Getting the right kitchen fit
Performance kitchens are all about being comfortable to work and socialize in
If you’re a decent cook, the way your kitchen’s designed shouldn’t really affect the type of meals you produce. However, it can certainly affect how you feel about working in your kitchen — cramped benches, lousy lighting, inadequate shelving, anyone?
Performance kitchens are all about being comfortable to work and socialize in, says Scott Hudson, founder and group CEO of Seattle-based kitchen system company Space Theory and high-end home design systems Henrybuilt.
Until recently, few outside of architectural circles would know what you’re talking about if you mentioned performance kitchens, but that’s changing, says Hudson, as people are attracted to the idea of having optimal storage, integrated cabinet lighting and everything exactly where it should be.
Design software is making this possible. Since its launch in 2019, Space Theory’s kitchens have been well-received. Hudson feels this is because they’ve hit the right part of the market as more homeowners are seeking customfit, well-designed kitchens designed from materials that
last — and are comfortable paying around US$40,000.
With the pandemic, he says, there’s also been an increased focus on home renovation and design.
The cost of raw materials is currently shooting up, Hudson reports, and one benefit of Space Theory kitchens is that every project that goes through its design software is priced in real time.
These kitchens are not modular, says Hudson, and every project is a custom job. The design software allows for manufacturing to be automated, which allows for more competitive pricing compared to handbuilt.
A design engine sends the project information to the production facility in Seattle, where the kitchens are made.
“It’s very efficient,” says
Hudson.
It’s no surprise that Hudson has a software background, working in that industry for 10 years before founding Henrybuilt.
So far, Space Theory kitchens have been popular with tech workers — such as UX designers for software companies, marketers and filmmakers.
“People who are looking for high quality as easily as possible. They respond to this trouble-free process — getting more than just cabinets, but an integrated system of interior components — so cabinets with integrated lighting, wall systems and flexible accessories,” he says.
The kitchens are also popular with people who are downsizing — looking for “quiet, refined design,” says Hudson.
Sustainability is a driving principle for Hudson. Space Theory kitchens are built to last, he says, and products have 10-year guarantees. They don’t use particleboard, so people don’t have to replace their kitchens regularly, with all the waste that accompanies that. And no special cleaning products are required, simply soap and water.
Hudson says they’re highly conscious of waste generated during production and avoid this as much as possible. The drawer dividers are made from offcuts from their sinks, for example.
Being conscious of emissions, they use formaldehydefree finishes.
“Space Theory is dedicated to the quality of our clients’ living environments — not to mention the health of our planet and our production team,” says Hudson.