When John Willox Kitchen Design's showroom manager Joanna Dereniowska set about creating a space for an eco-conscious client with a passion for entertaining, she knew a Rotpunkt kitchen was the perfect solution for the project.
For today’s consumer, who is keen to make sustainable choices but equally interested in creating a comfortable home environment that can cater for the demands of the ‘new normal’, it’s hard to know where to turn. However, catering for a set of complex needs is what independent studios do best, and Aberdeenshire-based John Willox Kitchen Design is no different.
When Joanna Dereniowska’s clients explained that they loved to spend time at home entertaining family and friends, but that sustainability was high up on their agenda, she immediately recommended considering Rotpunkt. The German manufacturer uses a resource-saving chipboard in its designs, which is said to save up to 50 football pitches of forest per year. Added to that, it is made using up to 90% recycled wood.
“We were excited to recommend the versatile modular furniture available by Rotpunkt, as a way to introduce a series of unique design elements and innovative kitchen solutions, which are sustainably produced and come in a range of styles, materials and finishes,” she explains, adding that the collections offer flexibility and also plenty of hidden extras. “For instance, standard features like the range of integrated LED lighting in its furniture, which is compatible with today’s smart home systems, is a real bonus for our client and another reason why we were able to design without limits on this project,” she says.
The clients settled on the brand’s rich, industrial-style Zerox furniture, and selected two dark timber-effect finishes to create subtle contrast between the kitchen area in Sherwood Black, and the custom bar area that Joanna devised, in Sherwood Park. She also created a generous island unit featuring seating for up to six people, ample work surface space and an integrated wet zone.
“Clearly defined working areas were critical when space planning, which is why we created a designated breakfast station where smaller appliances like the coffee machine, toaster and food processor discreetly hide behind pocket doors until needed,” she explains.
On the opposite side of the room is a flush-mounted induction hob by AEG complete with Miro cooker hood and a trio of built-in AEG ovens and a compact handleless push-to-open wine cooler. Polished 50mm Silestone surfaces in Classic Calacatta complete this hardworking, high contrast kitchen scheme and lead in to the bar area.
The saloon-style home bar area is the 'pièce de resistance' in the scheme, and perfectly meets the clients’ brief when it comes to entertaining at home. Rotpunkt’s wood-effect Zerox Serwood Park doors conceal integrated wine coolers by Dunavox, while glass storage cabinets provide ample space for glassware and punch bowls, and are designed with a mesh-style glass finish on the doors to continue the industrial vibe. Above the made-to-measure Dekton worktop in Domoos, sits a wall panel system, which provides a dedicated space to house the homeowners’ favourite spirits and liqueurs.
“I think this project shows that it is definitely possible to live the good life while being kind to the planet and reducing carbon levels,” says Rotpunkt head of UK operations, Matt Phillips. “Design freedom and flexibility is a hallmark of the Rotpunkt experience and we are always impressed by the creativity shown by Joanna and the team at John Willox Kitchen Design.”
