20 Nov 2020
Liverpool-based bespoke kitchen designers, H. Miller Bros are thrilled to announce they have won the prestigious 'Kitchen Design of the Year' (over £30,000 category) award at the 2020 Designer Awards.
- Miller Bros was founded by brothers, Hugh and Howard Miller in 2019, with a vision to combine the art of kitchen design with the mastery of modern craft to create unique wooden kitchens.
With a workshop based in the heart of Liverpool's creative district - The Baltic Triangle - their winning kitchen design named the 'Furniture Maker's Kitchen' is a testimony to the Miller brother's pedigree as masters in both architecture and furniture making.
The 'Furniture Maker's kitchen' evolved when Hugh Miller decided it was the perfect time to design his own kitchen during the first phase Covid 19 lockdown. Their winning design reflects a pure, uncompromised expression of Hugh Miller as he could also push design boundaries, being more innovative and experimenting with design details.
Hugh's previous kitchen was within a large room that encompassed the kitchen, living and dining area. Firstly Hugh wanted to define the kitchen space as separate from the living area. There was also a need for additional storage, and with plenty of room at room-height level due to the 3-metre ceilings throughout, the idea of a three-tier kitchen with cabinets above head height began to form.
Hugh wanted his own kitchen to take inspiration from this love of Japanese design and their cabinet making traditions. At the bottom of these three levels, a base layer of drawers and cabinets made from Iroko wood was created, with recessed inset doors that act as a foundation. Above counter level, the mid layer is a calm, functional work zone with a Caesarstone 'London grey' worktop and cabinetry painted in Farrow and Ball 'School House White'. Above this is the 'canopy' level defined by a long, slim, structural truss that forms a threshold between the kitchen and the rest of the living space. Facing the truss and above the kitchen, deep storage cabinets, with undulating doors to reference the slatted screen of the truss, are reachable by a purpose made ladder to add functionality and interest.
The structural truss allows natural light to pass through and reference the shoji screens of traditional Japanese homes. The open shelving houses Hugh's ceramic collection, and feature Japanese shoji paper lanterns that light the space, forming beautiful silhouettes and intricate patterns through the structure at night.
Hugh Miller of H. Miller Bros said, “We are delighted to accept this prestigious award for our 'Furniture Maker's Kitchen' – we are honoured to be in such established industry company.
As a newly launched brand, we have overcome industry challenges and attracted new clients despite Covid 19's restrictions. This kitchen is a true example of our cabinetry-making skills, combined with innovative design features, unusual materials and one-off details"
The Designer Awards 2020 recognises design excellence and rewards the industries finest kitchen, bathroom and interior designers over the past year.
Now in its 18th year, the entries are judged by some of the UK's most experienced and recognised industry figures experts from across the fields of UK kitchen & bathroom design, architecture and interior design.
The 2020 Designer Awards presentation took place via a live stream on the 18th November 2020, with winners announced through a professionally produced virtual awards ceremony to a worldwide audience.
Notes to editors:
Luxury bespoke kitchen designers H. Miller Bros was founded by Hugh and Howard Miller in 2019.
The brothers have been designing and making together since childhood, blending their highly acclaimed architecture and furniture making skills in the creation of luxurious and superior quality kitchens for their customers. No two kitchens are ever the same, and every detail is individually designed to reflect the personality and sense of style of their client. Each is a work of art and testimony to the Miller brother's pedigree as masters in architecture and furniture making, with innovative design features, unusual materials and one-off details.
A master woodworker, furniture maker, and details person, Hugh's passion for wood as a material started when he was young. He made his first piece of furniture at 15 and, after earning a Masters in architecture at the University of Sheffield, founded his workshop at the age of 24.
Howard is a designer through-and-through and has been a chartered architect for over 15 years. After graduating from Glasgow School of Art and the Bartlett School of Architecture, Howard practiced in London, New York and Sydney.
With an approach to design that combines man-made and natural elements, Howard aims to create tactile, beautiful, elegant spaces that are a delight to live in. His work spans disciplines and scales, from private residences, to schools and institutional buildings, to landscapes and gardens. Howard's work in architecture has been published widely.
Away from the studio, Howard has taught widely, including being a studio lead at Liverpool University School of Architecture, and a visiting critic at Brighton University.
(A full case study of the Furniture Maker's kitchen is available upon request).
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