Bespoke kitchen furniture manufacturer Smallbone has unveiled Icarus, a kitchen furniture collection inspired by the parabolic curve of a bird’s wing.
The centrepiece is a series of curved glass doors framing the floating glass cabinets, which have been manufactured using an ancient glazing technique which dates back to Roman times.
These are complemented by curved, oak cabinet fronts where the grain has been accentuated through a wash of brushed gold, and metal framed units with visual lightness.
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Juxtaposition and layering of the design comes in the form of the Calacatta Cielo book-matched marble wall.
Smallbone’s ideation director Iain O’Mahony commented: “The desire was to design a collection that felt contemporary while nodding to an air of 1920s glamour thanks to scalloped glass, rich textures and warm tones.”
He continued; “The aim was to capture a sense of boundless imagination and craft-led design. For that, we embraced technologies used in the automotive industry to achieve a number of firsts, including a unique hinge system for the glass cabinetry, enabling the doors to open and close with no obvious pivot point.
The unique curve of the oak cabinetry was achieved via a complex marriage of niche engineering and detailed design elements.
“We harnessed materials technology typically used in the protection zones for cars in F1 motor racing to reinforce and lighten the cabinet doors.”
Icarus is on display at the company’s showroom in Knightsbridge, London, where is is also shown in a dressing room display.
The suspended cabinet centrepiece is reimagined as a floating glass island to display hero pieces, complemented by the sleek, handleless cabinetry used to stow clothes and accessories.
Smallbone announced a retail partnership with Officine Gullo, last year, to showcase its appliances at the furniture manufacturer’s Brompton Road showroom in London.