A modern kitchen jungle
This extravagant kitchen was built in 2021 in the Dutch town of Houten in the Province of Utrecht. The extraordinary combination of curiosity cabinets with a simple, modern cooking area makes this kitchen truly unique. The materials used and the in-built appliances score points across the board, and there are a whole host of eye-catching features.
Plenty of space, top-notch technology
There’s certainly no shortage of storage space in this kitchen: the expansive cooking island in the middle of the room features extra-large drawers and even a wine cooler for fine vintages. The ceiling height is also put to great use with various closed wall cabinets, and the open corner shelving elements leading to the adjacent room have space to showcase selected items.
A sink and cooktop are integrated into the large kitchen island. The owners deliberately opted for a BORA Professional with induction cooktop and wok because they wanted an effective extractor system and an easy-to-use appliance with a top-notch design. After all, they not only cook in the kitchen, they also live in it.
Next to the kitchen island, there is a small dining table with a view into the garden. The round shape of the table promotes communication in the dining area. This spot is also very light because in addition to the floor-to-ceiling glass elements which open out onto the terrace, there is also a skylight above it. The black colour of the kitchen fronts and the metal shelves is reflected in the window frames.
Birds of paradise and other wildlife
Who looks over the owners’ shoulders while they cook? The wall-mounted roebuck directly overlooking the cooktop is a real must-have, but by no means the only one. In this ensemble the animal doesn’t look like a hunting trophy, but a jungle-dweller in a place where there are no rules: where nature meets the latest technology, native woodlanders meet exotic creatures and lush green meets matt black.
This just goes to show that display cabinets featuring exotic birds, turtle figurines and plush fish can go together wonderfully when combined the right way in a modern living-dining-cooking area. This is what we call kitchen décor with a difference.
The green of the numerous little plants accentuates the jungle feel and is mirrored in the herringbone wall tiles and the lamp above the round dining table. The effect is elegant yet playful, modern yet timeless and minimalistic with a little touch of eclecticism.
An extra-special black
This quirky combination is possible because it is teamed up with simple colours and shapes. Having said that, the matt black of the kitchen fronts is rather special. The ‘Fenix’ coating created using unique nanotechnology minimises the reflection of light. This material, which is applied using an electron beam curing process, makes the kitchen panels particularly resistant and dirt-repellent.
The owners’ wish to use attractive yet easy-care materials was therefore more than fulfilled by the experts from RhijnArt Keukens. These specialists even thought of fitting a much longed-for metal shelf above the kitchen island as a stylish setting for a small bar and other decorative items. The lighting is provided by built-in spotlights, which brighten up wonderful moments in the kitchen as a living space.
