design et al are delighted to announce that McCarron & Co. have been shortlisted for Kitchen Design Over £50,000 Award within The International Design and Architecture Awards 2018.
The clients of this kitchen design have a group of very close friends and family who had recently refurbished their homes. When they visited the various kitchen showrooms for their own project they were presented with very similar styled kitchens designs. McCarron & Co. ’s clients wanted to create a kitchen that was unique in design and material selection that would stand out from their friends and families who had already installed the “in-frame shaker kitchen” and “Germanic styled kitchens”. It would also need to stand the test of time and have a timeless look and feel.
The kitchen needed to be practical for a growing family and suitable for social entertaining and semi-professional dinner parties which would take advantage of the natural light from the rear bi-folding patio doors. The clients were keen cooks and self-proclaimed foodies, so the spatial design and flow of the kitchen was of high importance. McCarron & Co. ’s clients also used external high-end caterers, so the appliance specification also needed to function on a professional level with areas that catered for preparation, cooking and service.
The material selection and cabinetry detailing were also of high importance as the space was used for multiple purposes. The kitchen cabinetry was required to sit effortlessly within the architecture whilst being robust and preforming to everyday needs. The type of food and how the clients would use the kitchen needed to be taken into consideration. Combating potential problems by selecting materials for their performance attributes would mean the kitchen and cabinetry, with the correct maintenance and care would look as good today and in ten years’ time.
A key aspect of design is the layout, storage, and function of kitchen. McCarron & Co. approached this aspect of the project first as it helped fulfil large parts of the clients brief. A large central island with induction hob with storage drawers for all the utensils and pans for cooking was placed as the central focal point. This created a very social kitchen with ample storage and work surface/kitchen pass required for dinner parties. The design works well as it fulfils the clients brief. The symmetry helps create a focal point and this symmetry is emphasised by the geometric brass metal work. The use of materials helps to create a coherent timeless kitchen that blends with surroundings that will age over time and tell a story.