A unique kitchen project in the Lake District reinvents the famous style of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian

They were inspired by the work of the artist after a holiday abroad and hoped that the bright, fresh style and colours of his work could be incorporated into the proposed new kitchen project.

Piet Mondrian was known for his highly original abstract geometric paintings usually consisting of white ground with painted grids of black in vertical and horizontal lines and three primary colours – giving bold blocks of colour.

The couple had heard of Kitchen Design Centre and felt that its range of German products met their demands for quality and finish and elements of the furniture seemed to echo some of the Mondrian themes.

When they met Blackburn designer, Will Hustler, they began to collaborate in a unique way straight away.

Will said: “The look was achieved through a process of detail and balance, whilst constantly referring to the work of Mondrian and to our customers expectations.

“There were real technical obstacles. The kitchen furniture is engineered so precisely and the exactness of Mondrian’s work highlighted this.

“The old 14th century building was anything but uniform and a great deal of preparation work in the form of false walls and bulkheads had to be conceived and produced extremely accurately.”

The older more rustic features of the property also had to be considered, used and retained sympathetically.

“It was a collaborative effort. My clients knew what they wanted from the outset. I saw it as my job to enable their ideas to take shape whilst contributing ideas of my own all through the process. Practicality and lifestyle were as much of a consideration as the unique Mondrian aesthetic.”

Kitchen Design Centre balanced and contrasted the old-world charm of a wonderful Aga cooker in bright red, against the chic engineered simplicity of the beautiful Miele products in black and steel.

These elements were a key starting point. Mondrian used the black outer lines of his work to contrast boldly with blocks of bold colour.

“They love their Aga – and particularly like their Miele Induction Wok Hob with its glass dish made to heat the wok intensely and evenly over its complete surface.

“It is incredibly innovative, practical and effective.”

Other Miele appliances include an induction domino hob and a sophisticated Microwave oven with hi tech features again in contrast to the old school qualities of the Aga cooker, to give the couple complete flexibility.

The best extractor was chosen for its power, appearance and LED lighting and used in an unusual way – built precisely into a bulkhead.

A major decision during the design process was what worktop material would be used. It was quickly realised that nothing could match the colour, reliability and complete flexibility of Corian.

The imagination was fired when Kitchen Design Centre realised that the elements of Mondrian’s work could be built in different coloured pieces of Corian material without compromising its practical qualities in any way at all.

This was a highly complex process, like a giant jigsaw of bonded coloured, pieces perfectly jointed and polished to form workbenches, breakfast areas and an amazing back panel feature behind the Aga cooker. In all areas, Mondrian details have been included, sometimes subtly, sometimes boldly, just like his artwork.

The couple have been undertaking a long renovation project ever since acquiring their home, well off the beaten track and high up in the mountains of the Lake District. It has really been a labour of love, the kitchen being just the latest project in the ongoing process of modernisation and renewal.

Their ideas have been unique and adventurous. The new kitchen replaced the existing dining room, which allowed for double the kitchen space they had previously.

The new kitchen is bright, owing to its large windows, and has an airy and extremely spacious feel. The elegant kitchen furniture and Corian work surfaces contribute to the lightness and brightness of the room.

Various design touches make this kitchen extra special. Even sections of cupboards have been designed to match the style of Piet Mondrian, with black and yellow running around them as abstract accents.

It all blends together perfectly and harmoniously. The new space incorporates a large island in the centre of the room with gives considerable storage and workspace along with a sense of cooking theatre.

The owners are delighted with the entire process.

“The layout and overall look is just amazing,” they said. “It is a joy to cook in and just to live in.

“Kitchen Design Centre’s attention to detail was fantastic and all their team worked quickly and efficiently at all time.

“It was a pleasure to have them in the house. In fact much of the work was completed in the first week and ahead of schedule.

We couldn’t be more pleased with the result. Will was fantastic, he seemed to always understand what we wanted to achieve and has managed to exceed our expectations.

“We will recommend Will and Kitchen Design Centre to all our family, friends and colleagues.”

Will said: “We would love to know what the great Dutch artist Piet Mondrian would have made of it. We think he would have approved.”