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

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

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

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

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
An eclectic apartment in Parisian Style

An eclectic apartment in Parisian Style

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

A traditional villa surrounded by the citrus groves of Sicily

A traditional villa surrounded by the citrus groves of Sicily

On the island of lemons and oranges with their intense aroma, a traditional-style villa leaves room for modern classic furnishing with light and fresh tones.

San Tommaso villa outside citrus grove

THE CONTEXT

Surrounded by a citrus grove with intense scents and colours, Villa San Tommaso fits in perfect harmony with nature. Offering every kind of comfort, from the swimming pool to the jacuzzi, it looks from the outside as a rural construction in perfect symbiosis with the local tradition. It is exactly in this perspective that the interventions are inserted, trying to keep the true traditional scent intact, but adding a modern touch. The private residence spreads on two levels is also rented during the summer season by a high-level English rental company. A corner of paradise where the architectural structure fits in perfect harmony with nature. Like in most rural residences, the interior of the villa is characterized by dark wood interiors and light walls, with traditional terracotta floors that increase its authenticity in value. For this reason, the insertion of modern furniture has to relate with the already strongly existing elements. Do not make the scene heavier but instead try to lighten it, adding a touch of brightness and clarity. The design proposal mainly involved the kitchen, providing some furniture in the living room, but also touched the rooms on the upper floor.

 
San Tommaso villa outside table

LIVING ROOM

The essential and contemporary kitchen delicately inserts itself providing brightness and elegance. In fact, it consists of a corner structure that embrace the large window on the outside with which it relates to the surrounding. Below this, there are container drawers and storage units with recessed handles that simplify the shapes. The kitchen countertop carries on the corner on both sides becoming almost a real exposition element. At the adjacent wall, the suspended wall units are made up of door of the same width whose bevels create visual light lines. The back of the countertop in glossy lacobel gives further freshness and brightness. The large double-door design refrigerator is built into a customed design structure that also holds doors with internal shelves. The oak snack bar embraces the central pillar of the kitchen, giving a natural and contemporary touch. In the wall opposite the window, a full-height structure alternates doors with symmetrical drawers to accommodate dishes and pots but also food and drinks. At the centre of this, a recessed shelf whose back in glossy lacobel fits in style to the rest of the kitchen. The two recessed ovens with a practical height are symmetrically placed with respect to the latter. In the living room the traditional furnishing in treated dark wood are certainly the undisputed protagonists. However, there is no lack of rustic-chic design elements such as suspended lights. The furniture of the main room are designed in continuity with the traditional ones already present in the villa. This is the case, for example, of the bottom showcase illuminated along the side profiles. Certainly, to attract attention is the ancient stone crusher placed in the centre of the room.

 
traditional villa Sicily kitchen front view
traditional villa Sicily kitchen lateral view
traditional villa Sicily dining table
traditional villa Sicily kitchen view

BEDROOM

The bedrooms resume characteristics in common with the living room, such as the use of terracotta tiles which relates well to the wooden beams od the ceiling. The latter reflect the existing furniture in dark colours and polishing, reflecting the elegant rustic style of the traditional villa. The white walls create a striking contrast providing greater brightness and freshness to the environment. Even in this case, the designed elements have to necessarily relate to a highly visible stylistic settlement. Reason why, the headboards of the beds in the respective rooms change from each case to better relate to the context. In most cases they are also backlit to give further dynamism and brightness. They respond to a classic modern style with white wood strips combined with the bedside table, or essential contemporary style that enhances the  height of the room.

master bedroom villa Sicily side
master bedroom villa Sicily front light
 bedroom traditional villa modern classic
bedroom classic modern front
Sicilian villa bedroom with light
Sicilian villa wardrobe

Total white kitchen in a modern classic setting

Total white kitchen in a modern classic setting

The renovation of this classic modern style apartment has introduced a total white contemporary kitchen. Located in centre of Bergamo, this apartment is characterized by large ceilings and classic modern style pf fixtures. White wood and decorative strips characterize the large window and glass doors. The closing strips of false ceiling added during the renovation, delimit the profile and they are matched to the fixtures. The walls are painted in a classic medium gray, on which stand out the shaped decorative profiles with the classic section. Its height is set on 120 cm.  Placing in a modern classic context, the design choice was to provide for an essential kitchen with a contemporary style able to prove freshness to the interior.

THE KITCHEN

A total white kitchen that chooses Corian as the undisputed protagonist for the kitchen surface which naturally transforms itself into a snack bar surface. The shape of the kitchen, which is narrow but very long, allows the development of the furniture on one side, leaving the opposite one free for the insertion of a small service table and a free-standing design refrigerator. Made of an upper wall unit block and a lower container volumes with drawers, it is certainly the void created between that to attract attention. This holds the hob with gas burners, an extremely clean recessed sink at the corner and a back wall covering whit ceramic tiles. The latter, already present in the house, have been painted in white and the lighting hidden in the wall units creates plays of lively reflections. The painting of the walls is in this case white, creating an elegant contrast whit the floor of the whole house made in dark gress. Taking advantage of the corner position of the sink with its large design tap, the depth of the lower cabinet is used to insert basket containing products for cleaning and waste collection. This is a element rated very positively for its functionality by the inhabitants of the house. The countertop then continues to the back of the kitchen, turning into a surface used as snack bar with shelves above it. In front of this part there are containment niches with full-height doors that hide the department of laundry and closet. A solution that uses the empty spaces of the house to make up for the lack of a laundry and storage room.  It’s a common problem in many apartments, that, although equipped with a large floor plan, do not have a fundamentally practical storage room.

 
contemporary total white kitchen
basket door contemporary kitchen Modulor
snack bar contemporary kitchen Modulor
Corian sink total white kitchen
contemporary total white kitchen modern context