Architecture Office founder Alexander Mackison and glass artist Juli Bolaños-Durman had something of a creative meet-cute. The two became acquainted while running a lecture series at Custom Lane, a collaborative center for designers and makers in Edinburgh, where they both have studios. They remained friendly, so Alexander eventually learned of Juli’s plans to renovate an apartment nearby. “Just through casual conversations, I became integrated into the project,” he remembers. “Then she formally approached to ask if I’d get involved, which obviously was a pleasure to be selected.”
Alexander was flattered to be chosen for the job—but he was also energized by the assignment: Juli wanted a home that reflected the sculptures she creates with found and reclaimed objects. “Her ethos in her artistic practice runs through her personal life as well,” he says. The duo brought in Silvan Studio to build a bespoke kitchen using only surplus timber from past projects, knowing there wouldn’t be enough of any one species to craft uniform cabinet fronts. Instead, slabs of brown oak, classic oak, cherry, Douglas fir, and ash are arranged in a gradient, forming a rainbow of wood that honors Juli’s commitment to sustainability and matches her colorful spirit.
Let’s take a look.
Photography by Richard Gaston.
For more kitchens that make use of scraps and surplus, see:
- Kitchen of the Week: The New Italian Country Kitchen by Katrin Arens, Scrap Wood Edition
- Kitchens of the Week: 5 Retrouvius Designs Starring Scrap Materials, Creative Salvage Edition
- Kitchen of the Week: A Clever Kitchen Built from Affordable and Recycled Materials
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