billy the kid
Company: elementi cucina Designer: Katie Lusty
Hood: Bespoke island PHOTOGRAPHER: chris snook photography
quirky & functional
For many years Katie Lusty, Creative Director at Elementi Cucina, had been dreaming of creating a unique, bespoke and uber cool street art kitchen. Upon walking in to the clients beautiful Surrey abode for an initial design meeting, it quickly became apparent that the universe had aligned and the perfect opportunity to make her dream become a reality was right in front of her, as she found herself surrounded by the most incredible, extensive and amazing street art collection!
The clients were a young family with very cool taste who didn’t just want a standard boring kitchen like many they had seen, but were looking for something completely different, a statement, a reflection of their personalities as a family, quirky and fun, yet functional for their lifestyle, which in a day could involve messy breakfasts, hordes of kids running around, the space being used as a family gathering place, but still be suitable for sophisticated evening adult soirees.
The clients were completely open to ideas – the more individual the better. They put their trust completely in Katie and were a designers dream client… The original kitchen space was to be extended by knocking two rooms into one, and the new kitchen needed to wow but also work as a functional family space. The clients love cooking and entertaining, and the appliances and extraction needed to be able to handle this. The kitchen had to be easy to maintain and navigate. A focal point and seating areas for the family to congregate were a must!
Immediately Katie saw an opportunity to create something truly unique in the form of the much talked about, completely incognito, up and coming street artist… Billy The Kid. with comparisons to Banksy, and completely unknown to the client following the initial meeting, Billy The Kid was immediately hunted down on Instagram and together via his agents (Walton Fine Arts), in top secret fashion to keep his unknown identity a secret, they collaborated on fusing his bold, bright, personalised and original street art with the luxury Italian kitchen brand Pedini.
kitchen ergonomics
The kitchen ergonomics were considered first, followed by the finishes (no insipid colours allowed!), a beautiful sultry, dark metallic Pedini door gave the whole design depth and texture. The layout was key so Katie designed a tall wall run encompassing the Gaggenau refrigeration appliances, a pantry/ breakfast area behind doors (to hide the toaster and clutter if required) and tall larder units for ample storage. The sink run included a beautiful 70cm stone sink with the stone vein running into the sink bowl. A must-have Quooker tap in the stunning patinated brass finish along with the beautiful Dowsing & Reynolds knurled brass handles provided a wonderful contrast. The ovens were strategically placed for cooking with set down space to the side, and the run is finished off with a beautiful dark grey mirrored splashback.
The island really was the focal point and practically gave the clients a beautiful central working space, with acres of clear worktop run for cooking up a storm, and plenty of large pull-out drawers for storage. Gold Mamorea quartz worktop with its beautiful veining encases the island worktop and sides then the absolutely stunning Fiore Dibosco marble table that is beautifully lit with hidden led channels, wraps the island corner with its gravity defying angled end panels. Scaffolding like hidden steel supports invisible yet most definitely there and a feat of engineering to create a stunning yet practical eating area. The unique and individual commissioned Billy the Kid art installation on the back of the island creates total wow factor, we framed the artwork with a thin black metal framework and set it behind a glass panel with integrated LED lighting to highlight the intricate details.
The artwork included very personal touches…the family’s names, the dog gets a mention too and positive words that sum up the love this family so evidently share. Even the 3 cherubs Billy created look uncannily like the client’s 3 children, a wonderful touch that brought the clients to tears on installation!
Westin were commissioned to manufacture a statement island hood in sleek black, suspended from the ceiling with stylish matching black suspension rods. The power was tailored to how the clients like to cook, and the gorgeous black finish chosen provides enough of a statement without dominating the kitchen, allowing the real star of the show, the artwork to really pop.
The result
This kitchen is a truly unique and stunningly original installation, and we love that Billy the Kid jumped on board with the concept presented to him. True Elementi Cucina team work at play, who pulled together to leave the clients with their dream kitchen, like no other!
get in touch
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