Audus Kitchens have recently completed a modern kitchen in St Albans finished with award-winning Caesarstone 4033 Rugged Concrete worktops.
Audus were tasked with delivering a contemporary kitchen and an open plan living area. The existing kitchen and dining room walls were removed to open the space up, creating a fresh, roomy ambience.
“The client desired a modern handleless kitchen,” described John Lindsey, of Audus. “She was also keen to combine the modern, sleek look with natural wood grains, and concrete textures”.
Audus, having recently fitted Caesarstone’s 4033 Rugged Concrete in their own studio, thought this would be an ideal choice for the homeowner, the matt finish and unique textural patina of Rugged Concrete authentically captures the aesthetic of poured concrete with the durability and ease of maintenance expected of quartz worktops.
The opportunity to see full-size slabs at Caesarstone’s London Studio was also crucial in helping the customer make their final decision, as John enthused: “We took the customer to the Caesarstone Studio in London to see the slabs and that made all the difference!”
Viewing a full-size slab allowed the homeowner to see the unique design of 4033 Rugged Concrete and its tactile texture. With a coarse appearance that authentically emulates the randomly pitted finish of concrete, Rugged Concrete also remains smooth to the touch; these traits that helped the surface win the ‘Best Surface’ prize at the EK&B awards in 2017. This authentic, urban appearance was crucial for the large surface area of the central island that is a focal point within the newly opened up space.
4033 Rugged Concrete was complimented by a combination of neutral coloured handless cabinetry from Nobilia for the wall-units, and natural wood grains for the large central island and trims, including the plinths and end supports, and the bespoke shelving unit that completes the tall wall unit run. This results in a balanced aesthetic for the space, softening the industrial styling of the statement Rugged Concrete worktops.
Audus worked closely with stone fabricators Algarve Granite for the completion of the kitchen. Algarve completed the installation with 100mm upstands with a riser, cutouts for the integrated hob and sinks, and added drainer grooves. The garden-facing window was finished with a 4033 Rugged Concrete sill in 20mm deep material by Algarve for a consistent aesthetic.
Audus completed the project with multiple ovens from Siemens, offering extensive cooking flexibility, and further high-specification appliances from Quooker and Bora.
