Ledbury Studio’s pick of the best breakfast cupboards

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then it’s no surprise that a breakfast cupboard is fast becoming a must-have in every Ledbury Studio kitchen. Whether it’s freestanding or built-in, a breakfast cupboard is designed to provide space to stash your breakfast essentials and keep them all handily in one place.

“One of the main benefits of having a breakfast cupboard is that it saves time – a huge plus during the morning rush,” says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. “Storing kettle, toaster, cafetiere and coffee machine all together means they’re easily accessible. Plus, you have tea, bread and cereals readily to hand. You can quickly grab what you need, shut the cupboard doors when finished and get on with your day.”

A breakfast cupboard also keeps the kitchen organised. When everything has a designated spot, it’s easier to keep track of what you have and what you need. And by keeping your toaster and coffee machine in the cupboard, you also avoid clutter on countertops, which makes the kitchen look tidier and more inviting. Below are four of Charlie Smallbone’s favourite Ledbury Studio breakfast cupboards.

Ascot kitchen

This spacious breakfast cupboard (above, left and right) is showcased in a kitchen with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic that combines a mix of materials. The statement doors are made with grey-stained natural oak that feature an exquisite brass inlay in a diamond-shaped design. “Staining timber in this way allows the natural beauty of the grain to shine through,” explains Charlie. Inside the cupboard there’s a range of flexible storage. Appliances are housed neatly on the countertop, while richly toned wooden shelving provides space for glassware and crockery. Neat racks built into the doors accommodate jars, bottles and cereal containers, and pull-out wooden drawers in the base allow for packets and bulkier items.

Camden kitchen

Beautiful materials and artisanal techniques are used to stunning effect in this stylishly eclectic kitchen made from English and European oak (above, left and right). The breakfast cupboard is one of a row of full-height cupboards with intricate panelled design doors that inject pattern and texture. “We introduced a design motif that completely belies the practical nature of the larder concealed,” says Charlie. The doors open to reveal a countertop for small appliances, shelving for crockery and glassware, and handy door racks.

New Forest kitchen

A contemporary aesthetic was the brief for this kitchen in an Edwardian villa (above, left and right), so Charlie juxtaposed metal and timber for a design that combines beautiful book-matched walnut veneer and hand-patinated zinc panels edged in walnut, with aged-brass handles as an elegant finishing touch. Charlie designed the spacious breakfast cupboard to echo those of Edwardian homes, but with a modern edge. There is shelving inside for a microwave and breakfast items, with pan drawers below and fluted-glass cupboards on either side that are lit from within.

Malta penthouse kitchen

At the centre of a luxurious open-plan space with floor-to-ceiling glazing on three sides, the Malta kitchen (above, left and right) had no walls to work with, so all the components, including the breakfast cupboard, had to be freestanding. The idea behind the breakfast cupboard’s design was to create a standalone piece that was completely different from everything else in the kitchen. It is made of stainless steel with liquid bronze pocket doors that slide back to offer full access. Inside there are polished stainless steel and walnut drawers, as well as a countertop made of practical Mont Blanc quartzite for storing appliances, which adds to the modern elegance of the piece.