Kitchen designed to integrate seamlessly into apartment interior

With an integrated kitchen, appliances such as the fridge and dishwasher are fitted with cabinetry panels rather than their own doors, so allowing the kitchen to have a more furniture-like look rather than a purely functional one.

But in these days of open-plan design, there’s another way of looking at the term ‘integrated’ – the way the kitchen fits into the whole interior rather than making its mark as a separate element.

That was the approach architect Andrew Wilkinson took in the design of the kitchen in a classic New York loft he was asked to completely renovate.

“The owners wanted the new interior to be very social, so the kitchen needed to be designed to communicate openly with other spaces in the apartment, such as the sunken living room and adjacent dining area,” says Wilkinson.

The siting of the kitchen in the reworked interior was largely determined by the position of the existing services.

“It’s not a big component in the space, and sits off to the side because the owner wanted to maintain a clear sight line from one end of the apartment to the other.”

It also needed to be very utilitarian, with plenty of concealed storage. The island is primarily used for preparation and serving, with the main cooking activity all taking place on the back wall.

While these factors help give the kitchen a low key presence, it’s really the selection of materials that integrates the kitchen into the overall space.

Wilkinson says that the wide plank walnut flooring specified throughout the apartment played a large part in determining the kitchen materials.

“We wanted another wood that would  offer contrast and not be dark,” he says.

White oak used for the cabinetry has a light white stain applied, keeping it simple and neutral and making it suitable to carry through to other cabinetry in the interior.

“Wrapping material round in this way integrates the kitchen into the entire space,” says Wilkinson. “It reinforces a singular loft space, with the kitchen being a part of it.”

Story by: Paul Taylor

Photography by: Garrett Rowland