Quartz worktops for an ultra-modern kitchen renovation

The brief for this modern kitchen in Suffolk was to create a space where the whole family could come together, be it to dine, relax or entertain.

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“The house has a very high-tech build specification,” explains the owner. “I wanted the kit in the kitchen to include the same level of spec – we wanted chilled filtered water on tap, as well as boiling water.”

The first stage of the project was to find the just-right designer to help turn the dream into an actual reality.

“I had visited several kitchen companies and had had some designs mocked up but they just weren’t what I wanted,” the homeowner tells us.

“I visited Kitchenology’s showroom with my architect and was impressed with the showroom displays, which included the kind of appliances and technology I wanted.

“Jen was the only designer who took the time to visit our building site – despite the fact the build was only at breeze block stage,” she says.

The project in a nutshell:

The property: An ultra-contemporary detached family home in the Suffolk countryside

Designer: Jennifer Shaw, design director at Kitchenology Ltd

The occupants were keen to make sure their kitchen would ‘really make a statement’.

“The open-plan design means the kitchen is a real key feature of the downstairs floor,” says the homeowner.

“I wanted something that would work for the family, as well as being really design-led, too,” she adds.

The architect enlisted was keen on a ‘dark’ theme, which served as a great starting point for the project’s palette. The desired look was ‘industrial, but not too stark’; Caesarstone’s 4120 Raven quartz worktops were selected, as was Decoglaze‘s glass splashback in ‘Pacific’ to add a ‘touch of calm to the monolithic design’.

We ask Jennifer a few questions about the process.

How did you decide on the large island?

The shape of the island was important, as was the ‘floating’ style. Unlike most islands, which are simple rectangles with cabinets on a standard plinth, this island was an unusual shape.

This island  had two heights of drawer cabinets – 780mm and 390mm, two base heights one of which one had to be constructed by us and that had to be strong enough to support the weight of the cabinets (and their contents) and the 80mm thick quartz composite worktop that included a large cantilevered section (free standing).

The technical skills and experience of our in-house installation team were utilised in the specification of the base with input from our worktop fabricators.

How did you curate the room’s contemporary feel?

A mix of levels, textures and shapes are important to add interest, but at the same time, it still needs to be simple and calm. I’m really pleased that all the elements incorporated have worked in the overall scheme.

The homeowner agrees: “We spend so much more time in here as a family now than we did in our previous home.

“I love all the attention to detail: everything is installed perfectly.

“The whole kitchen functions and flows and it’s a pleasure to be in here, whether cooking or relaxing.

“It suits our house perfectly.”