Ten reasons for Uncommon Projects
1. We’re design thinkers
Yes, we’re expert joiners and cabinet makers, too. But above all else, we’re problem solvers. Thanks to Alan and James’ backgrounds in architecture and product design, we’ve enshrined design thinking at the heart of our work. That means avoiding the easy route (we don’t just slap cabinets on the biggest wall available), and taking the time to reconcile the reality of the space to the lifestyle and unmet needs of our customer, as well as being sensitive to existing architectural details. Every Uncommon Projects kitchen is unique, because every customer has different problems to solve.
2. Our kitchens are truly bespoke
Uncommon Projects cabinetry is made specifically for every project, so we can match shape, size, colour and finish to the needs of the user in their space. There’s no library of off-the-peg units that we pick from; every component is designed from scratch every time – no shortcuts. This allows us to develop genuinely bespoke kitchens and furniture, in collaboration with you or your architect.
3. We care about where our materials come from
We believe that longevity and sustainability go hand in hand, which is why everything we do is built to last. Your Uncommon Projects kitchen should serve you for a lifetime. All our cabinetry and furniture is made from the finest quality European birch plywood and finished with an oak, walnut or maple hardwood veneer to ensure that it’s robust and long-lasting. We ensure that our engineered plywood and hardwood veneers are all certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
4. Our furniture has character
You always know when you’re in an Uncommon space. Because we don’t work with standardised modules, we have the freedom to be creative. Our cabinets can be constructed as large continuous pieces, or designed specifically to fit unusually shaped spaces. This gives our furniture a very distinctive character and opens up fresh design opportunities. And although we may have favourite materials – hardwood-veneered ply being one – we’re always keen to explore new directions. Just ask.
5. We combine craft with technology to guarantee precision
Our manufacturing process combines advanced technology with traditional joinery techniques. We begin by modelling your kitchen using CAD, then refine the design with you before cutting the individual components to exact size. Once cut, panels are rebated together using tried and tested joinery methods. This approach guarantees precision, minimises waste and results in incredibly durable cabinetry that will last a generation and beyond.
6. We keep things simple
We design furniture and cabinetry that make life easier and satisfy our customers’ needs (often ones they didn’t know they had). That means designing with adaptability in mind. We don’t overcomplicate things; we value modesty, honesty and efficiency – in both the kitchens we design and our relationships with our customers.
7. The best drawers in the business
Organisation is an art. Small choices can have big impacts. At Uncommon Projects, we take time to understand how you use your kitchen every day, and what you need from it as a result – from the macro level of room layout to the micro details of your cutlery drawers. Dividers can be fixed or moveable, or drawers can be left free and undivided. When it comes to how we design something, it’s what you do with it that counts.
8. Have you seen our bins?
Not enough people think about bins. We do. We’re obsessed with them – because we know that every touchpoint, every detail, however easily overlooked, has an impact on your experience. And so, just like every other component, all our bin units are designed and made in house. That gives us the flexibility to ensure you get the bin that suits your needs – and the demands of your local collection schedule.
9. Our kitchens run like clockwork
A great kitchen never gets in the way of your using it. Every interaction should feel effortless, every part seamlessly integrated into the whole. Uncommon Projects kitchens are designed so that everything just works. Whether that’s the satisfyingly smooth roll of a sliding door or intelligently positioned, ingeniously concealed task lighting. We have a saying: if you don’t notice it, it’s working.
10. We take colour seriously
Colour is not cosmetic; it can define how you experience your kitchen for decades to come. Our plywood doors can be finished in coloured laminate, cork or hardwood veneer. And for any colour not available in laminate, we can apply it with a spray finish. Bold or restrained, playful or sedate, we’re able to offer our advice and experience on colour schemes that work with your design, personal sense of style, and the existing character of your home.