzo set with white stone chips. With full-height storage behind it, the island faces a generous-sized room with two glazed double doors that open onto the garden.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›


Rylett House, UK, by Studio 30 Architects

Rylett House, UK, by Studio 30 Architects

Studio 30 Architects repurposed an old carpenter’s workbench into a quirky island for this Victorian home renovation project.

The vintage wooden bench contrasts with the contemporary white kitchen units that line two walls. It serves as a sculptural bar that links the food-preparing area to the dining area on the other side of the spacious garden-facing room.

Suspended white Aim lights by the Bouroullecs hang above the island.

Find out more about Rylett House ›


Glyn House, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio

Glyn House, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio

Striking black terrazzo surface with large, colourful aggregate clads all but one side of this minimalist kitchen island designed by Yellow Cloud Studio for a home extension project.

A double layer of oak drawers with bronze pull-tab handles sits below the kitchen-facing side of the counter, which has a flush hob. The other side of the island overhangs to create a narrow breakfast bar, beyond which is a dining table with bench seating set against an exposed brick wall.

Find out more about Glyn House ›


Hass House, USA, by Feuerstein Quagliara

Hass House, USA, by Feuerstein Quagliara

Architecture firm Feuerstein Quagliara designed not one but two parallel islands for the open-plan kitchen, dining area and living room in this house in rural New York state.

Set at ninety degrees to the full-height storage along one wall, the islands’ bases are made of the same plywood as the cupboards and are topped by slabs of polished concrete.

One island is inset with a deep sink and an induction hob and features a breakfast-bar niche for two adjustable-height Camp Stools by Chicago designer Greta de Parry.

Find out more about Hass House ›


Lake Geneva Residence, USA, by Collective Office

Chicago architecture practice Collective Office created a sharp, monolithic island to divide the kitchen and dining area of this contemporary take on a farmhouse in Wisconsin.

The island is made of a solid-surface material by Caesarstone that resembles rugged concrete and has pale wood-fronted cupboards underneath.

The colour palette complements the silvery shingles of Alaskan yellow cedar that clad the home’s exterior. An extra sink is set into the countertop and there are handy electric outlets at one end.

Find out more about Lake Geneva Residence ›


Step House, UK, by Grey Griffiths Architects

Step House, UK, by Grey Griffiths Architects

A grey, altar-like island sits in the middle of the open-plan kitchen-diner of this London extension project by Grey Griffiths Architects.

Deep timber shelves provide storage and display space along the side that faces the dining table, with a sink with an angled mixer tap set in the middle of the kitchen side.

Find out more about Step House ›


Ritson Road, UK, by Gresford Architects

Ritson Road, UK, by Gresford Architects

Pink is the theme of this kitchen extension built by Gresford Architects from rosy-hued coloured concrete in London’s Hackney neighbourhood. The vintage-style room has units along opposite walls, with a traditional Aga cooker on one side. The dining table is in an adjoining but separate space.

The narrow kitchen island, which sits in the centre of the room, has pink cupboards with slot handles. The apricot-coloured marble counter is cut away to make space for a traditional ceramic butler sink.

Find out more about Ritson Road ›


Shallmar Residence, Canada, by StudioAC 

Shallmar Residence, Canada, by StudioAC 

Canadian architectural practice StudioAC referenced the work of artist Donald Judd with this sculptural kitchen island for an art-filled house in Toronto.

The island is formed of four grey cubes made by kitchen materials brand Neolith and is topped by an offset white slab, which is interrupted only by a small recessed sink.

Find out more about Shallmar Residence ›


Barcelona Extension, Spain, by Bonba Studio

A simple wood-clad kitchen island provides extra surface space and a breakfast bar with bar stools in this kitchen extension by Bonba Studio.

A plain white countertop contrasts with the deep red terracotta tiles that lead out to the patio, creating a functional and spacious-feeling open-plan kitchen diner. It is illuminated by three pendant lights.

Find out more about Barcelona Extension ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference