Between artisanal heritage and designer creation
After the flashy years of high-tech kitchens and Nordic minimalist effusions, a more nuanced approach emerges: that of understated luxury and exceptional craftsmanship. It is precisely in this territory that Obumex stands out, a Belgian manufacturer that transcends categories to offer a vision where the kitchen becomes inhabited sculpture.
Founded in 1960 in Staden by Eli Ostyn, the family business began with school furniture before transforming into kitchen design. Three generations later, with Thomas Ostyn at the helm since January 2022, this house perpetuates a know-how passed from father to son, enriched by collaborations with the greatest names in international architecture.
Historical & cultural context
The emergence of Obumex fits into the Belgian landscape of the 1960s, a period when the kitchen ceased to be a functional back room to become a central social space. The decisive transformation occurred in 1984 when Geert Ostyn steered the company toward global interior design.
The major innovation came in 1996 with the first Signature kitchen designed by John Pawson. This strategic turning point positioned Obumex on the international stage of designer creation, inventing an unprecedented model: offering limited editions signed by world-renowned architects while maintaining its bespoke activity.
Aesthetic characteristics
Obumex aesthetics rest on geometric purity, pronounced horizontals, and precisely sculpted volumes. The central islands, often monumental, structure the space like inhabitable sculptures. The chromatic palette cultivates restraint: blond or smoked oak, deep walnut, marble with graphic veins. Natural tones dominate, magnifying light and material texture.
Here, no cheap laminates. Solid wood reigns – oak, walnut, wenge – worked with traditional cabinetmaking expertise, then married to contemporary materials. Marble and natural stone occupy a place of honor, their unique variations transforming each kitchen into a unique piece.
Alliance of durability and elegance, this kitchen blends exotic wood veneers and beige stoneware surfaces in a play of organic forms.
Creators & key figures
John Pawson created in 1995-1996 a revolutionary system composed of autonomous elements that can function wall-mounted or in freestanding configuration. This modularity frees spatial arrangement. Twenty-five years later, his iconic kitchen was reissued, confirming its timelessness.
Joseph Dirand sculpts a monumental island in white Carrara marble that becomes the centerpiece. The effect is cinematic, with generous proportions that evoke Italian palaces while remaining resolutely contemporary.
Bruno Moinard draws from French Art Deco heritage, creating a kitchen where brushed copper, smoked wood, and patinated brass dialogue in a rhythmic choreography highlighted by indirect lighting.
Gilles & Boissier merge kitchen and living room into a single space where precious woods, marble, and metals converse with natural fluidity, inspired by Tom Ford’s film “A Single Man.”
Nicolas Schuybroek presented in 2022 a kitchen entirely made of pewter – a world first – composed of three blocks stacked according to the golden ratio. The pewter patinas over time, offering a changing appearance over the years.
Heritage & reinterpretations
Obumex has transformed the perception of the kitchen, elevating it to the status of inhabitable artwork. By convincing prestigious architects to invest in this creative field, the brand legitimized the kitchen as a conceptual manifesto. Its formal vocabulary – monumental islands, continuous surfaces, total integration of appliances – now permeates the entire high-end market.
Beyond stylistic imitation, it is a philosophy that spreads: that of the kitchen as a total living space, a hybrid area where cooking, eating, working, and entertaining overlap without hierarchy.
Perfect alliance between Parisian elegance and exceptional craftsmanship, this kitchen marries the nobility of Calacatta Oro marble with antique bronze finishes.
Market & current pricing
New purchase: Bespoke creations start around 50,000 euros and can exceed 150,000 euros. Limited edition Signature kitchens sometimes reach over 200,000 euros. These prices are explained by artisanal manufacturing in Staden, exclusive noble materials, and complete service. Purchase is made in Obumex showrooms in Staden, Knokke, Ghent, Brussels, Paris, or Tel Aviv.
Second-hand: The second-hand market remains confidential due to the bespoke nature of the creations. Some modular elements, notably Pawson’s Signature pieces, occasionally appear on the art and design collection market, valued as designer objects.
The essence of sustainable luxury
Obumex embodies the excellence of contemporary craftsmanship that refuses compromise. Between Belgian family tradition and collaborations with the international avant-garde, the brand traces a singular path where luxury manifests through discretion. This approach resonates with the expectations of a clientele seeking authenticity, aware that true luxury resides in timeless quality. Obumex remains essential because it proves that it is possible to combine innovation and tradition, artistic creation and daily functionality.
Inspired by a residential approach, this space combines noble materials, clean lines, and the comfort of a high-end interior.
Dive into the world of luxury kitchens, between bespoke design, noble materials, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Read on HART Design Selection → Luxury in the kitchen: the ultimate guide to high-end kitchens
