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At Matthew James Kitchens, we believe the best kitchens are the ones that combine beauty with purpose. This Kings Norton project is a lovely example of that approach – a calm, carefully balanced interior where bespoke craftsmanship, practical storage and timeless materials come together to support everyday life with ease.
Designed for a bright open-plan home, this kitchen was created to feel elegant, welcoming and effortless to live with. From the soft light grey cabinetry to the contrasting gravel island and warm antique brass accents, every detail was chosen to create a space that feels refined, cohesive and built to last.
Project Overview
This project in Kings Norton involved the creation of a bespoke kitchen designed to sit naturally within a large open-plan living environment while still offering all the practicality needed for modern family life.
The layout was planned to give the room clear structure and presence, centred around a large island that helps define the main working and social area. The surrounding furniture runs provide generous storage, integrated appliances and a clean, balanced look across the room.
Rather than relying on trend-led features, the design combines classic shaker styling with a softer, more contemporary palette. The result is a kitchen that feels timeless and grounded, while still feeling fresh, light and perfectly suited to modern living.
Materials and Finishes
The materials and finishes for this project were selected to create a timeless look while also delivering the durability needed for everyday use.
Cabinetry
The kitchen features light grey cabinetry with solid ash shaker stock doors, paired with a gravel island that introduces subtle contrast and gives the central space a stronger furniture-style identity.
This combination keeps the room feeling soft and bright, while allowing the island to stand out as a natural focal point within the open-plan setting.
Handles
We used Otto antique brass handles throughout, bringing warmth, depth and a more refined finishing touch to the cabinetry. Against the muted painted furniture, the brass detailing adds character without overwhelming the softness of the scheme.
Worktops and Splashbacks
The kitchen and island were finished in 20mm UMIQ Dourado worktops with a chamfered edge. These surfaces offer a crisp, understated look, with gentle veining that adds subtle movement and interest.
The specification also included:
- polished sink cut out
- drainer grooves
- tap hole
- hob cut out
- upstands up to 100mm
- matching splashbacks
These details help give the kitchen a more seamless, bespoke finish and reinforce the overall sense of craftsmanship.
Sink and Tap
The sink area features an Essentials deep double bowl ceramic sink paired with a Quooker patinated brass Fusion Round Pro3 tap. This creates a practical focal point with real character, giving the sink run a more classic, furniture-led feel while still performing brilliantly for day-to-day use.
Appliances
Appliances included:
- Neff oven
- Neff combi oven
- Neff 80cm flex induction hob
- Neff dishwasher
- Miro Tempo canopy extractor
These were integrated into the layout in a way that supports both everyday cooking and the clean, uncluttered appearance of the furniture.
Storage Features
Storage was an important part of the project, with the design including:
- integrated bin
- extra sets of drawers on the island
- 2 x 150 pull outs
- 350 space tower
By building practical storage into the layout from the outset, the finished kitchen supports a cleaner, more organised way of living and helps the main space remain calm and streamlined.
Design Considerations
One of the most important aspects of this project was ensuring that the kitchen felt completely at home within the wider open-plan setting.
In larger spaces, consistency matters. The kitchen needs to have enough presence to anchor the room, while still maintaining a sense of flow and openness. By using a soft colour palette, shaker detailing and carefully chosen brass accents, we created a design that feels connected, deliberate and well resolved.
The large island was central to the scheme. It provides generous preparation space, informal seating, additional storage and a strong focal point within the room. It is not simply a feature added for impact – it is a hardworking part of the design that helps the entire kitchen function better day to day.
The sink elevation is another standout detail. Framed by tall cabinetry and finished with open shelving above, it brings a more furniture-inspired feel to the room and adds visual balance to the wider scheme.
Challenges and Solutions
The main challenge in this project was creating a layout that delivered everything the homeowners needed from a practical kitchen perspective, while still keeping the wider open-plan room feeling calm, spacious and cohesive.
The solution was to balance generous cabinetry and a substantial island with soft painted finishes, simple shaker detailing and light-reflective surfaces. This allowed the kitchen to feel substantial without becoming heavy.
Practicality was equally important. By incorporating drawer storage, pull-outs, a space tower and a generous island, the design delivers excellent day-to-day usability without compromising the elegance of the finished space.
The Result
The completed kitchen in Kings Norton feels calm, spacious and beautifully connected to the rest of the home. It provides a sociable, highly functional hub for cooking, gathering and entertaining, while maintaining a look that feels refined and timeless.
The light grey cabinetry keeps the scheme bright, the gravel island adds depth and contrast, and the antique brass handles bring warmth and character throughout. Together, these elements create a space that feels balanced, elegant and built around real living.
Most importantly, the finished project does not force a choice between style and practicality. It delivers both – with a bespoke kitchen that looks beautiful in every photograph, but works just as well in daily life.
A Bespoke Kitchen and Utility Designed to Last
This Kings Norton project reflects our approach at Matthew James Kitchens – thoughtful design, quality materials and careful craftsmanship brought together to create kitchens that feel personal, practical and lasting.
A bespoke kitchen should do more than fill a space. It should improve how your home works, how it feels and how you live in it. This project is a lovely example of exactly that.
Why Choose Matthew James Kitchens
We were responsible for ensuring that from the initial drawings through the final fit-out, all elements including cabinetry, appliances, finishes and on-site trade work would result in a high quality finish. Each detail; scribes, shadows, gaps and mitered joints were planned carefully so the rooms are built with a craftsman’s attention to detail as opposed to merely being constructed.
If you’d like us to assess your current space to see if it could be completed at an equal level of functionality and finish, we’d love to assist you in doing so – please stop by one of our two showrooms (Birmingham & Bromsgrove) to begin your design process.
A Personal Journey with Matthew James
At Matthew James Kitchens, we've been at the heart of homes for generations, watching kitchen trends evolve while staying true to timeless craftsmanship. As a family-run business deeply rooted in our community, we understand that your kitchen is more than just a room—it's the soul of your home.
- Award-winning designs featured in Beautiful Kitchens magazine
- Over two decades of experience
- Bespoke kitchen designs tailored to individual tastes and lifestyles
- Wide range of styles
- Fully equipped showroom
- Finance options
Have a question?
As a family-run business that values transparency, we understand the importance of timing. Every kitchen is unique, just like the families we serve. Typically, from initial design to the final polished surface, a bespoke kitchen can take anywhere typically from 3 - 4 weeks to 6 weeks if a project is incredibly complex. But rest assured, we'll work closely with you to ensure the process fits seamlessly into your life.
This is where our expertise truly shines. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, as each home and homeowner has different needs. We take pride in sitting down with you, perhaps over a cup of tea in our showroom, to understand how you live, cook, and entertain. Whether it's a classic work triangle or a more modern zoned approach, we'll craft a layout that's as functional as it is beautiful
This is a question we get asked all the time. In our experience, clever storage solutions are the unsung heroes of a well-designed kitchen. From pull-out pantries to bespoke corner units, we have a myriad of tricks up our sleeves to ensure every inch of your kitchen works hard. After all, a clutter-free kitchen is a joy to cook in, whether you're whipping up a quick weekday dinner or hosting a grand Sunday roast for the family.
