Project Name: Hampstead House

Location: London, United Kingdom

Date Completed: February 2020

Interior Designer: Espresso Design in collaboration with Karen Santi

A unique kitchen created for a London fashion designers’ home, using Corten steel doors, liquid metal lacquers, reclaimed wood, and hand-stitched leather. The brief given to Espresso Design was to create a spectacular kitchen and dining space that embraced the unusually generous scale without losing a sense of home, and to push boundaries in terms of colour, texture and materials. The kitchen layout also needed to be set within a pre-defined area of geometric tiling within a broader timber floor.

The aim for Espresso Design was to build harmonious layers of detail into the design that would work without any individual layer overwhelming or dominating the whole. Bespoke liquid metal lacquer units in two finishes are combined with flat metal furniture in Corten steel and inset with reclaimed wood.  The furniture’s metallic tones are softened and accentuated by hand stitched leather grips and Woodlands worktops.

Nearly all the main components in this project were individually tailored, including lacquer texturing, hand-finishing on the tap, and hand-stitched handles. The grain-matched timbers are hand selected, and all the metal doors were welded by hand. All the interior drawers were handmade and individually sprayed. And most importantly, our installation team are exceptional artisans, highly skilled craftsmen whose work is absolutely integral to the success of a project of this calibre and quality.

Espresso Design believe that the design works successful because it’s a highly functional, yet warm and welcoming family kitchen that flows seamlessly through to the spectacular connecting spaces within this unique home. Each component has been chosen both for its individualism and contribution to the overall scheme. Through its bold use of materials, colours and textures, it’s the very opposite of a classic white kitchen. The layering of tones and details was a key aspect of the project. Karen Santi’s background as a fashion designer and passion for colour and texture made this an exciting and exhilarating collaboration. The world of interior design meets the world of fashion.