A timeless and tranquil birch plywood kitchen

Designed and handmade for a former badge-maker’s workshop

CLIENT: Private homeowner

CATEGORY: Residential

PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen design, manufacture and installation

LOCATION: West Midlands, UK

MATERIALS: Birch plywood, Surf and Crystal White Formica

PHOTOGRAPHER: Dual Works

APPROACH:

Set within a former badge-maker’s workshop in the Jewellery Quarter, this kitchen embodies a quiet, understated sophistication.

Working closely with the homeowner, the brief was to develop a scheme that would complement the existing run of wall cabinetry while introducing a distinct yet harmonious identity.

Our approach prioritised functionality, simplicity, and craftsmanship. The resulting design is a confident linear composition that celebrates the layered edge detail of birch plywood. This language extends into the handle design, where the positive form is inverted into a recessed negative—an ergonomic and subtly intriguing feature.

Materiality and construction are central to the project’s visual refinement. A restrained, neutral palette enhances the warmth of the birch ply while maintaining a timeless quality. Light is carefully considered, with surfaces designed to reflect and amplify it, creating a calm, balanced, and quietly atmospheric space.