Use code crusoe10 to get 10% off your first purchase
Use code crusoe10 to get 10% off your first purchase
Simply explained, a freestanding kitchen is a kitchen which is made up of freestanding pieces of furniture. In contrast to the fitted kitchens running wall-to-wall which first came into vogue in the 1950s, an unfitted freestanding kitchen removes the need for uniformity, breathing character and creativity into the culinary space. Choosing a beautiful handmade unfitted kitchen means you are free to shake off the restrictive monotony of fitted kitchens at last.
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A freestanding kitchen comprises a collection of individual pieces of furniture to create a truly personal look for the most important room in the home. Choose freestanding cabinetry and individuality every step of the way.
A freestanding kitchen (or “unfitted kitchen” as they are sometimes known) doesn’t dictate the footprint of your kitchen. Instead, a freestanding kitchen offers the freedom for you to choose exactly which pieces of furniture you want, and where. Unfitted kitchens invite you to consider a blend of colours/styles, integrating work spaces of different heights and materials according to their functions. No longer restricted by worktop lengths or fittings, a stand alone kitchen redefines the cookspace, bringing family life, interior design and ergonomics back together as one.
One of the most liberating features of a freestanding kitchen is that you don’t need a kitchen fitter to install your kitchen furniture. Freestanding kitchens are unfitted and with that, they bring a chance for your kitchen to evolve alongside you as the years tick by. You don’t have to worry that your family will outgrow the kitchen you’ve chosen because you can simply add/change pieces of kitchen furniture to complement family life. And if you move home, you can simply take your unfitted kitchen with you and configure it to suit.
The kitchen has dramatically changed both stylistically and technologically during the past century. In the early 1900s most houses in major towns became connected to a central water system which made homelife a lot easier, eradicating the need for fetching water from the central town water pump.
With water being easily available in the house, early sinks were introduced into the place where food was cooked and often had legs like a piece of furniture. The idea behind this was that the space underneath the sink should be open to allow air to circulate, preventing the risk of moisture and decay. Although on first inspection Victorian kitchens might seem to have been rudimentary, they were actually quite advanced in their methodology.
Most of the furniture used in the kitchen (which usually included a cabinet of some kind and a work table for chopping and prepping) was freestanding, and worktops were installed at whatever height felt comfortable to the user. Often the same kitchen would have different worktop heights for different uses.
The idea of a fitted kitchen didn’t arrive until the 1950s when the role of the domestic chores fell primarily to the woman of the house. Kitchen designers in the fifties deduced that women could get more work done, more easily, if she had a kitchen which fitted the ‘ work triangle’ design of stove, fridge and sink (which still guides modern fitted kitchen designs of today). Fitted kitchens focused on standardised heights and sizes to make way for the introduction of washing machines and refrigerators. The ethos was that by standardising everything then women could
work faster and more efficiently. Cupboards placed next to refrigerators meant less steps and faster work. And fitted kitchen design has remained restricted to this mould ever since.
Here at Crusoe Kitchens, we aim to spearhead the freestanding kitchen revolution. We create pieces of furniture which fit your lifestyle and not the other way around. We invite you to shake off the shackles of history and choose freestanding kitchens to free up your world. Freestanding kitchens redefine the cookspace, bringing family life, interior design and ergonomics back together as one.
Using freestanding, movable kitchen units to create your dream cookspace offers versatility, freedom and creativity. You can configure your kitchen to work exactly how you want it to.
When you choose freestanding kitchen units you can move them around to suit your whims. If you are entertaining and need more space for mingling, simply move the units to one side and welcome friends to take centrestage. If you are cooking up a family feast and everyone is getting involved with the preparations, you can simply move your freestanding kitchen units around so everyone has their station for the job in hand. The units aren’t even restricted to the kitchen area- you can move pantries or storage units to dining rooms, sitting rooms or even outside, depending on the occasion.
One of the benefits of a freestanding kitchen is of course the style factor. Choosing freestanding units gives you endless possibilities to infuse your cookspace with your own unique personality and flavour. Our furniture matches in spirit – not precise detail – this allows you the freedom to truly make it your own. From handles to hinges, sinks to spice racks…a freestanding kitchen gives you the chance to celebrate your home’s individuality and charm and a kaleidoscope of colours to choose from. Freestanding kitchens are imaginative, forward-thinking and eye-catching. And even if you have a fitted kitchen already, you can still add a handcrafted storage cabinet or tall pantry unit to break up the rigidity of an off-the-peg kitchen and let your personality shine through.
A fitted kitchen designed on a budget often uses melamine and chipboard, and low-quality materials to enable the homeowner more cupboard space at less cost. However, we believe that choosing high quality items of furniture handcrafted in the South of England is crucial to eradicate today’s ‘throwaway’ culture and celebrate true craftsmanship. When you choose Crusoe kitchens, you choose a kitchen for life. The high quality furniture which comprises your freestanding kitchen evolves alongside you and your family, inviting you to add and change pieces as required. You can even take your freestanding kitchen with you when you move house so that your investment travels with you and makes longevity the order of the day.
Doing away with the need for a professional kitchen fitter saves you cost and hassle – you are free to arrange your units to suit you and your family. You can format your hand picked pieces exactly as you wish, meaning that your kitchenspace is as individual as you. Free-standing cabinets enable you to truly release the potential of small kitchens; with strategic placements of your units you can make diminutive cookspaces look and feel bigger than they are. Statements don’t always have to shout – a freestanding kitchen can be pared back, simple and effortlessly stylish.
Freestanding kitchens are more economical both in space and in cost. Unlike their fitted counterparts, when you choose a freestanding kitchen you only select the pieces you need and so aren’t lumbered with the unnecessaries. A freestanding kitchen invites you to be more considered and to define exactly what you need and where. You will discover that once you are freed from the rigidity of fitted kitchens, a whole world of new possibilities is at your fingertips.
A freestanding kitchen doesn’t require the immediate, hefty investment of a fitted kitchen. Instead, you can select the pieces you need right away when you move house and then add more as your family evolves. Liberating yourself from additional financial responsibilities at one of the most costly times in your life gives you the headspace to breathe.
Choosing modular kitchen units with dual functions can prove a cost-saving strategy, and a stylish one too. Zoning social and cooking spaces creates more workspace and saves you time and money.
Beautifully hand-crafted pieces of furniture made in England from sustainable materials will always outlast cheaper alternatives. Buy wise, buy once. The initial investment of an unfitted kitchen is made yet more attractive by the chance to take it with you when you move; the perfect option for renters and people who like to move around.
We see freestanding kitchens as relaxed, inspired and that they offer a great solution for the space where cooking and sociability collide. Freeflowing spaces where individuality is key.
Whether you opt for matching colours and a harmonious visual or prefer a splash of colour against a muted backdrop, the choice is yours when you choose a freestanding kitchen. Our complementing colour palette lets you create maximum impact with bold accent colours if you wish.
Some say that freestanding kitchens hark back to a more simple golden ‘under the stairs’ era, whilst others see the innovation and creativity of freestanding units as the pursuit of a forward-thinker.
Whilst the cabinetry is effortlessly stylish, the configuration is entirely up to you. Scandi, industrial, rustic, contemporary, farmhouse and everything in between… the style of a freestanding kitchen is entirely the remit of the owner and so you can shape it to be whatever you want it to be.
If you love the look of a freestanding kitchen but aren’t sure where to start with designing your own, here at Crusoe we can help you every step of the way. Our passion for design runs deep and we relish helping clients choose stylish individual pieces of furniture that can create a kitchen. Here is a checklist of things to consider before you buy:
We design and craft exquisite freestanding kitchen pieces which enhance our clients’ experience of living. Our passionate designers pay meticulous attention to every detail which results in a perfectly-proportioned freestanding kitchen which is not only aesthetically stunning, but one which performs admirably too. The craftsfolk who lovingly create our freestanding kitchen furniture in our Westcountry workshops leave no stone unturned in their quest for perfection. When you choose Crusoe kitchens, you choose a kitchen for life.
© 2024 Crusoe Freestanding Kitchens – a division of Olive & Barr. Company Number: 12303940 / VAT Number: 402 1494 39
