Category: Home & Kitchen

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Butcher block countertops have become a popular countertop option in kitchen styles of all different kinds.

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The unique makeup of butcher block countertops creates a warm and homey look, but this doesn’t mean that these are a good choice for everyone.

Butcher block countertops have amazing qualities, but they also have some drawbacks. According to home guru, Martha Stewart, butcher block countertops require regular maintenance from each month to every day. This helps butcher block countertops stay conditioned and maintain their texture and color. Otherwise, they will dull and crack. Is the beauty of butcher block counters worth this level of maintenance to you? For some people, the answer is a resounding “yes”! For others, maybe not.

What are Butcher Block Countertops?

Butcher block countertops are individual pieces of wood that are bound together to form one large surface. Butcher block countertops are made from different species of wood. Close-grained woods are ideal for countertops making cherry, walnut, and maple popular choices. Hard rock maple is one of the most popular because while it has a tight grain, it is less expensive than cherry or walnut. There are also butcher block countertops made from oak, bamboo, and exotic woods like iroko and zebrawood.

The individual pieces of wood are joined in a couple of different ways. There are edge-grained countertops that have longer horizontal pieces finger-joined together. There is also end-grain construction which uses short vertical pieces joined together. The end result resembles a tone-on-tone checkerboard.

Cost for Butcher Block Countertops

The price of butcher block countertops varies by species of wood, the thickness of the countertop, and overall quality. You can expect to pay anywhere from $50-$300 per square foot to purchase and to install your countertops. Butcher block counters are a popular DIY option. For those people, you are looking at just around $50-$100 per square foot to purchase a DIY butcher block countertop.

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How to Care for Butcher Block Countertops

The care and maintenance of wood counters like butcher block is regular but it is not extensive. Most steps are common sense that you would apply to other types of countertops.

Choose the Right Finish

When your butcher block countertops have been installed, you need to decide on the best finish option. There are several that you can choose and each requires a different level of maintenance.

• Natural Finish – If you intend to prepare food right on your countertops, you need to use a finish that is food-safe. Natural finishes like mineral oil, tung oil, and beeswax are good options for this. These have a beautiful look when you first apply them, but they will wear away in short order. If you like the look of the natural finishes but don’t want the constant maintenance, consider a hardened tung oil and resin product like Waterlox or Watco Butcher Block Oil and Finish. These will keep your countertops looking good for a longer time.
• Stain – Decide if you want to change the color of the countertops. If you do, you need to apply a stain. Choose either a water-based or oil-based stain formula.
• Polyurethane – Polyurethane is a clear coat that you can apply to your countertops. This is not the best if you plan on preparing food on your countertops and it is not food safe. It is also susceptible to cracks and scratches.

Keep Them Clean

In order to prevent large-scale damage to your countertops, clean them on a regular basis each day.

• Clean up any spills as they happen as they can cause stains on your countertops.
• Scrape up any food residue being careful not to allow the instrument to nick the countertops.
• Scrub the countertops with a scrub brush using mild soap and hot water. Rinse the countertops with some water and a soft cloth.
• Once each week, sanitize your countertops with white vinegar. Spray undiluted vinegar on the countertops. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then wipe away.
• Dry the countertops.

Maintain Your Butcher Block Countertops

Butcher block countertops need to be maintained on a regular basis.

• If you have a natural finish like mineral oil or beeswax on your countertops, you need to reapply these finishes. Be prepared to reapply finishes every 4-6 weeks to keep your countertops protected and conditioned.
• Prevent damage to your countertops by not putting scalding pots or dishes on your butcher block kitchen countertops.
• Use cutting boards to prevent cuts and scratches on your countertops.
• Remove stains on your butcher block countertops with lemon juice, one cup of water and a tsp or hydrogen peroxide. Rub this solution on the stain with a damp cloth and then wipe dry. You can also try rubbing the stain with lemon and salt.
• If your butcher block countertops become damaged because of scorches, stains, or scratches, you can sand them down. Take 220 grit sandpaper, sand down the damaged areas. Clean them and then reapply your finishing coat.
• Avoid cleaners that contain bleach or harsh chemical cleaners. Do not use scouring pads with stiff bristles as they may damage the finish. Some fabricators also warm against using products like Murphy’s Oil Soap as they leave a residue on the wood.

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Butcher Block Countertops: Pros and Cons

There are reasons that there are such different opinions on butcher block countertops. Consider these pros and cons to decide on which side of the argument you fall.

Pros

• Cost – Butcher block countertops cost much less than other natural varieties of countertops like marble and granite. Yet, they still have the look of quality.
• Versatility – Butcher block counter tops work with every style kitchen from modern to traditional. They also look amazing mixed with other countertop varieties.
• Look and Texture – No other countertop will match the lovely tones and warm texture of butcher block countertops.
• Longevity – With proper care, butcher block countertops will last for around 20 years.
• Ability to Refinish – Unlike synthetic countertops, it is easy to sand down and refinish butcher block countertops if they develop damage over time.
• Breakages – Wood is a soft surface compared to stone countertops. If you drop items on butcher block counters, they may not break.
• Installation – Butcher block countertops are easy for DIYers to install.

Cons

• Cost – Butcher block countertops cost more than some countertop surfaces like laminate.
• Non-resistance – Wood is not as resistant as stone to heat and scratches.
• Maintenance – Wood countertops require some level of regular care and maintenance. You cannot install these countertops and then forget about them.
• Dust and Grime – Dust and grime do not disappear on butcher block countertops like they do on variegated surfaces like granite or quartz.

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Butcher Block Countertop Design

Butcher block countertops work well with diverse kitchen designs. We have gathered some of the best for your inspiration.

Butcher Block Counters in a Contemporary Kitchen

Jaffe Architecture + Interiors designed this contemporary style kitchen. They used a thick walnut butcher block countertop section to adjoin the quartzite counters. This gives the owners a striking food prep area that is close to the sink.

Butcher Block Counters in a Historic Home

This kitchen design from Balding Brothers Restoration and Remodeling includes a farmhouse sink, butcher block countertops, and shaker cabinets. These work well with a historic kitchen design that includes modern conveniences.

Modern Traditional Kitchen with Dark Butcher Block Counters

This kitchen design features design elements of contrast. AKDO uses the white cabinets with the dark butcher block cabinets to balance the light and dark elements to give the overall room more depth.

Light Butcher Block Countertops with a Farmhouse Kitchen

One popular trend in butcher block countertops is to keep the color natural. This interior designer chose a thick maple countertop for the central island. They created a substantial and central food prep and eating area.

Conclusion

Butcher block creates a striking countertop, though it is one with some strings attached. It requires regular maintenance and it is easy to damage. But if you are prepared to keep up with the care required these are cost-effective countertops that bring warmth and texture to any space.

San Francisco-based Studio Terpeluk has renovated and expanded Redwood House in Noe Valley with redwood interiors and terraces.

The three-storey Redwood House was originally designed by American architect Albert Lanier – husband to sculptor Ruth Asawa – in a hilly  San Francisco neighbourhood characterised by Victorian and Edwardian houses.

Studio Terpeluk was selected to expand the 1976 house from 2,260 square feet (210 square metres) to 3,218 square feet (299 square metres) with a new guest room suite, home office, wet bar and media room.

The renovation “surgically modified the house in an architecturally non-aggressive manner,” the studio said.

Wrapped with irregular western red cedar planks, the narrow house cascades down the hillside with exterior courtyards that mitigate the grade change.

One enters the house through an intimate courtyard off the street into an open-plan upper level with a sloping ceiling and dark-knotted Douglas fir flooring made from local reclaimed pier pilings.

Many of the walls and ceilings were updated with vintage rough-sawn redwood veneered plywood maintained from the original build.

“Redwood surfaces and structural elements complete the warm interior landscape: from the sloping roof beams to partition walls and built-in shelves,” the studio said.

To the left of the entrance is the kitchen with custom-gloss cabinets and a Carrara marble backsplash. It opens to a dining room that features a Saarinen table and Hans Wegner wishbone chairs.

To the right is the library where sunlight from the large window brightens the dark panelling and sculptural furniture.

The living room is oriented around a pink sculpture by American artist Wanxin Zhang.

Padded seating wraps the corner under a large window looking out to the San Francisco skyline.

The house is centred around a staircase illuminated by a skylight.

“The sculptural blackened steel stair with vintage rough-sawn redwood plywood walls anchors the house, weaving together the three floors and their diverse spatial character,” the studio continued.

The middle level features guest suites with direct access to the entry courtyard.

The primary suite is softened by light pink terrazzo tile and a micro mosaic of Indian red recycled plastic tiles.

“Color was a recurring theme in the exquisite and eclectic art collection of the owners,” studio founder Brett Terpeluk said.

“This went perfectly hand in hand with my interest in mid-century Italian design and its bold use of color.”

“We collaborated with our friend and designer Beatrice Santiccioli to enrich the project with a dedicated and bespoke color language,” he continued.

At the lowest level, a media room, home office and kitchenette open to an abundantly landscaped garden.

The outdoor areas were designed by Terpeluk’s wife and longtime consultant, Italian landscape designer Monica Viarengo.

The terraces shift from curated gardens to wild vegetation as one moves through the property, while the plantings reference California coastal landscapes with yellow roses, espaliered fruit trees and a variety of thymes.

Studio Terpeluk was founded in 2008 by Brett Terpeluk, after he finished a tenure working with Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Other Noe Valley renovations include the Gable House by Edmonds + Lee, a renovated Victorian townhouse by Fougeron Architecture and an industrial home for a tech entrepreneur by Levy Art and Architecture and Síol Studios.

Photography is by Joe Fletcher.

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Project credits

Project team: Brett Terpeluk, Huy Nguyen
Landscape design: Monica Viarengo
Color consultant: Beatrice Santiccioli
Contractor: Saturn Construction
Structural engineering: Strandberg Engineering
Furniture: Santiccioli Arredamenti
Orama sliding window systems: Cooritalia
Windows: Bonelli
Wood reclaimed wood flooring: Arborica
Metal fabrication: Upper Story Design
Drapery/upholstery: Malatesta & Co
Art: Catharine Clark Gallery

After 6,000 votes, projects by Adam Kane Architects and Hollaway Studio are ahead in the Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote interiors categories. Vote now for your favourite!

Other studios in the lead include Random Studio for its blue pop-up installation for Jacquemus in London’s Selfridges and Ennismore for its hotel inspired by the late architect Ricardo Bofill in Spain.

The public vote, which closes on 10 October, gives readers the chance to vote for projects shortlisted in the architecture, interiors, design, sustainability and media categories, as well as architects and designers who are battling to be named studio of the year.

​​Voting is open for another two weeks, so you still have time to vote for your favourite interiors!

Click here to vote ›

Public vote winners crowned in October

Public vote winners will be published 17 to 21 October on Dezeen. The public vote is separate from the main Dezeen Awards 2022 judging process, in which entries are assessed by our jury of renowned industry professionals.

We will be unveiling the Dezeen Awards 2022 winners in late November.

Who is in the lead?

Of almost 30,000 votes that have been cast and verified across all categories so far, the interiors categories received over 6,000 verified votes.

Continue reading on to see which projects and studios are ahead in the public vote.

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House interior

› 26 per cent – Barwon Heads House, Melbourne, Australia, by Adam Kane Architects
› 23 per cent – West Bend House, Melbourne, Australia, by Brave New Eco
› 22 per cent – Twentieth, Los Angeles, USA, by Woods + Dangaran
› 16 per cent – Clear Oak, Los Angeles, USA, by Woods + Dangaran
› 14 per cent – House in Marutamachi, Kyoto City, Japan, by Td-Atelier and Endo Shojiro Design

Browse all projects on the house interior shortlist page.

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Apartment interior

› 28 per cent – Tribeca Loft, New York City, USA, by Andrea Leung
› 23 per cent – Earthrise Studio, London, United Kingdom, by Studio McW
› 18 per cent – Shoji Apartment, London, United Kingdom, Proctor and Shaw
› 13 per cent – Flat 6, São Paulo, Brazil, by Studio MK27
› 11 per cent – The Hideaway Home, Gdańsk, Poland, by ACOS
› Seven per cent – Iceberg, Tel-Aviv, Israel, by Laila Architecture

Browse all projects on the apartment interior shortlist page.

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Restaurant and bar interior

› 31 per cent – Spice & Barley, Bangkok, Thailand, by Enter Projects Asia
› 24 per cent – Connie-Connie at the Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark, by Tableau and Ari Prasetya
› 22 per cent – Terra, Vynnyky, Ukraine, by YOD Group
› 13 per cent – Dois Tropicos, São Paulo, Brazil, by MNMA Studio
› 11 per cent – Koffee Mameya Kakeru, Tokyo, Japan, by Fourteen Stone Design

Browse all projects on the restaurant and bar interior page.

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Hotel and short-stay interior

› 25 per cent – The Hoxton Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain, by Ennismore
› 23 per cent – Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, Los Angeles, USA, by Kelly Wearstler Studio
› 21 per cent – Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, United Kingdom, by Holland Harvey
› 16 per cent – Schwan Locke, Munich, Germany, by Locke
› 15 per cent – Well Well Well Hotel Renovation, Beijing, China, Fon Studio

Browse all projects on the hotel and short-stay interior page.

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Large workspace interior

› 47 per cent – Dyson Global HQ St James Power Station, Singapore, by M Moser Associates
› 24 per cent – Victoria Greencoat Place, London, United Kingdom, by Fora
› 16 per cent – Midtown Workplace, Brisbane, Australia, by Cox Architecture
› Eight per cent – Design District Bureau Club, London, United Kingdom, by Roz Barr Architects
› Six per cent – Generator Building, Bristol, United Kingdom, by MoreySmith

Browse all projects on the large workspace interior page.

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Small workspace interior

› 30 per cent – Alexander House, Sydney, Australia, by Alexander & Co.
› 19 per cent – OTK Ottolenghi, London, United Kingdom, by Studiomama
› 15 per cent – HNS Studio, Nanjing, China, Muhhe Studio Institute of Architecture
› 14 per cent – Samsen Atelier, Stockholm, Sweden, by Note Design Studio
› 13 per cent – The F.Forest Office, Linbian, Taiwan, by Atelier Boter
› Nine per cent – Asket Studio, Stockholm, Sweden, by Atelier Paul Vaugoyeau

Browse all projects on the small workspace interior page.

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Large retail interior

› 33 per cent – An Interactive Spatial Design and Scenography for Jacquemus at Selfridges, London, United Kingdom, by Random Studio
› 29 per cent – Deja Vu Recycle Store, Shanghai, China, by Offhand Practice
› 15 per cent – XC273, Shanghai, China, by Dongqi Design
› 12 per cent – Kolon Sport Sotsot Rebirth, Cheju Island, South Korea, by Jo Nagasaka / Schemata Architects
› 11 per cent – Proud Gallery Gotanda, Gotanda, Japan, by Domino Architects / HAKUTEN / Nozomi Kume (Studio Onder de Linde)

Browse all projects on the large retail interior page.

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Small retail interior

› 33 per cent – MONC, London, United Kingdom, by Nina+Co
› 20 per cent – Aesop Yorkville, Toronto, Canada, by Odami
› 18 per cent – Durat Showroom, Helsinki, Finland, by Linda Bergroth
› 15 per cent – Haight Clothing Store, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Aia Estudio
› 13 per cent – The Market Building, London, United Kingdom, by Holloway Li

Browse all projects on the small retail interior page.

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Leisure and wellness interior

› 39 per cent – Patina Maldives Spa, Fari Islands, Maldives, by Studio MK27
› 24 per cent – Self Revealing, Taipei City, Taiwan, by Studio X4
› 16 per cent – Barlo MS Centre, Toronto, Canada, by Hariri Pontarini Architects
› 13 per cent – Bath & Barley, Brussels, Belgium, by WeWantMore
› Nine per cent – Wan Fat Jinyi Cinema, Shenzhen, China, by One Plus Partnership

Browse all projects on the leisure and wellness interior page.

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Civic and cultural interior

› 40 per cent – F51 Skate Park, Folkestone, United Kingdom, by Hollaway Studio
› 34 per cent – Stanbridge Mill Library, Dorset, United Kingdom, by Crawshaw Architects
› 12 per cent – The Groote Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands, by Merk X
› Eight per cent – Yorck Kino Passage, Berlin, Germany, by Batek Architekten
› Five per cent – Designing Ecole Camondo Méditerranée’s Interior, Toulon, France, by Émilieu Studio

Browse all projects on the civic and cultural interior page.

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Small interior

› 34 per cent – A Private Reading Room, Shanghai, China, by Atelier Tao+C
› 22 per cent – OHL Cultural Space for the Arts, Lisbon, Portugal, by AB+AC Architects
› 19 per cent –Relaxing Geometry with Pops of Yellow, Antwerp, Belgium, by Van Staeyan Interior Architects
› 14 per cent – Fatface Coffee Pop Up Shop, Shenyang, China, by Baicai Design
› 11 per cent – Sik Mul Sung, South Korea, by Unseenbird

Browse all projects on the small interior page.

The worlds of fashion design and interior design are closely related, especially in terms of aesthetics. They follow similar trends and style ‘rules’. For quite some time, fashion rules firmly stated that purses, belts and shoes should always match. But in recent years, that rule has been bent to the point of being considered, what the cool-kids might call, “basic”. Nowadays, a statement shoe or pop of rose-gold are displays of style-courage, and indicative of an individual’s willingness to make bold moves with their attire.

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An exhibition of hand-crafted art and design pieces, including a seminal sculpture by Charles and Ray Eames, is on display at the former New Jersey home of 20th-century landscape architect James Rose.

At the Rose House is on show at the Ridgewood home that the late American modernist landscape architect designed and hand-built for himself and his family in 1953 and lived in for almost 40 years.

Organised by curatorial platform Object & Thing and furniture and interior design studio Green River Project LLC, the exhibition stemmed from Rose’s appreciation for craft and materials.

The show “emphasises the hand-made, beauty in nature and a sense of timelessness” according to the curators.

Green River Project LLC founders Aaron Aujla and Benjamin Bloomstein, who have admired the landscape architect for some time, have produced a series of new designs based on his work.

Created in collaboration with a group of designers, these pieces include a side chair by both Bloomstein Industrial and Luck Carpentry, rice paper lamps from Preziosi Lighting and carved grooming items on shelves in the bathroom by Teague’s Path.

“The ease in which Rose expanded the home using ready-made materials was an early point of reference for our practice,” said Aujla.

“In particular, there is a kitchen with mahogany shelves and pegboard that we must have spent over 100 hours dissecting and referring back to over the last five years.”

Green River Project’s products are presented alongside the work of mid-century and contemporary designers, including Alvaro Barrington, Bode, Charles and Ray Eames, Louis Eisner, Hugh Hayden, Nancy Holt, Kiva Motnyk, Michele Oka Doner, Johnny Ortiz-Concha and Anne Truitt among others.

The works are installed as if they belong in the rooms and garden, which – like many of Rose’s later projects – feature elements of Japanese design, including the exposed timber structure and shoji screens.

“[Rose] spent considerable amounts of time in Japan and became a Zen Buddhist,” said the curators. “This influence is evident in the Ridgewood house, especially on the upper floor, which contains a room for his daily mediation practice that The James Rose Center is currently restoring.”

Pieces on display include the Eames’ seminal 1943 Plywood Sculpture – the first time that this edition, which was made and released by Eames Office, is being presented in the US.

Among the designs created for the showcase are leather Adirondack chairs by Hugh Hayden, wood-fired micaceous pots by Johnny Ortiz-Concha and naturally-dyed framed textile works by Kiva Motnyk.

A selection of clothing by New York brand Bode, based on Rose’s “eccentric” personal style, is hung in the closets throughout the house.

Landscape paintings, rice paper drawings, flower vases, terracotta sculptures, and a screening of Nancy Holt’s 1975 film Pine Barrens that “portrays the New Jersey wilderness” also feature.

Green River Project LLC is also producing new editions of one of Rose’s lanterns to coincide with this exhibition.

These will be sold to benefit The James Rose Center – a non-profit landscape research and study foundation, which is based at the house and has preserved Rose’s legacy since his death in 1991.

“Rose was an impossible maverick, called by one author, ‘The James Dean of Landscape Architecture,’ but I think he would be very happy with the vision Green River Project LLC and Object & Thing have brought to his house,” said foundation director Dean Cardasis.

At the Rose House runs until 2 October 2022. This is the latest in a series of exhibitions organised by Object & Thing within the homes of notable 20th-century artists and architects, following presentations at the houses of Gerald Luss, Robert Dash and Eliot Noyes.

Other exhibitions that showcase the work of modernist designers include an exhibition of Le Corbusier’s tapestries in Manhattan.

 See our Dezeen Events Guide for information about other exhibitions, installations and talks.

So, you’ve selected your cabinet door style, and you’ve decided on your finish and colors. Now, you can sit back, relax and…wait! Don’t put your feet up just yet. You still have some very important decisions to make about cabinet hardware—the knobs and pulls that put the finishing touch on your kitchen remodeling project.

With reliable kitchen remodel contractors by your side, you can upgrade your outdated cabinets and drawers in your Lehigh Valley residence into designer-worthy pieces in no time at all. 

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Reclaimed architectural timber and wood from a felled street tree form the furnishings of two hotel suites that designer Jan Hendzel has revamped for London‘s Town Hall Hotel in time for London Design Festival.

Suites 109 and 111 are set on the first floor of the Town Hall Hotel, which is housed in a converted Grade II-listed town hall in Bethnal Green dating back to 1910.

Each of the apartment-style suites features a living room with a kitchen alongside a bedroom and en-suite, which Hendzel has outfitted with bespoke furnishings. Like all of the furniture maker’s pieces, these are crafted exclusively from British timbers.

But for his first interiors project, Hendzel took an even more hyper-local approach with the aim of finding all of the necessary products inside the M25 – the motorway that encircles the British capital.

“We started out with the idea that we could source everything within London,” he told Dezeen during a tour of the suites.

“Some timbers have come from Denmark Hill, some are reclaimed from Shoreditch. And we used Pickleson Paint, which is a company just around the corner, literally two minutes from here.”

The reclaimed timber came in the form of pinewood roof joists and columns, which Hendzel found at an architectural salvage yard.

These had to be scanned with a metal detector to remove any nails or screws so they could be machined into side tables and tactile wire-brushed domes used to decorate the suites’ coffee tables.

In Suite 111, both the dining table and the rippled kitchen fronts are made from one of the many plane trees that line the capital’s streets, giving them the nickname London plane.

“This London plane is super special because it has come from a tree that was taken up outside Denmark Hill train station in Camberwell,” Hendzel explained. “We couldn’t find timber from Bethnal Green but it’s the closest we could get.”

For other pieces, materials had to be sourced from further afield – although all are either made in the UK or by UK-based brands.

Hendzel used British ash and elm to craft mirrors and benches with intricate hand-carved grooves for the suites, while the patterned rugs in the living areas come from West London studio A Rum Fellow via Nepal.

“People in the UK don’t make rugs, so you have to go further afield,” Hendzel said. “Same with the upholstery fabrics. You could get them here but if they are quadruple your budget, it’s inaccessible.”

Hendzel’s aim for the interior scheme was to create a calm, pared-back version of a hotel room, stripping away all of the “extra stuff” and instead creating interest through rich textural contrasts.

This is especially evident in the bespoke furniture pieces, which will now become part of his studio’s permanent collection.

Among them is the Wharf coffee table with its reclaimed wooden domes, worked with a wire brush to expose the intricate graining of the old-growth timber and offset against a naturally rippled tabletop.

“It’s a genetic defect of the timber, but it makes it extra special and catches your eye,” Hendzel said.

The coffee table, much like the nearby Peng dining chair, is finished with faceted knife-drawn edges reminiscent of traditional stone carving techniques. But while the table has a matt finish, the chair is finished with beeswax so its facets will reflect the light.

Unexpected details such as loose-tongue joints, typically used to make tables, distinguish the Mowlavi sofa and armchair, while circular dowels draw attention to the wedge joint holding together their frames.

Alongside the bespoke pieces, Hendzel incorporated existing furniture pieces such as the dresser from his Bowater collection, presented at LDF in 2020. Its distinctive undulating exterior was also translated into headboards for the bedrooms and cabinet fronts for the kitchens.

These are paired with crinoid marble worktops from the Mandale quarry in Derby, with roughly-hewn edges offset against a perfectly smooth surface that reveals the fossils calcified within.

“It’s a kajillion years old and it’s got all these creatures from many moons ago that have fallen into the mud and died,” Hendzel said. “But then, when they get polished up, they look kind of like Ren and Stimpy.”

Going forwards, the Town Hall Hotel plans to recruit other local designers to overhaul its remaining 94 rooms.

Other installations on show as part of LDF this year include a collection of rotating public seating made from blocks of granite by designer Sabine Marcelis and an exhibition featuring “sympathetic repairs” of sentimental objects as the V&A museum.

The photography is by Fergus Coyle.

London Design Festival 2022 takes place from 17-25 September 2022. See our London Design Festival 2022 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.

All-white kitchens are a wise design choice. Not only are they timeless, with options for every style, whether contemporary, transitional, or traditional, white kitchens make an ideal canvas for colorful and patterned decor that you can have fun changing with the seasons, holidays, or ever-evolving kitchen design trends.

However, without proper design to warm it up, white can appear rather sterile. Luckily, you can enhance the beauty of white cabinets in many easy ways and make an otherwise neutral kitchen look amazing.Turn to expert cabinet remodel contractors in Lehigh Valley for help and bring your kitchen design to an entirely new level.

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Dezeen School Shows: an app that makes use of disused car parks and a community cafe feature in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at the University of the Arts London.

Also included is a museum that examines the role of female workers in the industrial revolution and a scheme that aims to integrate the physical and digital worlds to connect people to their surroundings.

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Institution: University of the Arts London
School: Camberwell College of Arts
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

School statement:

“Camberwell College of Arts is a renowned art and design college. We give students the space to explore their creativity. Staff will support and challenge you to rethink current practices. Our facilities embrace both traditional craftsmanship and digital technology.

“Our design and fine art courses will make you think about your social responsibility, as well as develop your critical and making skills.

“View our recent graduate’s work online at the Graduate Showcase website.

“Join our online and on-site open days to learn more about Camberwell College of Arts and our courses. Click here for more information.

“For the following projects, Camberwell’s BA Interior and Spatial Design students collaborated with students at IED Kunsthal, a design university located in Bilbao, Spain.

“Students focused on the regeneration of Zorrotzaurre, a post-industrial area of Bilbao built on an artificial island.

“The project’s aim was to design proposals for a former biscuit factory site, which required remote online working with students at IED Kunsthal as they researched and explored the area together.

“Each student created a map of the urban landscape through a variety of media including textiles, projection and interaction.

“Some Camberwell students also visited the site in Bilbao, where they exhibited their urban fabric mappings of the current condition of Zorrotzaurre and design proposals for the future of the island.

“They also took part in a show at the university, as well as delivered presentations and workshops as part of the DRS2022.”

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Community and the Vernacular: Physical and Virtual by Lea Fakhouri

“Community and the Vernacular is an expansion of my thesis around the idea that people in today’s society are considered inert consumers that only use the spaces that they inhabit, and are not actually part of the process of designing them.

“My project explores the merging of the physical and digital world to help revitalise the connection between people and space.

“The physical world houses six separate pavilions suspended across the site of the Artiach Cookie Factory in Bilbao, Spain.

“The virtual world houses the united pavilions suspended together to represent the capabilities of the community to inform and transform its topography.”

Student: Lea Fakhouri
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

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Mobile Community Repair Cafes by Mia Bizard

“Using my research on themes exploring accessibility, connection and communities, this project continues my investigation into the architecture of connection – connecting people, city, and environment.

“Proposing a series of workshops and gallery spaces that essentially become repair cafes, all connected with foldable canopies, this project promotes the reduction of waste and sustainable, social community-focused lifestyles.

“The idea is to bridge and connect these places – located around the island of Zorrotzaurre in Bilbao, Spain – as well as the local community through this fragmented series of spaces.

“It aims to empower residents to take an active part in shaping their communities, as well as building on the legacy of the site by adding a participatory and engaging design that will help promote and attract people to the area.”

Student: Mia Bizard
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

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Zorrotzaurre’s Art District by Maya Hammoud

“The project offers a unique experience to its visitors by taking them through a ‘designed walk’ across three spaces: a gallery, an auditorium and a multi-purpose social space.

“The project is aimed at the local community and those with a common interest in Bilbao’s growing art scene.

“The spatial layout explores the act of observing, using thresholds and viewports to make visitors see, experience and question their surroundings.

“The aim of using viewports as a tool for observing fragments of other spaces, allowing sudden interactions to happen between visitors.

“It also forms a deeper understanding of visitor experiences and how it is influenced by the creation of space.”

Student: Maya Hammoud
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

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Time Traveller by Qiao Wang

“I created a temporary exhibition to promote local cultural heritage in Zorrotzaurre, Bilbao, Spain.

“This solar-powered installation is based on the simplified shape of Zorrotzaurre, which is intended to provide visitors with a quick tour of the island.

“To arouse the interest of visitors, they will feel as if they are exploring the maze while walking inside the installation, just like they are discovering and seeking knowledge in an unfamiliar city.

“This project promotes the industrial heritage culture of the region to visitors from all over the world while boosting the local tourism economy and providing educational cultural dissemination.

“In the installation, I used the pulley structure of the factory and woven fabric, which was inspired by my map. All materials used are sustainable.”

Student: Qiao Wang
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

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Fabric-Women-Museum by Shiyuan Liu

“Fabric-Women-Museum aims to spatialise the inequalities suffered by women in the workplace during the industrial revolution.

“The project is based on research into the history of Artiach during the industrial revolution when approximately 80 per cent of the workers were women.

“Although Artiach offered work opportunities for women, their working conditions and treatment were poor.

“The design translates the inequality of women in the workplace into four thematic rooms: control, inconvenience, isolation and vulnerability.

“The interactive exhibition helps visitors understand the conditions suffered by women workers in workspaces during the industrial revolution.”

Student: Shiyuan Liu
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

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(Junk)scape – Rethinking and Recycling Non-Places by Kiwi Chan

“This project represents creative ways to transform car parks from non-place, anonymous spaces to ones with urban character.

“The (Junk)scape app is a system and service that proposes efficient uses for ‘wasted’ spaces and energy around ‘non-places’ i.e. car parks.

“This app rethinks and recycles underutilised parking lots by using a renting and scheduling system.

“My primary design proposal for my rented ‘non- place’ explores ‘placeless’ people, in hopes to provide support for the local homeless community and raise awareness around this ‘invisible class’ through film.

“This proposal also aims to incorporate responsible involvement with Bizitegi, a non-profit organisation that contributed to the construction of services for individuals from the worlds of exclusion and mental illness in Bilbao.”

Student:Kiwi Chan
Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the University of the Arts London. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.