This petite Japandi kitchen is a masterclass in how to balance style and function in a tiny space

Organic materials and tactile textures blend to create this dreamy kitchen

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Published In Features
Japandi style kitchen with brown leather bar stools, marble island and wooden units
(Image credit: Wood Works Brighton/ Bee Holmes)
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WHO LIVES HERE? Adrian and Melanie live here with their two children

THE PROJECT A full kitchen renovation as part of a whole-house makeover in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

TOTAL COST £60,000

When Adrian and Melanie moved into their seaside home, they knew it would take a lot of work to achieve the bright and organic space that they craved. ‘When we bought the place, there was a lot of strange 1970s architecture throughout the interior; it was definitely a doer–upper,’ says Adrian.

‘We spent a lot of time figuring out where to position the kitchen so that we could get the most light,’ he explains. ‘In the end, we kept the original configuration, but opened up a window to the west and changed the access.’

Black wood kitchen with natural accents, hidden pantry in floor to ceiling unit

For a similar food storage solution, try Amazon.

(Image credit: Wood Works Brighton / Bee Holmes)

With layout plans in place, Adrian mocked up some design ideas before enlisting the help of bespoke kitchen company, Wood Works Brighton. ‘The kitchen is quite narrow, and it has a galley layout, so it was hard to fit tall cupboards in without reducing the width,’ explains Adrian.

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But, with clever techniques, a collaborative design process, and the use of natural materials – such as oak and ply – the space soon took shape. ‘Melanie and I love being surrounded by natural elements in our home, and they don’t ever go out of fashion.

Wooden and black kitchen with marble tops, black accents and brown leather stools around island

(Image credit: Wood Works Brighton/ Bee Holmes)

‘We wanted a mix of materials, which we achieved with the fluted wood and the dark stain,’ continues Adrian. ‘It feels like three different kitchens at times, which is perfect. We are brave people, and the end result feels hard to copy.’

‘Melanie is into Japanese style, and we love to mix textures. Our kitchen designers understood our vision straight away,' says Adrian. ‘Smart oak window frames, which match the cabinets, were the perfect finishing touch’.

Kitchen island, marble top with wooden ribbed units and brown leather sofas

Handcrafted Mubi kitchen, price on request, Wood Works Brighton. Try Ethan bar stools, £165 each, Next Home.

(Image credit: Wood Works Brighton/ Bee Holmes)

‘The leather bar stools came from the kitchen in our previous house, and help create a look that’s not too polished,' says Adrian. Moving over to the other side of the kitchen, ‘we picked a black stained-oak finish to tie into the Japandi vibe and, because we added a window to increase the natural light, we knew that the space could handle the darker finish,' he adds.

Black kitchen with floor to ceiling units and oak rubbed units on side

Wood stain in Black Ebony, £14.95 for 250ml, B&Q, is similar.

(Image credit: Wood Works Brighton/ Bee Holmes)

Best of all, ‘the end cupboard, with its curved door and shelves, ensures a soft seamless feel in the space,' he finishes.

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Maddie Balcombe
Maddie Balcombe
Editorial Assistant

Maddie Balcombe joined the Ideal Home team as Editorial Assistant in December 2024. Having always been a keen writer and reader, she graduated from Cardiff University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism, and a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism, in June 2024.

Maddie’s time at university cemented her interest in homeware and interior design; deciding how to decorate her new dorm room was a highlight of each year!

After her studies, Maddie kickstarted her career by freelancing for a number of women’s lifestyle magazines – including Woman&Home and Woman’s Weekly – before making the leap to interiors and joining the Ideal Home team full-time.