A 1950s villa in the Netherlands welcomes a high-tech designer kitchen

Some kitchens don't just follow current trends—they transcend them, becoming true icons of style, comfort, and sophistication.

Such is the case with the kitchen designed by Bert van Vlijmen, winner of the Kitchen Art Studios Awards 2025, an annual Dutch accolade celebrating the most distinctive kitchen projects for their design research and aesthetic quality.

This project was conceived for a 1950s villa located in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. In the home's modern extension, the kitchen takes on a central role, becoming the vibrant heart of a space that blends design, experience, and functionality.

The room hosting the kitchen is bright and clean-lined, architecturally refined, and designed to connect past and present through natural materials and expansive glass surfaces.

A design that welcomes and surprises

The kitchen stands out for its essential design and carefully curated material selection, chosen not only for their visual impact but also for their texture and tactile appeal—together crafting an atmosphere of “smart luxury.”

The palette of materials and colors is refined and balanced, playing on the contrast between walnut, copper, and granite. The flamed and brushed Olive Green Granite countertop features an intense shade between green and grey, animated by black veining that lends depth and vibrancy. In elegant contrast, the metal door of Air Logica, here in a sophisticated aged copper finish, becomes the focal point of the composition.

Material experimentation—a hallmark of the project—goes hand in hand with cutting-edge functional solutions by Valcucine, enabling the kitchen to be fully enjoyed: open and accessible when in use, sleek and discreet when closed.
The Air Logica system, with its equipped back panel and sliding door, conceals and reveals containers, power outlets, cutting boards, and daily-use accessories as needed, organizing the space smartly and efficiently. Tall units with retractable doors reveal a spacious work area that includes a coffee corner and built-in appliances—an elegant solution that ensures full accessibility without compromising the room's clean aesthetic.

Completing the design is an island that integrates the cooking and prep zones, with a suspended section serving as a snack area and convivial space, allowing for informal and flexible use.