One kitchen a week, part 4: essential and elegant

One kitchen a week, part 4: essential and elegant

by | Mar 14, 2018 | KITCHEN, PRIVATE APARTMENT, STYLE TIPS

A contemporary and essential kitchen, which minimal lines define an elegant interior total white.

prospective essential elegant kitchen

THE PROJECT

The most elegant contemporary interiors are characterized by simplicity, created with opaque surfaces often white.

It’s the case of this kitchen, which essential setting does not give up contrasting elements such as the central cutting board and the snack bar on the right.

Placed at the angle, it has a visual and conceptual asymmetry that creates different visual solutions: on one side the full-height door holds containing shelves and drawers in a continuous visual surface.  The recess oven occupies the lateral part in communication with the countertop that uses the internal corner.

The main side is instead occupied by the horizontal subdivision between the upper wall units and the lower containing volumes. The linear lighting, hidden in the edge of wall units, creates a feeling of emptiness able to give lighten to the room’s perception.

In particular, the upper wall units are made up of fixed-width doors with an extremely elegant profile, spaced from each other by a visual line obtained with a small slot. The lower part instead consists of two drawers with recessed handles symmetrically mirrored to the central door. This takes up the width od the warm-coloured wooden cutting board which creates an essential and extremely elegant contrast in the choice. On the right wall, ending the kitchen project, a wooden support takes origin whose abutment reaches the floor. It is precisely the latter that gives greater dynamism to the room by inserting a chromatic element in contrast with the surrounding neutrality. It also recalls  the finishes of the fixtures chosen for French-door on the side.

 

SHAPES, COLOURS AND MATERIALS

The elegance of this project lies precisely in the choice of essential stylistic lines: privileging straight lines to curved and dynamic shapes, the resulting visual composition is extremely simplified. Essentiality has therefore become the key-word to design furniture, which renounce exposed handles in favour of recessed edge. These are visible through the play od shadows created by the use of different depths.

In an extremely contemporary project like this one, Corian is the obvious choice fot the kitchen countertop, which allows to hide edges, returning the idea of a very clean and elegant continuous surface.

The Corian countertop also continues on the back surface of the hob and sink, creating an interesting material alternation with the white lacobel. For the remaining surfaces, a textured matt lacquered MDF was chosen.

 
open wall units matt lacquered MDF
essential elegant kitchen ovens
wood cutting board essential kitchen
Corian sink essential kitchen
frontal view essential elegant kitchen

Compare this project with other kitchens: contemporary pop kitchen, fresh, gritty and lively kitchen and contemporary hi-tech kitchen.

One kitchen a week, part 3: contemporary hi-tech

One kitchen a week, part 3: contemporary hi-tech

by | Mar 7, 2018 | KITCHEN, PRIVATE APARTMENT, STYLE TIPS

A contemporary hi-tech kitchen whose aesthetic line is very dynamic thanks to the choice of metallic materials, to the play of reflections and opacity, but at the same time, it has warm and soft colours.

hi-tech kitchen front view

The contemporary design of the appliances increasingly accustoms us to metal surfaces, glossy finishes and technological elements with an aerospace-inspired design.  Often inserting these elements in our kitchens means having to deal with the resulting visual impact. In response, on the one hand, we can see industrial-style kitchens, strongly focused on the total harmony of the furnishing with metals and reflective surfaces. On the other side, we can find increasingly contemporary interiors trying to mix the style of the different components by exploiting the chromatic and material contrasts. These two currents do not necessarily represent the opposite of the other. In fact, it is possible to uniform the elements in a style that is so contemporary, but which also manages to reflect the elegance and domesticity of the rooms.  

THE PORJECT

This kitchen with a hi-tech scent is an excellent example: the customer’s taste responds to the trend of mocha colour, with its warm and soft tones. Taking advantage from the alternation of more or less warm colours and glossy surfaces combined with the opaquer ones, an elegant and at the same time dynamic interior has been achieved. Starting from the separating element of the living area, which is equipped to host storage doors supporting the living room on one side, and recessed ovens and others storage units from the inside. The result is a deconstructed kitchen, which does not give up to the functionality of a compact kitchen, but which takes advantage of the visual opening of the open space. The passage of this partition is underlined by a led strip whose linearity refers to the most dynamic and technological interiors. The central island with its mocha-coloured upholstery holds the induction hobs and free surfaces used for preparing meals. An extremely functional element is the cylinder that houses the electrical service outlets, which can be activated by pushing. A recessed element whose extraction technology is extremely simple. It is also capable of transforming an often visually cumbersome component into a design element. The lower part of the island acts as storage point while in the upper part, a cylindrical design fan is suspended from the backlit false ceiling. The latter can give greater dynamism to the kitchen. The two corner components of the remaining part respond in the same way with the upper wall units organized with doors and containing volumes in the lower part. The different height of the upper wall units creates dynamism also recalled in the chromatic choice.  

COLOURS AND MATERIALS

The technological setting of this hi-tech kitchen is also visible in the choice of materials with excellent technical performance. In fact, the mocha-coloured dekton was chosen for the kitchen countertop, incorporating the island’s one. In addition to a significant aesthetic value, which summarizes elegance and modernity, it enjoys excellent technical performance, such as perfect resistance to high temperatures and hardness. It therefore lends itself to be an excellent material in its field while giving a strong stylistic imprint. The back shelf of the countertop alternates the mocha-coloured dekton with a glossy lacobel with a neutral hue. The alternation of opaque to glossy surfaces is possible using textured lacquered MDF which is turn coated, where necessary, by lacobel.

 
island kitchen with extractor fan
hi-tech kitchen divider
cylinder soket push hidden

Compare this hi-tech kitchen with the previous ones: contemporary pop kitchen and fresh, gritty and lively kitchen.

 

One kitchen a week, part 2: fresh, gritty and lively

One kitchen a week, part 2: fresh, gritty and lively

by | Feb 28, 2018 | KITCHEN, PRIVATE APARTMENT, STYLE TIPS

lively kitchen front vew

A lively kitchen with a gritty character and a touch of freshness between games of bright reflections and alternation of full and empty spaces.  

THE PROJECT

Added in the context of the always dynamic Milan, the kitchen is reckonable for its lively and fresh imprint, with both a gritty and elegant soul. A kitchen with a thousand resources, capable of keeping attention in all its parts. Starting from the wall units, which alternate empty and full volumes in which a game of transparencies is played on several levels. The shelves visually lighten the volume in the kitchen in both ends: in the area adjacent to the window, from which natural light radiates, and in the inner corner between the two sides of the room. This last one, also takes advantage of what could considered a critical point for comfort and functionality. Instead, arranged in asymmetrical geometric volumes on both sides of the extractor fan, there are the opal glass wall units able to give a touch of fresh colour and dynamism from which the contests can be glimpsed. The central wall unit hiding the extractor fan and the lower containing volumes are instead reckonable for their extremely elegant simple lines. The fitted sinks are arranged on the corner, taking advantage of the attachment point of the snack bar. This is equipped to accommodate up to 4 sitting using both sides. The gritty setting is also visible in the choice of details, such as the hidden tap able to allow the opening of the back window. As always, functionality is a fundamental requirement, which is also visible in the door alongside the large design refrigerator. This houses inside functional shelves with different heights and six drawers with a wooden finish.   THE MATERIAL CHOICE The games of brightness and reflections able to restore the idea of restoring the idea of liveliness and freshness are obtained especially thanks to the choice of materials. In particular, a quartz granulate topping was use for the countertop. It is able to capture and mirror the light, recalling the cream tones on the kitchen. While for the remaining elements it is the glossy lacobel that gives elegance and contemporaneity.

snack bar lively kitchen
lively kitchen with drawers and shelves
lively kitchen high tap
lively kitchen hidden tap
lively kitchen perspective

Compare this kitchen with the contemporary pop’s one.

 

One kitchen a week: contemporary pop

One kitchen a week: contemporary pop

by | Feb 21, 2018 | KITCHEN, PRIVATE APARTMENT, STYLE TIPS

contemporary pop kitchen front view

The first of four kitchens we want to present you is part of an interior that we can define as “contemporary pop”.  

THE RENOVATION

The renovation of the kitchen area develops around the element of golden curved false ceiling, strongly desired by the client. The design challenge consists of thinking at a room that could fit at best this existing element with a strongly stylistic character.  This ceiling is reckonable both for the chromatic choice and for the shaped profile, in addition to the strong dynamism underlined by the lighting following the shape. The closing wall and its entry door have been deleted in favour of an open-space. What remains is a load-bearing pillar, also gold-painted, to which an island worktop with lower containing volumes, cooking hob and drawers. The ovens are arranged in the full-height elements on the left side of the French door opening towards the kitchen’s interior. In doing so, they are almost hidden. The real development of the kitchen follows the course of the back wall which in turn is made of two different types. On one side, the full-height doors that house both the built-in refrigerator and storage shelves for food and drinks are placed directly facing the living area. The depth of the full-height element acts as a support for the living room lightened by service shelves. The red backdrop also recalls, giving further chromatism, some wall units in the living room and the choice of some furnishing elements such as vases. The second type, visually lighter, occupies the kitchen’s part adjacent the French door. It consists of a countertop with a built-in sink and suspended wall units with internal shelves. The lower part holds the washing machine compartment.  

SHAPES AND MATERIALS

Even the chromatic and material choice reflects the desire of giving incisiveness to the room, through the use of plastic laminate in two different shades of gray. A contemporary pop interior animated both in shapes and colours, in which the attention to the design of each components is easily visible. To further enrich the kitchen, the extractor fan as an element of design, and the suspended light that recalls the material choice. The dining table harmonizes the ceiling’s shapes, attached to the adjacent cooking island.

contemporary pop kitchen
countertop and wall units
dining table and shelves living room
red wall units and containing door
island kitchen contemporary pop
hidden fitted oven
contemporary pop dining table
Living in small spaces: a minimal apartment in Milan

Living in small spaces: a minimal apartment in Milan

by | Jan 21, 2018 | KITCHEN, LIVING AREA, LIVING THE HOUSE, PRIVATE APARTMENT, SLEEPING AREA

Living in small spaces means living the contemporaneity. Functionality is the key-word: knowing how to add take advantage of the interiors while being able to use all its potentialities.  

THE CONTEMPORARY PANORAMA THE CONTEXT THE WORK SHAPES, COLOURS AND MATERIALS

 

THE CONTEMPORARY PANORAMA

The increase in the number of the population necessarily interfaces with the problem of lack of space. In the contemporary architectural panorama, the solutions adopted use the verticality of the buildings, which tend to develop in height rather than in planimetry. An example of all is the spread of “capsule hotels” in the eastern continent. Without reaching the maximum expression of this architectural trend, even in the cities of our country there are various examples of reduction to minimum spaces. Living in small spaces means being able to optimize the rooms in the best way, managing to fit the different functions and reducing the furniture to the essentials. The minimal style perfectly interprets this need, succeeded in giving an aesthetic value to the most essential interiors.  

THE CONTEXT

Integrated in a contemporary residential context focused on the shades of gray and green, the studio apartment in Corso San Gottardo is suitable for a space optimization project, because it is extrapolated from an existing apartment. In particular, it consists of a single room with small kitchenette and a mezzazine for the sleeping area, extracted from one of the main rooms of the old apartment. Being able to organize at the best the room without sacrificing comfort and aesthetic taste was the design challenge with which we interfaced to. The characteristic that allowed to reach the goal is the very wide height on the interior enhanced by suggestive exposed beams.

small spaces sofa and snack bar
entrance minimal apartment Milan

THE WORK

Taking advantage of the reduced spaces, it was possible to design the plan layout focused on a living area in visual contact with the small equipped kitchen with snack bar, and an elevated bedroom accessible through a service ladder. The kitchen is reduced to the essentials, but not for this reason is poorly equipped: in fact, it has a kitchenette with induction hobs of the minimum size, flanked by a built-in sink and container units in the remaining parts. A dividing wall with snack bar attached divides the kitchen from the living room, keeping at the same time the spaces visually open. This is also thanks to the presence fs the service windows, which creates a dynamic and contemporary cut in the room.  The surface used as a snack bar accommodates up to 3/4 people, and the shaped profile with a 45° cut is able to make it look more welcoming. The living room with a two-seated sofa leads to the upper level use as bedroom with a double bed and containing niches. The storage compartment is accessible as the mezzazine with a service ladder that leans against special rails. The mezzanine is back-lit by a linear profile capable of providing the correct illumination both the bedroom area above and the lower living room.

small spaces apartment Milan
kitchen apartment Milan
living room apartment Milan
double bedroom small spaces

SHAPES, COLOURS AND MATERIALS

The contemporaneity of the apartment is visible both in the choice of clean linear shapes and in the material’s one. In fact, Corian was chosen for the snack bar and the kitchen too. It is an extremely fashionable material nowadays due to its elegance reached with the uniform surfaces with hided joints. Made in the same light-shades, the kitchen furniture in textured white lacquered MDF refers itself to the idea of an essential but well-designed space.

bedroom access step-ladder

Functionality and small spaces transform this studio apartment into a reality of its own. It leads to becoming a love nest for its inhabitants, but it is also perfect to be used as a B&B for tourists and short stays.

An eclectic apartment in Parisian Style

An eclectic apartment in Parisian Style

by | Dec 4, 2017 | LIVING AREA, PRIVATE APARTMENT, SLEEPING AREA, STYLE TIPS

An eclectic, bohemian but also essential apartment, finds its harmony in the  Parisian style of a bygone era while being in the heart of contemporary Milan.  

DEFINE THE STYLE OF A HOME CONTEXT THE PARISIAN STYLE DETAILS OUR WORK

 

DEFINE THE STYLE OF A HOME

The house is the mirror of the people who live there. Those who enter in our house get an idea of us even just by seeing where we live and which objects we choose, it is therefore important to bring out coherent thoughts and emotions. There are such particular environments that are really difficult to classify because they are born from people’s lives, which enrich them with objects they care of. These built an eclectic scenario which does not define a real prevailing style but give a fragmented image that can sometimes seems comfusing . To maintain a predominant and tasteful style it is always advisable to follow the basic rules of the style that fits us best. If in doubt, however, the help of a professionist never hurts.  

CONTEXT

This Milan house was already starting with a precise identity: an apartment in a historic complex with distinctive flooring in elegant black and white tiles positioned at 45°, “French style” herringbone parquet and exposed ceiling beams. All the windows and doors are in classic style with raised strips and frames. A great stylistic work was carried out by Arch. Pierluigi Fasoli, who in close collaboration with the home owners gave useful advice for a small internal renovation and for the choice and insertion of new furnishings.

hallway eclectic apartment Milan

THE PARISIAN STYLE

Listening to customer requests, strong ideas and clear tastes emerged. The style that has been defined starts from these premises and let itself be guided by some existing furnishing elements.

The Parisian style was the solution. In fact, it is characterized by elegance and splendor, looking for luxurious furniture that give charm to the environment but without exceeding. In this case, the dark-colored velvet sofas and poufs in the living area, combined with a large shaped mirror with golden frame and the multi-arm chandelier in polished brass in the dining area are able to provide preciousness to the rooms.

Another characteristic element of this style is the mix of modern and antique furnishings, elements that belong to different eras combined in a wise way. So in fact we can see, in the dining area, chairs and table with an antique and oriental style while the sofas in the living area with shaped brass feet, clear antiques match with more modern elements, such as an essential bookcase and square crystal coffee tables.

dining room in Parisian Style
furniture dining room in Parisian Style
living room in Parisian Style

DETAILS

The predominant colors of the Parisian style are always delicate, usually white is used allowing to give a lot of brightness to any interior, even on the grayest days. Here the white of the ceilings has been combined with a light green-gray in the bedrooms and a dove-gray in the kitchen. Note the white frame left between the color of the walls and that of the ceiling. Wall paneling are missing, but all the baseboards, window frames and classic doors have been painted in a warm white. Plaster decorations and ceiling frames have also been added in rooms where white painted wooden beams are not present.

kitchen eclectic apartment Milan
kitchen eclectic apartment Milan
studio in Parisian Style

OUR INTERVENTION

As requested by the architect, our creations, some furniture in the living area, in the kitchen, in the bathrooms and in the sleeping area, were supplied unfinished and then painted by the customer. So you can see the varnish passed by hand, with its imperfections that do not hide the essence of the wood below. For the openings and closings of the doors, brass knobs and a sort of made-to-measure wooden bolt have been chosen.

furniture living room apartment Milan
furniture in Parisian Style
living room apartment Milan
bedroom detail
bedroom detail Milan apartment
bedroom in Parisian Style bed