Project in focus: CHELSEA
Kitchen Islands: The Centrepiece That Adds Value to Your Home
From The Wall Street Journal to The New York Times, the importance of the kitchen island within the modern home has been widely documented. Business Insider recently reported that 74% of homebuyers consider a kitchen island an essential, or highly desirable, feature when searching for a new home.
So for anyone that’s been following Blakes London for a while, this will come as no surprise.
We've long highlighted that the kitchen island is far more than just an additional work surface. It's where conversations unfold over morning coffee, where children complete homework under a watchful eye, where friends gather while dinner is prepared, and where everyday moments become lasting memories. In many ways, the kitchen island is the modern incarnation of the traditional hearth.
So when interior designer Leonie della Casa Interiors approached us with a vision for a highly luxurious sculptural fluted brass island that would become the focal point of not only the kitchen but the whole ground floor of the home, we were all in!
Design Integrity in Practice
What sets Blakes apart is our commitment to design integrity. This brass island is a perfect example.
We have a highly skilled in-house team of architects, interior designers, product designers and craftspeople who work collaboratively to create kitchens that are genuinely unique, genuinely bespoke. So when a client brings us a concept that demands something highly specialised, we don't shy away from the challenge, instead, our internal processes have been set up to allow us to fully embrace it!
For this project, that meant collaborating with the talented team at Rupert Bevan, whose exceptional craftsmanship enabled the brass to be formed into sweeping fluted curves, creating an island that is as sculptural as it is functional.
Technically complex but incredibly practical, the island has discreet doors hidden within the fluting allowing access to useful occasional storage.
A Calm BackdropS TO ALLOW Statement Materials TO Shine
Given the bold brass island and matching lacquered antique brass splashback, the surrounding joinery has been intentionally kept understated. Contemporary shaker cabinetry, hand-painted in a soft white, strips away unnecessary detail, allowing the brass and striking quartz worktops to take centre stage. It's the art of understated confidence.
Appliances such as the fridge, microwave and coffee machine are seamlessly integrated behind the cabinetry to maintain the clean, uncluttered aesthetic, while even plug sockets are concealed within a discreet column within the worktop to minimise visual interruption without the loss of functionality.
A Miele downdraft hob removes the need for an overhead extractor, allowing a pair of textured cone pendants to become the only feature suspended above the island. The brass-lined interior of each shade is a subtle but deliberate detail, quietly echoing the island and splashback.
A Bespoke Banquette with Hidden Storage
On the opposite side of the room, a bespoke banquette introduces a welcoming layer of warmth and texture. Its fluted back cushion subtly echoes the detailing of the brass island, creating a quiet dialogue between the two focal points.
Generous under-seat drawers provide valuable additional storage without drawing attention to themselves, seamlessly integrating into the surrounding joinery to preserve the room's calm, uncluttered aesthetic.
The cabinetry continues in the same finish and design language, maintaining a cohesive look throughout the space. On this elevation, however, softly curved corners introduce a greater sense of fluidity, balancing the strong architectural presence of the island and bringing an added softness to the room.
DESIGN DIRECTORY
ARCHITECT: David Cook Associates
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Leonie della Casa
PROJECT MANAGER: Project 7 Ltd
ISLAND METALWORK: Rupert Bevan
WORKTOP: Quartz
TAP: Quooker
HANDLES: Henry Blake
HOB: Miele
JOINERY COLOUR: Farrow & Ball, Borrowed Light
BACKSPLASH: Rupert Bevan
We hope you've enjoyed this deep dive into our Chelsea project. For more behind-the-scenes insights, bespoke kitchen inspiration and our latest completed joinery projects, follow us on Instagram @blakeslnd. We'd love to hear your thoughts and hope to connect with you in the comments.