• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Project Name: Chelsea Family Home

Location: Chelsea, London

Date Completed: 2017

Interior Designer: Shalini Misra

This property, built in the Italian Villa style, features a striking pyramid-roofed tower to the front and typically period characteristics internally. Shalini Misra Ltd were enlisted to complete the design of the kitchen area within this property. This area is very important to the family as it serves as a meeting space. They spend a lot of quality time sharing meals, chatting, and studying and so the space needed to be versatile to accommodate these different activities. Therefore, a casual seating area and dining area are incorporated, and a large window fills the space with natural light.

Strikingly, all the elements in the kitchen (predominantly by Officine Gullo) are oversized. The large kitchen island unit accommodates a double sink with bronze taps and two large work areas. Above, is a monumental chandelier. An industrial sized cooking hob and extractor hood is the main focus of the wide kitchen wall.  All are finished in black painted metal and solid brass. High-gloss black cupboards by Poliform either side add a contrast to the refined solid metal kitchen.

The space is also designed around two artworks that the client owns: a large photo by Marina Abramović, entitled ‘Kitchen’ and a digital art installation by Kutluğ Ataman. The video artwork Bosphorus by Ataman, a piece of art cherished by the client, is installed on the wooden panelled wall. Appearing as a window that looks onto the river Bosporus, the artwork evoked nostalgia and fond memories. The striking contrast in finishes and shapes with matte meeting gloss, bronze highlighting the dark finishes of the kitchen units, and the linearity of the kitchen units contrasting with the circular chandelier above and hexagonal tiles below all come together beautifully creating such a unique kitchen

The kitchen design incorporates a dining area and casual seating area which allow the whole family to spend time together whether relaxing in the seating area whilst food is being prepared or doing homework at the dining table. There are many design elements that stand alone and work beautifully together; the straight timber planks of the floor meet the hexagonal tiles that flow under the kitchen units, the ceiling is panelled and painted in a light grey tone which is reflected in the hexagonal tiles and the strong bronze, dark and steel finishes of the kitchen units are met by the soft timber of the island top. Often kitchens are made in a single finish or two finishes only and this kitchen design shows how well a mix of finishes can create such a vibrant interesting space making it a room to be enjoyed and lived in rather than just functional.