Kitchen of the Week: A London Architect's Sky-Lit Compact Kitchen

Start typing to search...

We love every inch of this compact 14-by-10-foot kitchen in the Peckham neighborhood of London. Designed by architect Jonathan Nicholls and his partner, Alex Randall, a lighting designer, it occupies the rear extension of their Victorian home. While many architects find the experience of designing their own home an existential nightmare, Nicholls found it be quite the opposite:

“As an architect, working on your own house is great fun. Because of time constraints, I didn’t get a chance to do full, proper drawings, so a lot of the time I’d scribble some plans on the wall at night for the builders to interpret a few hours later,” he told The Modern House. “Because it was our own house, I could experiment a lot more with things I wouldn’t risk at work.”

Nowhere is that playful spirit more on display than in their artful kitchen.

Let’s take a tour. (To see the rest of their house, see the listing at The Modern House.)

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen When the couple moved in five years ago, the kitchen was on the top of their list of rooms to redesign as they both love to cook. — Above: When the couple moved in five years ago, the kitchen was on the top of their list of rooms to redesign as they both love to cook.

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen The cabinets are one of Nicholls&#8\2\17; &#8\2\20;experiments.&#8\2\2\1; &#8\2\20;We weren’t entirely sure how it would turn out, but it’s beautiful,&#8\2\2\1; he said of the engineered ash plywood joinery. — Above: The cabinets are one of Nicholls’ “experiments.” “We weren’t entirely sure how it would turn out, but it’s beautiful,” he said of the engineered-ash plywood joinery.

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen The most whimsical feature in the kitchen, though, may be the skylight that not only funnels in natural light but also offers a glimpse at the wildflowers growing on the roof garden. — Above: The most whimsical feature in the kitchen, though, may be the skylight that not only funnels in natural light but also offers a glimpse at the wildflowers growing on the roof garden.

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen In lieu of upper cabinets, a single wall mounted shelf holding cooking tools and decorative touches extends across the length of one wall. — Above: In lieu of upper cabinets, a single wall-mounted shelf holding cooking tools and decorative touches extends across the length of one wall.

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen A stainless steel sink with an integrated draining board. (See The New Art Gallery: \1\2 Favorite Kitchens with Paintings on Display.) — Above: A stainless steel sink with an integrated draining board. (See The New Art Gallery: 12 Favorite Kitchens with Paintings on Display.)

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen Steel and glass doors by Crittal usher in even more natural light from the patio. — Above: Steel and glass doors by Crittal usher in even more natural light from the patio.

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen Limestone tiles extend from the entrance, down the hallway, and into the kitchen. The rest of the house enjoys oiled oak floorboards. — Above: Limestone tiles extend from the entrance, down the hallway, and into the kitchen. The rest of the house enjoys oiled-oak floorboards.

Kitchen of the Week A London Architects SkyLit Compact Kitchen The patio just beyond the kitchen has a surprisingly tropical feel thanks to a palm tree and bamboo. (See \10 Things Nobody Tells You About Bamboo.) — Above: The patio just beyond the kitchen has a surprisingly tropical feel thanks to a palm tree and bamboo. (See 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Bamboo.)

For more plywood kitchens, see:

Remodeling 101

Remodeling Guides

Our Exclusives

Remodeling 101: A Guide to the Only 6 Wood Flooring Styles You Need to Know

Find a Firm

Regions Served

Browse by Field

Klopf Architecture

Get Inspired

The Cuban Mop: The Near Perfect Cleaning Tool You’ve Never Heard of (and How to Use It)

Shop Our Picks

Margaux Side Chairs

Design Travel

Popular Countries

Popular Cities

The Lisboans: Apartments in Portugal with Vintage Style, Breakfast Included

Our Story

Remodelista Book Ordering Information

Editorial Team