BESPOKE KITCHEN
Anchorage | Helford Estuary | Cornwall
Grain and Form
Drawing inspiration from Northern European design, this striking new build called for a kitchen that felt equally considered and architectural. Birch plywood was already a defining material within the home, forming much of the story from the outset. The walls and ceilings of the open-plan living and kitchen space were clad in this warm, honest material, creating a strong and cohesive backdrop.
Birch plywood has a long history in cabinetmaking. Valued for its strength, stability, and environmental credentials, it has been a go-to material for furniture and cabinetry for decades, with kitchen furniture being produced from it as far back as the early 1950s. Its integrity and versatility make it as relevant today as it has ever been. The fact that it still looks fresh today is testament to its appeal.
At the heart of the kitchen, the island needed to be a statement. The challenge was to create something genuinely distinctive, bold enough to hold its own, yet sensitive to its surroundings and the architecture of the space.
Our solution was to approach the material in a way rarely seen. By rotating the birch plywood and exposing the end grain, we allowed the crisp horizontal lines to become the feature. This subtle shift brought depth and rhythm, working in harmony with the flat planes and strong linear forms found throughout the building.
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To elevate it further, we introduced a carved, curved waveform into the front of the island. Inspired by the ocean, it provides a gentle counterpoint to the otherwise straight lines, adding movement, softness, and a sense of quiet drama to the space. By no means any easy task but worth the effort over and over.
The custom pantry features end grain drawer fronts to match in with the Island and 2 bespoke chopping boards incorporating a curved motif, again linking to the curves in the island.
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Within this project we also crafted a unique set of Birch plywood and Bamboo stairs that are again absolutely unique to this project. As one final extra, our talented employee Adam Lampshire crafted a one of a kind Birch plywood fruit bowl.
