If a kitchen is the heart and stomach of the home, then an island is its soul. An island might be a great place to gather—be it over a glass of wine and conversation or ingredients for the night’s dinner—yet it’s often viewed as a feature of convenience and pragmatism, rather than one of design integrity. But bridging the gap between style and substance is the nami kitchen island, which eggersmann designed with Yabu Pushelberg. For eggersmann, a German brand that has been perfecting kitchen design since its founding in 1908, its long-standing partnership with the international design firm spurred from shared passion for an acute attention to detail to make something truly beautiful.
“The idea of nami is to have art that you talk about in your kitchen,” says Evan Soltoff, vice president of operations at eggersmann USA. “While the surrounding of your kitchen could be very functional, this becomes the focal point of discussion.”
Drawing inspiration from its name—nami is Japanese for both “wave” and “beautiful”—the island skillfully explores the intersection between tension and harmony through German engineering and Japan’s pared-back design influence. The structural, angular base is offset by a subtly asymmetrical countertop, forming a shape reminiscent of the Japanese kanji symbol for “nami” when assembled. Meanwhile, the negative space seen throughout nami creates a sense of dynamism that offers plenty to look at from every angle.
“You can bring some beautiful stools around it or just stand and talk all while enjoying this monolith structure,” Soltoff adds.
While eggersmann and Yabu Pushelberg’s innovative island certainly delivers on style, there’s more to nami than meets the eye. Beyond its striking appearance, nami offers a customizable design to cater to individual tastes and practical requirements, staying true to eggersmann’s commitment to personalized solutions. The island’s organic fluidity encourages personal expression, while complementary wall cabinetry extends the kitchen space, with eggersmann’s innovative Murphy-style sliding door system cleverly concealing it when not in use. Nami transcends the traditional concept of a kitchen island, merging it with artistry to redefine the essence of a modern kitchen, setting a new standard for form and function.
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