A Bright, Reconfigured Kitchen Designed for Family Living
This London terraced home has been reworked to improve layout, storage, and connection to the garden. Plykea cabinetry, built on IKEA units, provides a well-designed, durable foundation for the kitchen, combining natural oak with warm pink tones and blue accents. We spoke with House of Norica designer Ellie to learn more about the project.
Can you tell us a bit about the home?
'The house is a 3 bedroom room terrace in Forest Hill. The clients had renovated some of the rooms already to their tastes and style but were looking to redesign the kitchen/family space so it could work better for the family.'
Describe the kitchen before you renovated it.
'The kitchen was an awkward shape before the renovation with small patio doors and a utility space that jutted out into the garden. This limited the connection to the garden and meant the space wasn’t great for socialising either as a family or for entertaining friends. The existing kitchen units were dated and lacked the storage needed for the family.'
What were the main goals for the renovation?
'The main priorities were making sure that the space had a better connection to the garden and lots of space for the family to hang out together. The clients also wanted to add their own personality to the space, so being able to add colour and fun elements to the design was important. They didn't want the space to feel boring or dull but also strike a balance so it wasn’t overwhelming or cluttered. I think the mix of the clean modern kitchen units with pops of colour and pattern helped achieve this.'
If budget was a concern, what were you prepared to spend on or save on?
'Budget is always a top priority and therefore finding ways to save where possible is always important. Using Plykea meant we could save costs on the cabinetry and have more to play with for the finishes that really make the kitchen feel high quality. We spent more on the worktops and upholstery for bench seating which I would say are standout features.'
What influenced your worktop and tile choices?
'With the modern style of the kitchen cabinets, we wanted the worktops and tiles to add texture and depth to the space. The Foresso worktop on the island is a rich terrazzo style material made of wood offcuts. It was a sustainable option that created a beautiful contrast to the clean look of the kitchen units. In a similar way, the tiles added a textural variation that complemented the modern style of the cabinetry doors.'
How did the layout and zoning of the space shape the overall kitchen design?
'The layout of the kitchen was really important. We wanted to make the most of the centre of the plan (the darkest space), making it work well to deliver the functionality the client needed so that the space closest to the garden could be left as open as possible for the family to relax in. Rearranging the internal walls meant we could add in a utility space for laundry behind the kitchen, as well as a pantry just off the main space that offers loads of storage and a place to hide away all the messy kitchen things. This meant that the design of the main kitchen could be kept simple and be a space for cooking and socialising as those functions were removed.'
How did you find working with Plykea?
'We love working with Plykea as there is lots of flexibility in the colours available, meaning there was plenty of choice when we chose the final finish for the space.
The combination of the standard IKEA units with the bespoke Ürtil units means the design can work for any space while also being affordable. For this project, it meant the clients were able to get a very bespoke kitchen for a budget that worked for them.'
What’s your top tip for renovating that we can share with future customers?
'Planning, planning, planning. Even with all the planning we did for the kitchen there were still unexpected decisions that came up through the installation of the kitchen. We had a really clear idea of the overall look we were hoping to create so it made it easier to adapt and change to the small adjustments needed as the process went on.'
Discover more details and images in our gallery.
If you’re planning an IKEA kitchen upgrade, plywood kitchen, or custom kitchen fronts we’d love to meet you. Book an appointment to explore the materials, handles and worktops that we offer and say ‘hi’ to our team.