Block Party: HIMACS helps to bring a showstopping kitchen to vibrant and colourful life

There’s nothing like the bold use of colour to make a powerful design statement. This striking kitchen, part of a complete home renovation by CATO creative, employs blocks of vivid hues to mark out the different zones and functions, resulting in a playful and uplifting scheme. 

Two distinctive colours from the extensive HIMACS portfolio add to the drama: Orange graces the island unit and Banana one set of ‘working’ wall units with a high-performance solid surface that offers sleek seamlessness, inherent hygiene and easy cleaning. These colours have been perfectly matched with paint for the cabinets below and above.

“HIMACS was chosen for its wide range of colours and finishes, allowing for creative design possibilities that can complement any decor style. Its strength and resilience mean it can withstand the demands of daily use, providing a reliable and stylish option. HIMACS forms key elements of the kitchen space,” says Mark Barratt, project designer.

A period property gets a light and colour-filled new look

The property is a mid-terrace Victorian house arranged over three floors, with extensions at the ground floor, first floor and loft levels. The ground floor is home to the kitchen diner, a family hang-out space, and a workspace. The bright and welcoming kitchen extension is flooded with light from Crittall style glazing and skylights, and it opens onto the garden. A backdrop of white painted walls, clean lines, crisp angles and pared back finishes create a blank canvas that allows the blocks of bold colours to take centre stage.                                               

Adding to the drama of the HIMACS surfaces in Banana and Orange, further wall-fitted wooden cabinets which house pantry cupboards, a cocktail cabinet and refrigeration are handpainted in Mischief by Little Greene and Tropical Palm by Sanderson. The four distinct kitchen blocks have specific functions from food preparation to cooking to storage, as well as their own colour personalities, which were carefully chosen to both complement and contrast with each other. 

Each colour has a subtly different interaction with the light that changes through day and the seasons, creating fascinating effects. There’s certainly plenty in this scheme to help lift the mood of the English winter, while celebrating the summer sunshine! 
The eclectic mix of hues and tones continues into the living area, with a reclaimed wood dining table adding a rustic touch to this unashamedly contemporary kitchen. 

The ideal partner for both aesthetics and functionality 
 

HIMACS is perfectly at home in any style of kitchen by virtue of its extraordinary versatility, lasting quality and easy liveability. Suitable for almost any application and offered in an extensive range of colours – from solids to particle matrixes and veined stone effects, and from neutrals to bolds and classics to trendsetters – this innovative surface was made to meet any creative vision and to go the distance.  

Ideal for areas where hygiene and easy-care is critical, its smooth, homogenous, non-porous composition offers multiple benefits, both aesthetic and functional. Tactile and sleek, its sensory appeal adds to its considerable attractions. 

     
Other elements of the kitchen include a splashback of white subway style tiles by Mutina, Siemens appliances and a Quooker fusion tap.
  
*Banana and Orange are HIMACS notice colours, meaning they belong to a group of shades whose solid hue, saturation, and brightness can make spills, scratches, or scuffs more noticeable. As a result, they are not recommended for high-traffic areas, as they may require more frequent cleaning, maintenance, or repairs. However, any marks can be removed using the appropriate cleaning and repair methods, ensuring the surface retains its pristine appearance over time.

The sleek and colourful material choice extends into an upstairs bathroom

For a cohesive theme with a smooth, durable, non-porous material that adds a distinctive design feature, HIMACS has also been used in one of the bathrooms in the home. In the beautiful Sapphire colour choice, HIMACS forms a bespoke double vanity unit with seamlessly integrated basins in Alpine White.