By Nicolas Reschke, Managing Director & Founder of German Kitchen Design
When we discuss kitchen design in Bangkok, the conversation often defaults to ultra-modern minimalism – high-gloss surfaces, handleless cabinets, and sharp architectural lines. This makes sense given the urban landscape, but it is not the only way to live.
Recently, we faced an interesting challenge with a project in Samut Prakan: a client who wanted the warmth and character of a classic “Cottage” kitchen, but needed it to function within a modern Thai home environment
The challenge in these scenarios is translation. How do we take a style rooted in the European countryside and adapt it so it does not feel like a movie set or a museum piece? How do we ensure it retains the charm the client desires while providing the durability required for a humid climate and heavy daily use?
Today, I will detail the journey of our approach, giving you a first-hand look at how our design balances cottage-style design principles with modern sensibilities to create a kitchen that is charming, robust, and perfectly suited for contemporary city living.
The First Step – Understanding “Cottage” For A Modern Family
Design does not begin with a catalogue, but with an understanding of the people who will use the space. For the Samut Prakan residence, the objective was multifaceted. We were designing for a family of three, all of whom actively use the kitchen. This meant we needed to create a workspace that accommodated different users, ensuring ergonomics were considered for varying heights and working styles.
During our initial consultation, we drilled down into what “Cottage” actually meant to them. The client hails from the UK, so their reference point for a comfortable home was rooted in a traditional British aesthetic. They favored a look that felt established and welcoming, rather than stark or clinical. However, a crucial requirement was that this kitchen could not exist in isolation; it had to blend seamlessly into the rest of the house, which had its own existing architectural language.
Beyond aesthetics, we identified significant functional pain points in their previous setup. The family was sharing a single fridge, which was insufficient for their needs, and they lacked adequate storage. The “must-haves” were clear: ample storage to clear the clutter, and expanded refrigeration capacity.
A Question For Your Own Project:
When you imagine your kitchen, are you thinking about a specific style label, or are you thinking about a feeling? Often, clients come to us asking for a “style,” but what they really want is the atmosphere that style provides. Our job is to identify that atmosphere – in this case, family warmth and tradition – and build it using the best tools available.
This phase is about defining the parameters. Once we understood the need for a “traditional look” that could handle “modern volume,” we could begin personalizing the solution.
What Modern Cottage Design Looks Like
Translating a British traditional aesthetic into a Bangkok home requires a careful selection of materials. If we go too rustic, the kitchen feels heavy and dark. If we go too modern, we lose the character the client wants. We found the balance through three specific design choices.
The Front: CASCADA
We selected the CASCADA front for this project. This is a modern interpretation of the classic Shaker style. It features a framed door, which provides the architectural depth and shadow lines associated with cottage design. However, unlike raw timber doors which can be difficult to maintain, CASCADA features a smooth, lacquered laminate finish. This offers the visual weight of a traditional front but is significantly easier to clean and more resistant to humidity – a critical factor for longevity in Thailand.
The Color Palette: Stone Grey
Color selection is often a journey of negotiation. In this case, we landed on Stone Grey. While it was the color that all family members ultimately agreed upon, from a design perspective, it serves a specific strategic purpose.
White can sometimes feel too stark for a cottage look, while cream can feel dated. Stone Grey sits perfectly in the middle. It is a contemporary neutral that keeps the space bright and maximizes natural light, but it has enough depth to highlight the framed detailing of the cabinetry. It allows the kitchen to feel grounded without taking over the room.
The Worktop And Backsplash: Silestone Quartz
For the surfaces, we chose Silestone Ethereal Dusk Quartz. This material features a white background with a subtle, bluish-grey marble vein.
Why Quartz? In a traditional cottage kitchen, you might expect solid wood or natural marble worktops. However, natural stone is porous and high-maintenance, susceptible to staining from acids like lime or discoloration from spices. Quartz provides the elegance of that natural stone aesthetic but is non-porous and highly durable.
We utilized this material for both the worktop and the backsplash. By continuing the material up the wall, we created a cohesive, polished look. This reduces visual clutter – there are no grout lines to clean – and helps the kitchen flow more naturally into the walls of the room.
Consider This:
When choosing materials, do you prioritize the authenticity of the material (like real marble) or the longevity of the material (like quartz)? In a high-traffic family kitchen, we almost always recommend the latter. The luxuriousness lies in the lack of required maintenance!
Modern Functionality In A Classic Shell
The defining characteristic of a German Kitchen Design project is that regardless of the exterior style, the interior engineering remains state-of-the-art. The Samut Prakan kitchen looks traditional, but it functions with precision.
Structural Innovation
The most significant design move we made was not regarding the cabinets, but the room itself. To satisfy the client’s need for space, we removed an entire wall. We replaced it with a sliding glass door that opens up to the patio. This architectural change fundamentally altered the kitchen’s character, extending the living space outdoors and flooding the room with light.
Lighting as Atmosphere
With the new connection to the patio, lighting became even more critical. We installed our Smart Emotion LED lighting system. This allows the family to adjust the color temperature of the lights. During the day, they can have bright, cool task lighting for cooking. In the evening, while sitting outside on the patio looking into the kitchen, they can switch to a warm glow, turning the kitchen into a beautiful, ambient backdrop—the literal heart of the home.
Custom Engineering
Standardization is the enemy of a truly bespoke kitchen. We look for opportunities to solve specific annoyances. For this project, we implemented a custom feature in the worktop: a personalized, gentle slope near the sink area.
This subtle gradient ensures that water does not stand still on the draining board but naturally drips back into the sink. It is a detail you might not notice at first glance, but you notice it every time you wipe down the counter. It keeps the area dry and hygienic without effort.
Modern Ergonomics
Designing for a family means accommodating different users. We structured the layout to ensure that the primary work zones were accessible and that there was sufficient clearance for multiple people to move through the space simultaneously without collisions. The removal of the wall assisted this, preventing the “bottleneck” effect common in older galley-style kitchens.
Reflecting On Our Collaboration
The Samut Prakan project is one of my favorites because it illustrates that style is flexible, but quality is not. The final kitchen pays homage to the client’s British heritage – it feels established, warm, and familiar. Yet, it operates with the efficiency of today’s standards, capable of handling the demands of a busy family of three in a tropical climate.
At German Kitchen Design, we believe truly thoughtful design can adapt any style to any setting. Whether you want a stark minimalist box or a warm traditional retreat, the engineering behind it should be identical.
If you have a specific vision for your home – maybe a memory from abroad or a dream for the future – I invite you to share it with us. Let us help you translate that feeling into a working reality.
We welcome you to visit our Samut Prakan project page to see the full gallery, or contact us to schedule a consultation at our showroom.
