Our Camden kitchen design is Homes & Gardens Kitchen Project of the Year

We do what we do because we love creating our luxury bespoke kitchens – but we can’t deny that it’s also an honour when they’re recognised by industry experts. That’s why we were delighted when our kitchen design for a property in Camden was named Homes & Gardens Kitchen Project of the Year in the magazine’s Design Awards 2022. 

Homes & Gardens – the UK’s longest-running interiors magazine – has a reputation for leading the way when it comes to stylish spaces and the best in design. Its Design Awards are a fitting showcase of this: entries are appraised by an illustrious judging panel, which in 2022 included industry stalwarts Kit Kemp, Sebastian Cox and Russell Pinch.
 

Designing a truly bespoke kitchen

We entered the Camden kitchen because it beautifully represents the Ledbury Studio design process. To create a client’s dream bespoke kitchen, we experiment with a huge range of different materials, constantly pushing the boundaries to see what’s possible, and partner with talented artisans to achieve showstopping results that are unique to each client. This was certainly the story of the Camden kitchen project – and we couldn’t be more thrilled that this resonated with the judging panel.
 

A flexible and unique space

The design process is first and foremost a collaboration with the client because the kitchen is personal to them. In the case of the Camden kitchen, the homeowner was full of ideas from our very first meeting, which is exactly as it should be. The room was being extended into the garden, and we were tasked with designing a relaxed and informal space for cooking and entertaining. 

With this in mind, one particular request was for a screen that could be pulled across to divide the dining area from the kitchen when required. We were inspired by a 1970s design the client found in an antiques shop and created a screen of brushed and polished stainless steel featuring a geometric pattern. 
 

Harnessing the beauty of natural materials

We chose natural oak for the kitchen cabinets, matching the grain perfectly across the drawers and cupboards. For us, paying attention to details like these is essential: if the wood grain hadn’t lined up, it would have distracted the eye and ruined the overall effect. For the full-height cupboards, we introduced a design motif that looks good in its own right as well as hiding the practical storage and appliances hidden behind.

At Ledbury Studio, we’re known for our signature use of metal – and it provides some lovely highlights in the Camden kitchen. For example, there is patinated zinc on the cupboard above the worktop and on the extractor hood, where it is trimmed with aged brass. 

Possibly our favourite detail is one that – almost inadvertently – chimes with a major kitchen trend of the past year or so. We placed a fluted oak panel on either end of the island, which has been matched by the fluted Ambra quartz splashback. These delicate effects add further interest and texture to the kitchen.
 

An artisanal addition

As mentioned above, we love to partner with artisan craftspeople to add their special skills into the mix of the design. For the Camden kitchen, we commissioned Lara Bohinc of Bohinc Studio to create the marble island top. It comprises a selection of Italian marbles in shades chosen to complement the soft colours in the rest of the kitchen (you can see how the island top picks out the soft grey-greens of the zinc on the extractor hood, for example) and inlaid into an aged brass trim. For the long runs of worktop, we chose man-made Ambra quartz for its natural-looking veining and durability.
 

Perfect finish

Our client has told us how much she gets out of the kitchen now – not least as the perfect space for entertaining. And this is just what we want to hear because it’s why we’re in the business of creating bespoke kitchens. We want to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations at every turn. For this also to be recognised by the judges of the Homes & Gardens Design Awards 2022 feels like the cherry on the cake.
 

View the Camden Kitchen