Here's one of our favourite previous projects, also known as @Hiddenhouseleeds on Instagram, due to its location tucked away just off Harrogate Road in Moortown. When the Prestons took on a full renovation and extension of their 1960s home, they wanted a kitchen bold enough to anchor the new open-plan space, built around striking matt black cabinetry, a statement stone island and German engineering throughout.
The house featured in the interiors section of the Yorkshire Post Magazine on 18th June 2022, which you can read at the bottom of this page.
"Arlington have been amazing from start to finish and beyond. From help design, budget and finish - we got an amazing kitchen and great value - but more than that, any small problem is handled and even a request after installation is dealt with so quickly - great team."
Kitchen Design Brief
The Prestons were creating more than an extension; they were transforming their 1960s home into a bright, open-plan space designed for modern family life. Their vision centred on a kitchen that would become the natural focal point of the home, making a confident design statement while sitting effortlessly within the new architecture.
Super Matt Black cabinetry formed the foundation of the design, paired with striking Calacatta stone across the worktops and island to introduce warmth, movement and contrast. The result is a contemporary kitchen that feels both bold and inviting.
With a busy young family at its heart, the kitchen also needed to perform as beautifully as it looked. Full-size cooking appliances, separate larder fridge and freezer storage, and a temperature-controlled wine cabinet ensure the space is perfectly equipped for everything from everyday family meals to entertaining friends.
Specification at a Glance
- Cabinetry: Kuhlmann Pure in Super Matt Black, including a bespoke additional storage unit
- Worktop: Calacatta stone, with a waterfall end to the kitchen island
- Ovens: Siemens iQ500 single pyrolytic oven and stainless steel combination microwave
- Dishwasher: Siemens 60cm fully integrated
- Fridge: Siemens built-under fridge, plus a Bosch Hydro Fresh integrated larder fridge
- Freezer: Bosch integrated larder freezer
- Wine storage: Caple 60cm single temperature wine cooler
- Location: Moortown, Leeds
- Project type: Renovation and extension, 1960s house to open-plan living
Designing an All-Black Kitchen for Open-Plan Living
Kuhlmann Pure cabinetry in Super Matt Black gives the kitchen its distinctive character. The bold finish contrasts beautifully with the light-filled extension, creating a striking focal point without overwhelming the space. Alongside the standard cabinetry, Arlington Interiors designed a bespoke storage unit tailored specifically to the Prestons' needs, demonstrating the flexibility of Kuhlmann's made-to-order approach.
The island brings the design together, topped with Calacatta stone and finished with a waterfall edge that transforms it into a true centrepiece. The delicate veining of the stone softens the dark cabinetry, adding warmth, texture and visual balance.
Behind the sleek appearance is a kitchen designed for everyday living. Siemens iQ500 cooking appliances, separate Bosch integrated larder fridge and freezer, and a Caple wine cooler provide generous storage, practical functionality and everything needed for family life and entertaining.
Kuhlmann German Kitchen Cabinetry
Kuhlmann kitchens are designed and manufactured in Germany to exacting standards. For the Prestons, the Pure range was specified in Super Matt Black, with a bespoke additional unit built to their own storage requirements rather than fitted around a standard size. It is the kind of flexibility that comes from working with a manufacturer that controls every part of its own production, and it gave this kitchen a finish built to last decades rather than years.
Caple Wine Cooler
A Caple 60cm single temperature wine cooler was integrated into the kitchen for the Prestons, who wanted proper temperature-controlled storage for entertaining rather than a freestanding rack. Sat within the Super Matt Black cabinetry, it reads as part of the design rather than an afterthought, and means there is always a bottle ready at the right temperature.
Siemens IQ500 Appliances
The Siemens iQ500 single pyrolytic oven and stainless steel combination microwave handle the day-to-day cooking, with a Siemens iQ500 warming drawer on hand for entertaining. A Siemens built-under fridge covers everyday use, and a Siemens 60cm fully integrated dishwasher rounds out the specification, kept flush within the cabinetry to preserve the clean lines of the Super Matt Black run.
Bespoke Kitchen Design
Arlington Interiors designs and installs bespoke kitchens across Leeds and Yorkshire, working with homeowners in Moortown, Roundhay, Alwoodley, Adel and beyond. If you are planning a renovation or extension and want a kitchen built around your home, your lifestyle and your taste, we would love to talk.