Our latest lookbook features seven examples of unfitted kitchens with mix-and-match furnishings that ditch a conventional copy-paste style in favour of flexibility and personality.
Unfitted kitchens, or freestanding kitchens, are finished with one or several standalone elements, such as islands, pantries or shelving, rather than uniform built-in units.
They are appealing as they offer flexibility and enable homeowners to swap things out easily over time, which also makes them a more affordable option and generates less waste.
While the trend is often associated with old or rustic homes, the examples below prove that the mismatched look is also suited to contemporary dwellings, offering a chic yet lived-in aesthetic that is less easily achieved with a traditionally fitted kitchen.
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring rammed-earth living rooms, eclectic Indian homes and interiors that offer a contemporary take on art deco.
Daddy Cool, Australia, by Pattern Studio
A bespoke freestanding pantry commands attention in this kitchen, designed by Pattern Studio as part of a home renovation in Sydney without any built-in joinery.
Formed of warm cherry burl, the cupboard emulates a vintage wardrobe and is finished with a sculptural metallic handle. It sits alongside a veiny stone island and a stainless steel storage unit.
Find out more about Daddy Cool ›
Vipp Todos Santos, Mexico, by PPAA
This rammed-earth holiday home in Mexico, designed by PPAA for Danish brand Vipp, features an unfitted kitchen with a freestanding fridge and matching storage unit.
They were selected from Vipp’s modular V3 Kitchen range, which is defined by industrial extruded-aluminium finishes. They juxtapose a built-in concrete island that complements the earthy tones of the surrounding walls.
Find out more about Vipp Todos Santos ›
Rylett House, UK, by Studio 30 Architects
An old carpenter’s bench forms the centrepiece of this kitchen in Rylett House, a house formed of two Victorian maisonettes in London by Studio 30 Architects.
The bench is teamed with mismatched open shelving and a white sideboard on one side and two walls of conventional built-in cabinets on the other.
Find out more about Rylett House ›
Setagaya Flat, Japan, by Naruse Inokuma Architects
Naruse Inokuma Architects designed a deliberately simple one-wall kitchen for this apartment in Tokyo.
Instead of conventional cabinets with doors, the kitchen is layered with open wooden shelves and a cantilevered work surface, beneath which a mix of functional appliances and furnishings are stylishly arranged.
Find out more about Setagaya Flat ›
De Sijs, Belgium, by Officeu Architects
A freestanding island sits at the heart of this kitchen, located in a flat in De Sijs, a co-housing project in Leuven by Officeu Architects.
The table-like unit, which incorporates a stove and is partially tiled, can be easily moved around the room to suit the occupant’s spatial needs.
(Synanthro)Love Shack, (Tele)Working Abode, Spain, by Husos Architects
The kitchen units in this compact timber cabin are raised on wheels, allowing them to be moved around to reconfigure the space as required.
This is particularly useful as the kitchen is located within an open-plan living space, and the home is designed to be highly flexible to keep its footprint small, preserving its pine forest setting.
Find out more about (Synanthro)Love Shack, (Tele)Working Abode ›
Atelier Nyp, Iceland, by Studio Bua
This tiny kitchen is part of Atelier Nyp, an artist’s studio and guesthouse on a remote site on Iceland.
It is formed of several freestanding units salvaged from a 1950s residential block, which gives rise to a homely and unpolished look that complements the surrounding agricultural landscape.
Find out more about Atelier Nyp ›
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring rammed-earth living rooms, eclectic Indian homes and interiors that offer a contemporary take on art deco.
The post Seven unfitted kitchens where freestanding units add character appeared first on Dezeen.
