White Bianco Malé modern Fenix NTM plywood kitchen Leeds district

This project involved the full redesign and manufacture of a compact L-shaped kitchen in the Leeds district. The clients wanted a cleaner, more architectural aesthetic with soft matte surfaces, improved storage efficiency and a structural standard that would significantly outperform their previous modular installation.

The result is a fully bespoke Bianco Malé FENIX NTM and birch plywood kitchen, manufactured from scratch in our workshop using rigid 18mm plywood construction and premium Blum hardware throughout. Unlike factory-based systems, every cabinet in this project was sized specifically for the room, allowing us to maximise internal storage volume, refine proportions and eliminate unnecessary void space.

This project forms part of our wider approach to plywood core kitchen furniture, where structural integrity and long-term durability take priority over modular convenience. By combining birch plywood carcasses with FENIX NTM matte white fronts, we achieved a balance between contemporary minimalism and engineered performance.

As with all of our projects, the kitchen was developed through our dedicated design process, allowing us to refine corner geometry, drawer configuration and appliance integration before manufacture began.

The concept was to fully change an outdated and not very functional kitchen and transform it to match present trends, the potential of modern optimised mechanical components and provide long-term durability required by customers whose passion is cooking, and because of that, the use of the kitchen is above average intense.

• Replace ageing modular cabinetry with a structurally superior system
• Create a brighter, lighter interior with soft matte white finishes
• Improve corner storage functionality
• Integrate modern appliances cleanly into the layout
• Maximise internal drawer and pull-out efficiency

Because all of our projects follow a fully bespoke manufacturing process, we were able to redesign proportions, carcass heights and internal layouts rather than simply replacing like-for-like units.

Considering all expectations, priorities and preferences established during the initial consultation with our customer. This kitchen was constructed using:

• 18mm birch plywood carcasses
• 18mm solid plywood backs (no thin hardboard)
• FENIX NTM matte white exterior finish
• Exposed plywood edges for subtle architectural detailing
• Blum soft-close hinges and drawer systems

FENIX NTM provides a super-matte, anti-fingerprint surface with a soft-touch feel. It offers improved scratch resistance compared to standard laminates and works particularly well in light-filled spaces like this one.

More about this material system can be found on our FENIX laminate bespoke kitchen page. Which describes thathigly durable furniture solution in more details

The original kitchen suffered from inefficient corner storage and shallow base cabinets. By manufacturing from scratch, we were able to:

• Increase usable internal height
• Optimise corner cabinet geometry
• Introduce dedicated pull-out storage for oils and bottles
• Integrate bin compartments properly rather than using free-standing bins
• Create deeper, more practical drawer packs

Base cabinets were manufactured at 790mm height plus 100mm plinth, providing noticeably more internal volume than standard 720mm factory systems. Woid, which is also a waste of usable space, was reduced to 20mm in favour of actual internal storage space.

Corner functionality was improved using carefully planned internal geometry rather than relying on oversized blind-corner compromises and equipped with functional pull-out baskets providing access to the items which in the shelf version are difficult to reach. That makes the kitchen storage potential much more effective.

All cabinetry was CNC-machined in our dedicated workshop and assembled and quality-checked as fully rigid units before delivery and installation.

This ensures:

• Improved structural integrity
• Better long-term alignment of doors and drawers
• Reduced installation time
• Higher load-bearing performance

If you would like to understand how this differs from mass-produced kitchens, our handmade bespoke kitchen overview explains the structural differences in detail.

The transformation focused on clarity, proportion and subtle material contrast. The matte white FENIX fronts work against the warmth of exposed plywood edges, creating a contemporary but not clinical aesthetic.

The result is a bright, highly practical kitchen with significantly improved storage efficiency and tactile quality.

The previous installation relied on modular cabinetry with limited internal optimisation. By contrast, this bespoke solution:

• Eliminates unused void space
• Provides stronger carcass construction
• Uses higher-grade hardware
• Creates cleaner appliance integration

This is a clear example of how even modest-sized kitchens benefit from true bespoke construction rather than semi-custom factory systems, which carry obvious limitations because they are designed to be cost-effective and universal, not personally optimised.

Photography captures detail, but movement reveals proportion. This short video tour shows how the kitchen performs in real space — how light interacts with the matte surfaces, how the layout flows around the L-shaped footprint and how the cabinetry aligns precisely across long runs.

You can see how doors open without obstruction, how drawers extend fully without conflict and how the corner transitions have been resolved cleanly rather than compromised. The video also highlights alignment accuracy across wall units and base cabinets, something that is difficult to evaluate through still images alone.

For clients considering a similar project, this walkthrough provides a realistic sense of scale, depth and day-to-day usability. It demonstrates how a compact footprint can still feel balanced and uncluttered when cabinetry is designed around the room rather than fitted into preset modules.

If you are planning a kitchen refurbishment and want complete control over dimensions, materials and internal functionality, you can learn more about our approach here:

• About JS DECO
• Dedicated Kitchen Design Service
• How To Start Your Project

Every project is personally managed and designed around your priorities rather than predefined modules. This allows us to align construction quality, aesthetic direction and budget transparently from the outset.