Emre Kaya's Project

Some kitchen projects are about introducing colour. Others are about changing layouts. For Emre Kaya, the goal was much simpler: create a kitchen that naturally brings people together.

In High Wycombe, Emre and his family were building a home designed around entertaining, long weekend breakfasts, and evenings spent with friends and relatives. The layout already worked perfectly, but one element still needed to make a statement — the surfaces.

The family wanted something that felt substantial without overwhelming the room. With a large island positioned at the centre of the space, the worktops would inevitably become the focal point of the kitchen, visible from almost every angle of the open-plan living area.

After exploring several options, Emre selected Mono Arabescato Brown for the project. Among the many designs available across the quartz worktop collection, its dramatic flowing veining immediately stood out, offering the character of natural stone while maintaining the practicality needed for everyday family life.

The island quickly became the defining feature of the room. Its generous proportions create space for food preparation, casual dining, and socialising, while the waterfall ends allow the veining to continue uninterrupted from the surface to the floor. Rather than feeling like a separate feature, the island now reads as a single architectural element at the heart of the home.

One of the aspects Emre appreciated most was seeing the design come to life during installation. The careful positioning of each slab ensured the movement within the veining flowed naturally across the different sections of the kitchen, creating a result that feels deliberate and cohesive rather than simply functional.

Large sliding doors flood the room with natural daylight throughout the day, highlighting the depth and detail within the quartz surface. As the light changes from morning through to evening, different elements of the pattern become visible, giving the kitchen a constantly evolving appearance.

While many homeowners focus on cabinetry or appliances first, this project demonstrates how the right worktop can completely define a space. The cabinetry provides a calm backdrop, allowing the surfaces to become the visual anchor of the room without dominating it.

For Emre and his family, the finished kitchen isn’t simply a place to cook. It’s where conversations begin, guests naturally gather around the island, and everyday routines feel just a little more special.