Kitchen Tour: Irish Cookspace Has Lots of Storage and Character
This open-plan kitchen in Wicklow is contemporary and warm in equal measure – and has incredible views from the hob
Kate Burt
6 January 2020
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
When the homeowners bought their house in Co Wicklow, Ireland, the kitchen was very old-fashioned, with decor and fittings dating back to the 1970s.
“They wanted something contemporary,” Keith Walker of Roundwood Design says. “They liked the idea of darker shades, but didn’t want it to look cold, in the way that some contemporary kitchens can.” The key to getting the look right was in the balance of materials and colours.
“They wanted something contemporary,” Keith Walker of Roundwood Design says. “They liked the idea of darker shades, but didn’t want it to look cold, in the way that some contemporary kitchens can.” The key to getting the look right was in the balance of materials and colours.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here? A young couple
Location Wicklow, Co Wicklow, Ireland
Property A mid-century detached bungalow
Kitchen dimensions The whole open-plan room is 8.75-metres by 7.15-metres
Designer Keith Walker at Roundwood Design
Photos by Brian MacLochlainn of BML Media
The owners wanted a kitchen that was modern but not clinical. With this brief to work to, Keith created a design that would be future-proof and highly functional while feeling warm and liveable. This led to a handleless kitchen design to keep the look minimal, with natural elements to add character.
“One of the key details we introduced was a birchwood wrap on the back wall, which continues into the reveal of the window, keeping the lines simple,” Keith explains.
Who lives here? A young couple
Location Wicklow, Co Wicklow, Ireland
Property A mid-century detached bungalow
Kitchen dimensions The whole open-plan room is 8.75-metres by 7.15-metres
Designer Keith Walker at Roundwood Design
Photos by Brian MacLochlainn of BML Media
The owners wanted a kitchen that was modern but not clinical. With this brief to work to, Keith created a design that would be future-proof and highly functional while feeling warm and liveable. This led to a handleless kitchen design to keep the look minimal, with natural elements to add character.
“One of the key details we introduced was a birchwood wrap on the back wall, which continues into the reveal of the window, keeping the lines simple,” Keith explains.
The painted cabinet doors are also covered with a furniture-grade oak veneer that features a textured grain. “In the right light, you can see the wood grain running through the doors,” Keith says. This also softens the kitchen’s hard surfaces.
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Find a renovation professional in Singapore
The kitchen is positioned in one corner of an open-plan dining/entertaining room. To ‘contain’ it and bring a cosier feel, Keith added a frame around the edges of the area. “The owners wanted to define the kitchen, so we did this to separate it visually from the rest of the space, as it’s such a big room.”
It’s also an extremely bright space. “It’s south-east-facing,” Keith says. “The reason the kitchen is in this spot is because of the room’s aspect.”
The old kitchen faced the other way, towards the darkest part of the room and against a wall that’s since been knocked down, where the sofa is. Now, the cooking area is flooded with light. “We got involved with the orientation at the early stages of the design process,” Keith says.
Doors painted in Railings; walls painted in Ammonite, both Farrow & Ball. Bar stools, sourced by the owners.
It’s also an extremely bright space. “It’s south-east-facing,” Keith says. “The reason the kitchen is in this spot is because of the room’s aspect.”
The old kitchen faced the other way, towards the darkest part of the room and against a wall that’s since been knocked down, where the sofa is. Now, the cooking area is flooded with light. “We got involved with the orientation at the early stages of the design process,” Keith says.
Doors painted in Railings; walls painted in Ammonite, both Farrow & Ball. Bar stools, sourced by the owners.
In terms of functionality of the kitchen, the owners were very specific. “There had to be a place for everything and everything in its place,” Keith says. There’s no generic storage or dead space, with every unit working hard.
“There are pull-out corners, the bins have inserts in them and there are almost no cupboards with simple shelves; instead they have drawers, internal drawers or pull-out units.” Everything was made bespoke.
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“There are pull-out corners, the bins have inserts in them and there are almost no cupboards with simple shelves; instead they have drawers, internal drawers or pull-out units.” Everything was made bespoke.
Browse more kitchen ideas
At the back of the kitchen in this shot, you can see the full-height, integrated fridge. Next to that is a larder cupboard. In the corner is one of two open shelving areas to allow the owners to add some character with decorative items or attractive kitchen bits.
The base units include a pull-out corner unit, pot drawers, and two side-by-side ovens with tray storage underneath. “We didn’t put a cutlery unit underneath the gas hob,” Keith explains, “so there was no issue with clearance for the deep drawers.”
Behind the door to the left of the fridge is a utility room containing a washer/dryer, a full-height freezer, an additional sink and extra storage.
Fridge, Liebherr.
The base units include a pull-out corner unit, pot drawers, and two side-by-side ovens with tray storage underneath. “We didn’t put a cutlery unit underneath the gas hob,” Keith explains, “so there was no issue with clearance for the deep drawers.”
Behind the door to the left of the fridge is a utility room containing a washer/dryer, a full-height freezer, an additional sink and extra storage.
Fridge, Liebherr.
The larder cupboard is solid oak, so, when the doors are open, the warmth of the unpainted wood further softens the clean, modern lines of the kitchen.
The pantry features drawers rather than cupboards below it. “It’s a bit unusual,” Keith says, “but the owners knew what they wanted to store.”
In the top part of the pantry, there’s adjustable shelving of varied heights, a wine rack and a power socket for the toaster, which can be pulled out when in use.
Quartz worktops in Lagoon, Silestone.
In the top part of the pantry, there’s adjustable shelving of varied heights, a wine rack and a power socket for the toaster, which can be pulled out when in use.
Quartz worktops in Lagoon, Silestone.
The island features a waterfall-effect work surface. “It’s mitre-joined, so it gives the effect of the vein of the surface carrying on down the side,” Keith explains.
As well as the central sink, the island also features a pull-out bin, a drawer stack with one pot drawer and two cutlery drawers, and the dishwasher. The worktop overhangs to provide seating on two sides.
At the back, beneath the overhang, is a cupboard with adjustable-height shelving for glassware. “It’s the only standard cupboard unit in the whole kitchen,” Keith says.
As well as the central sink, the island also features a pull-out bin, a drawer stack with one pot drawer and two cutlery drawers, and the dishwasher. The worktop overhangs to provide seating on two sides.
At the back, beneath the overhang, is a cupboard with adjustable-height shelving for glassware. “It’s the only standard cupboard unit in the whole kitchen,” Keith says.
“The owners really wanted a hob at the window,” Keith explains of the positioning. Above the hob is an extremely powerful extractor, “so the glass doesn’t get steamed up or covered in grease,” he says.
“The couple didn’t want to face into the living room while at the hob. It’s not the norm, but they spend a lot of time cooking and they have a lovely sea view out of that window.”
Extractor fan, Novy.
“The couple didn’t want to face into the living room while at the hob. It’s not the norm, but they spend a lot of time cooking and they have a lovely sea view out of that window.”
Extractor fan, Novy.
The floor tiles are large – 80 square centimetres. “This was to minimise the lines,” Keith says. “We didn’t want to use a smaller tile and create grout lines on the floor. It allowed the overall look to remain as clean and minimal as possible.”
Tell us
What’s your favourite thing about this contemporary yet characterful kitchen? Let us know in the Comments section. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
Tell us
What’s your favourite thing about this contemporary yet characterful kitchen? Let us know in the Comments section. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
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Love this kitchen for its "place for everything" always been my motto. And especially love the hob at the window, I too have a sea view and currently awaiting in internal Architechs design, so thank you so much for sharing. Just love this design and the waterfall effect island.
Ive always liked free standing units but this is lovely, streamlined. Seem to have lots of storage too. Would have liked pictures on the island storage sounded very compact.
May I ask for the specific color of the cabinets and paint brand?