Kitchen ergonomics
Nicholas Anthony has remained a family business since 1963, developing a renowned reputation in the luxury interiors market. Each Nicholas Anthony project has the benefit of a truly bespoke design service, suiting the needs of any architectural difficulties, as well as a personal, in-house project management service to ensure quality at every stage of the installation. Tony Nicholas, managing director of Nicholas Anthony, comments,
“The question of ergonomics in the kitchen is best answered once the designer has evaluated the individual space. It is still relatively common to find a classic ‘working triangle’ in rooms that offer large, square dimensions whereas rooms with more unusual layouts tend to favour a linear style to increase the amount of open space whilst maintaining comfortable and safe proximity between appliances.
“An ergonomic kitchen can be in the eye of the beholder. Those that enjoy serious cooking will appreciate certain details of a kitchen design more than those who tend to only partake in light cooking and vice versa. However, the protagonist features of a kitchen such as the refrigeration and workspace should always be considered to be interactive; the distance between the two being the main concern.
“A good kitchen designer will not view the challenge of immovable features (such as pillars) as a problem, rather they will see these features as an opportunity to develop a truly tailor made design. Structural features can be transformed into a central part of the aesthetic through clever colour schemes and textures and can even provide ergonomic comfort by affixing wall mounted storage or even kitchen roll and foil dispensers.”
Tony believes that kitchen design has been greatly affected in the way that there are multiple points of entry into a kitchen space in an open plan design. This means that appliances and fixtures need to appear even less obtrusive.
“We have seen a huge demand in open plan living and multi purpose rooms that offer cooking, dining, entertaining and relaxation areas,”
he explains.
“This has also had an aesthetic effect on kitchen areas with hidden appliances becoming more fashionable to provide an atmosphere of a more general living space rather than a designated cooking room.”
Nicholas Anthony +44 (0)800 0683603
info@nicholasanthony.co.uk
www.nicholasanthony.co.uk
There’s something about a kitchen that seems to exude a magnetic appeal to family and friends alike.
It could be the smell of freshly brewed coffee, newly baked bread and cakes or a gently simmering casserole. Whatever it is, with the kitchen proving such a vital living area, getting its design and layout right is hugely important. Kolenik is a Dutch company focused on high-end, turnkey residential projects which designs many custom made products and furniture.
“This is because we believe every client is unique and deserves a bespoke interior,”
explains interior designer Robert Kolenik.
“Kitchens are one of our specialisations – they are an important basis in a home where many hours can be spent,”
he explains.
“It’s important to give a different approach to the kitchen, when looking at it from this perspective. Integrating a gas fireplace makes the kitchen cosy and alive, especially when the kitchen is extended with a bar table, so different quality zones are created (bar chairs in the kitchen, dining room, living room). This makes it possible to have a starter or glass of wine with friends, while cooking. The kitchen becomes more social like this.”
Kolenik’s kitchens are also based on the Eco Chic Awareness label; the cabinets are produced with ecological fibreboard plate material and the fineer (veneer) finish is attached with ecological glue.
“They are all at the same standard as other high-end kitchens, but with a better ‘inside’. This enables us to create a new high standard of bespoke kitchens, with a sophisticated luxurious touch and which is sustainable at the same time.
“The Ocean Kitchen is the most famous one; getting about 190,000 likes in just one day and features in publications and interviews worldwide. It’s a limited edition of 25 pieces and, being bespoke is available in different dimensions and finishes. The ‘standard’ version comes with a Corian worktop, a black Fantini watertap, Pittcooking gas-hubs and a fully equipped aquarium with hydraulic lift system. It is also connectable with a home automation system.”
The aquarium has an automatic feeding system and pump/filtering system and being a low maintenance aquarium, it can be serviced by a local specialist. Robert offers a word of warning though, as the total weight is quite high, due to the amount of water plus the aquarium itself, the strength of the floor should be around 500kg/m².
Kolenik Eco Chic Design +31 (0)20 8200999
info@kolenik.com
www.kolenik.com
Reinterpreting artisan techniques
Paul Marazzi, design director of Marazzi Design, has fashioned an immediately identifiable style, a fusion of modern and classical influences. His philosophy is to understand artisan’s techniques of the past, and to reinterpret them, using the latest technology and modern day engineering. Creating truly bespoke products, where each component is custom made, individually built and finished by hand, the company offers a vast choice of customised styles, finishes and materials, from 24 carat gold to the finest wood veneers. Paul believes that a kitchen should have soul and presence, celebrating family life and convivial living.
“When dealing directly with a client we listen very carefully to their requirements, establish a wish list and then visualise colours and materials sketching conceptual ideas, a basic layout or two,”
he explains.
“As a rule, a circular island design is extremely ergonomic, socially inviting from its tactile shape and visually stunning, these than be de developed into concentric circular designs which add more wow and individuality to a design.”
While recognising that muted greys and stone colours are trending at the moment, Paul has a reputation for pushing colours and finishes, with a client’s personal preference being the main objective.
“I allow them not to be fearful of their personal colour choice, but the moment you hear a client query what their friends will think of the colours chosen it’s inevitably going to be more mainstream.”
But for those wanting special, innovative and bespoke features to make their kitchen a truly one-off, Marazzi Design knows no bounds.
“That’s pretty much our design statement mission,”
explains Paul.
“We continually develop and push the technical boundaries to create very unique shapes for the furniture, sourcing items for inlays, such as Venetian glass or semi-precious stone, even Swarovski crystal. We then apply specialist finishes to the furniture such as gold leaf, various leathers, book matched wood veneers and specialist Italian lacquers, which are all hand finished.
“In my opinion, a true designer continuously challenges him/herself creating concepts and ideas not seen elsewhere, so I try to avoid anything that’s trending. My own designs I feel are iconic and timeless, clients are surprised when they realise how long ago a design was introduced since it’s still viewed as conceptual design.”
Marazzi Design +44 (0)20 8450 9555
sales@marazzidesign.com
www.marazzidesign.com
