Plywood modern kitchen with FENIX Verde Brac worktop in Matlock

This Matlock, Derbyshire project transformed a traditional, cluttered kitchen–diner into a calm, modern plywood space with significantly improved storage and workflow. The clients wanted a durable, low-maintenance kitchen that respected the character of their home while bringing in clean contemporary lines and premium materials.

JS DECO designed and manufactured fully bespoke plywood carcases, paired with ultra-matt 12 mm solid FENIX NTM Verde Brac worktops and splashbacks for a seamless, highly practical cooking environment. The whole room stands at 2.75 m high, allowing us to run cabinetry almost full height and maximise vertical storage without overwhelming the space.

The existing kitchen wrapped awkwardly around a range cooker, with mixed-height cabinets, open corners and limited preparation space. Our design brief focused on simplifying the layout into a U-shaped run, improving appliance placement, and creating generous, organised storage that could cope with daily cooking and entertaining.

Using full-height plywood cabinetry allowed us to visually straighten the room and conceal previous irregularities in the walls and ceiling. Carcases were dimensioned specifically for the space: base units at 790 mm plus a 100 mm plinth, tall larders at 2600 mm with a 50 mm scribe panel, and 1250 mm wall units with a 50 mm infill to achieve a consistent shadow line at the 2.75 m ceiling level. This careful proportioning keeps the room feeling tall yet calm, with uninterrupted vertical lines around all three walls.

We began by carefully surveying the existing room, including floor level changes and the uneven ceiling line typical of period properties. This allowed us to design cabinetry that not only fitted the available space but also visually corrected many of the original irregularities.

The new U-shaped plan places preparation space between sink and hob, with tall storage grouped together on one wall for a clean, balanced composition. The transition between kitchen and the adjoining seating area is handled with full-height plywood panels and a run of larders that visually link both spaces without closing them off.

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This kitchen features several layers of smart storage designed to make best use of every centimetre of the U-shaped layout. Immediately below the sink, instead of a conventional single door and open void, we installed a pull-out basket system that brings cleaning products and waste bags forward in one motion. Flanking this are a bank of deep, full-extension drawers for pans, plates and dry goods, supported by Blum mechanical gear for smooth action and high load capacity over the life of the kitchen.

Narrow pull-out units are positioned beside cooking and preparation zones to keep oils, spices and everyday ingredients organised and within arm’s reach. Two magic-corner pull-outs resolve the most inaccessible corners of the base units; as the door opens, an interlinked mechanism slides the rear baskets forward so contents are fully visible, eliminating the dark dead space typical of older L-shaped kitchens. In the tall larders, adjustable shelves and internal drawers create dedicated areas for bulk storage, small appliances and tableware so that worktops can remain uncluttered.

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The visual character of this Matlock kitchen is defined by the interplay of warm plywood, deep green and soft, even lighting. The Adler 30 % sheen lacquer allows the natural birch grain to remain visible while resisting water, grease and abrasion, making it particularly suitable for busy family kitchens. Its subtle glow reads as almost matt in normal use, avoiding unwanted reflections from the large window and stainless-steel appliances.

Across all worktops and full-height splashbacks we used 12 mm solid FENIX NTM in Verde Brac, a technologically advanced ultra-matt material with a velvety feel, high scratch resistance and the ability to thermally repair micro-scratches. The muted green shade anchors the room, picks up the tones of the garden outside, and visually links the cabinetry plinths for a seamless wrap-around effect. Discreet ceiling downlights ensure even illumination while a central pot rack adds a functional focal point and keeps everyday cookware within easy reach.

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The finished room bears little resemblance to the original space, which combined traditional cabinetry, a freestanding range and an open sitting area with limited storage. By switching to a continuous U-shaped run of plywood cabinets and full-height larders, we significantly increased usable storage while freeing up the floor and worktop surfaces. The consistent 790 mm base height, 100 mm plinth and full-height wall alignment create a strong architectural framework that makes the room feel broader and taller.

Clients now benefit from a clean, modern kitchen that still feels warm and inviting thanks to the natural plywood and soft green FENIX surfaces. The mix of Bosch and Siemens appliances, Blum mechanisms and carefully specified coatings delivers a robust, low-maintenance working environment suited to serious cooking. Feedback from the homeowners highlighted how much easier it is to keep the room organised: everything has a dedicated place, magic corners and pull-outs are used daily, and the worktops are no longer crowded with small appliances.

To see how this project sits within our broader portfolio of plywood and hand-painted kitchens, visit our main kitchen collection and about page, where we outline our design process, manufacturing standards and service coverage across Derbyshire and the wider region.

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