A Refined, Light-Filled Kitchen for a North London New Build

Amberth became involved in the early planning stage of a new-build project in a quiet, affluent neighbourhood of North London. We were introduced to our client through H&J Architects, and the early collaboration with them gave us the opportunity to shape the kitchen alongside the wider plans, rather than working around decisions that had already been fixed.

Our client’s brief was clear: create a space that felt refined, highly functional and beautifully connected to the dining area. We explored different layout options, looking at how appliance positioning, storage and preparation areas could make better use of the available space.

In the end, we settled on an L-shaped kitchen, with a peninsula attached to the main kitchen rather than freestanding. This combination of layout and careful placement made the most of the available footprint while preserving a flow between the kitchen and dining area. 

As with many London kitchens, utilising every inch of space meant each element had to be carefully considered. Taking the cabinetry from floor to ceiling was an important part of this, providing generous storage while reinforcing the kitchen’s clean, polished feel.

 

Shaping the Space Around the Way It Would Be Used 

Working closely with H&J Architects from an early stage allowed us to consider not only the kitchen design, but whether the space allocated to it was right for the house as a whole. 

The original plans allocated a relatively small space to the kitchen, which felt out of proportion with the scale of the house and how a future family would be likely to use it. With the main living and entertaining area planned separately, the kitchen still needed enough space to feel comfortable and sociable in its own right. 

Because we were involved before the architectural plans were fixed, there was still scope to reconsider the proportions of the room. Together with the architect, we explored how much space the kitchen needed to feel comfortable in everyday life, with room for a family to cook, dine and spend time together without competing with the separate living and entertaining areas elsewhere in the house.

Now, rather than designing around a constrained room, we could consider the kitchen and architecture together, and create a kitchen that felt appropriate to the scale and character of the home.

 

“It has been such a great pleasure to work with them. Inga has used her expertise in transferring our ideas into a beautiful design for the space. Piotr has carried out the installations to an excellent standard. They have also provided great aftercare and have been very responsive and accommodating with snagging requests.”
– Tina Tong

 

Creating a Calm, Uncluttered Kitchen  

The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry creates a strong architectural line along one side of the kitchen, while concealing an extensive amount of storage and appliance integration. It houses two fridge-freezers, two ovens, a microwave, a coffee machine, and a pull-out tandem system. All are concealed neatly behind handleless doors for an uncluttered feel.

We arranged the main worktop area to the right side of the kitchen along the external wall. This allowed natural light from the windows to flood the space and illuminate the preparation area. Below, cabinetry neatly conceals the wine cooler, dishwasher, pull-out bins and hob, reducing visual clutter. 

 

Adding Depth Through Light, Texture and Contrast 

This is where we brought depth, reflection and contrast into the space.

The placement of the peninsula makes it a natural focal point, so we chose Neolith Calacatta Polished to give the surface presence without overwhelming the wider palette. The main worktop and sink are finished in Corian Glacier White, a favourite for its seamless appearance and easy maintenance. 

The lower units are finished in high-gloss lacquer, helping to reflect light through the kitchen and give the space a crisp, contemporary feel. The tall units introduce a richer contrast, with a Walnut Pacific finish and brass channel handles that create a sleek, handleless appearance.

 

Creating a Natural Connection Between Spaces 

The peninsula island gives the kitchen its centre of gravity. Designed for both cooking and connection, it features a flush-fitted Barazza gas hob and a ceiling-mounted extractor hood designed to sit discreetly within the architecture. 

To support this detail, we recommended lowering the kitchen ceiling. This gave us a graceful way to accommodate the extractor, while also creating a natural distinction between the kitchen and dining areas.

And finally, a cornice was introduced towards the dining area, softening the architectural transition and giving the open-plan space a more tailored finish. 

Together, these details brought the kitchen and dining area into one considered whole, creating a space that feels as though it was always intended to be there.

 

One Team, from Early Planning to Final Installation 

From those early conversations around layout and materials through to the final installation, our team remained closely involved as the kitchen took shape. We coordinated the supply and installation of the cabinetry, worktops and appliances, making sure each element came together as planned. 

Decisions made early in the design process meant important architectural and installation details had been considered long before the kitchen was fitted. This allowed every element to come together smoothly on site with fewer compromises needed during installation, and an end result that exceeded all expectations.