THE KITCHEN TO SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
The best and brightest ideas for the all-important kitchen
ALL ABOARD
This is clearly a family that knows how to entertain. A boathouse next to their main residence right on a Canterbury lakefront has been transformed into a functional space not only for storage of canoes and kayaks but for gathering together family and friends. While that waterfront view is clearly a stunner, spatial designer Davinia Sutton has managed to create a kitchen area that more than holds its own without stealing the spotlight. “I didn’t want the kitchen to take over the space. We wanted it to be there but to disappear. We kept it simple with a play on materials, keeping it white on white but with a softness to it. The tile breaks it up with a little bit of texture and having everything integrated kept it really simple.”
Davinia says it can be tricky creating a compact yet functional kitchen. The goal: “To get everything in there and not be on top of one another. Often a small kitchen can be more challenging than a large kitchen.”
They decided against an island in the limited space. “We played on the feeling of an old table in a farmhouse. The table is your island.”
The family wanted a real connection to the outside space, and a casual feeling. “The space is a really lovely, relaxing spot. It doesn’t have to be ostentatious,” says Davinia.
But that proximity to the water meant careful thought about hard-wearing materials. And as a working boathouse, there’s a nod to a nautical theme by interior designer Anne Roy of Furnishscene – but not too much. The light fixtures reminiscent of fishing nets create cosiness despite the voluminous ceiling and the oar on the bulkhead adds an element of fun. “It gives it enough without being all sailor knots,” says Davinia.
EARTHY AND GLAM
Centre stage in the kitchen of this Queenstown holiday home is an imposing La Cornue oven. “The French really know how to cook,” says interior designer Emma Gould of White Interiors. “A La Cornue oven makes every kitchen look fabulous. They look amazing and cook beautifully.”
It’s that blend of good looks and practicality that the owners were after when they engaged Emma to redesign their kitchen in 2017. “They have stayed in a lot of lodges and wanted a New Zealand lodge feel,” she says.
The kitchen connects to the living and dining areas and a snug, so when the house is full of visitors there are plenty of spaces to relax in while still staying connected to the action in the kitchen.
“They spend a lot of time here skiing, and also in the summer,” says Emma. “I wanted to create something that was really stylish, with a bit of glamour, but also homely and comfortable.”
The design itself is very simple, symmetrical and functional. “It’s all about the choice of materials. I love to use natural stone and marble – they add sophistication but are still earthy, which works well in Queenstown.” The use of blackened steel brings an industrial touch.
Emma was thrilled to discover the perfect Manhattan marble at B&O Casa in Auckland. It’s dramatic, but not overwhelming, she says, and has teal blue veins that reminded her of the colour of Lake Wakatipu, so she swooped on all the available pieces and used it for the splashback as well as the kitchen island.
Her other favourite find was the Ralph Lauren chandelier, used in the kitchen and repeated in the snug and living/dining areas. “One of the good things about these lights is you can hang them with the bulbs either up or down.”
MAKE IT POP
It’s hard to believe novelist Catherine Robertson and her management consultant husband David once considered a move to the UK. One look at their sunny Hawke’s Bay new build surrounded by vineyards and you can see why they changed their minds. “We thought too hard, too far, too cold,” says Catherine.
For now the place is a holiday home but there are plans to move out of Wellington’s Seatoun and make it their permanent residence within five years, says Catherine (whose latest book, Gabriel’s Bay, is out now). They use it a few times a year, and often have a full house including sons Callum and Finn so, to Catherine, the kitchen was important. “It needed to be an accessible hub. Being so open plan, we wanted it to be the anchor of the room.”
Architects Bonnifait+Giesen used a combination of bleached and natural ply throughout and stainless steel benchtops, materials Catherine loves for their hardiness. A keen cook, she’s also a fan of the kitchen’s layout. “It just feels easy. It’s a really relaxing kitchen to cook in, you’ve got everything within easy reach. You can all be around that island bench, it’s a nice place for people to hang out.”
There’s also a ton of storage behind that ply. “The one thing we always dread is not having enough storage space. I have more cupboard space than I can actually use at the moment.”
But of course, most striking are those blocks of bold colour: Resene ‘Allports’ in the kitchen and Resene ‘Smitten’ on the
dining area cabinets. David made those choices says Catherine. “He’s worked in advertising and design for years and he’s really good with colour, so that was the one thing he wanted to have a say in. I really love having the colour around – when the light hits it you get all these ref lections with all these tones to it.”
ON THE EDGE
Using the best tradespeople is the secret to a successful kitchen, reckons designer Robyn Labb. She created the kitchen, office and bathrooms in this Auckland penthouse apartment, working closely – “in harmony” – with interior designer Jen Pack.
While the area allocated for the kitchen was already defined by Paul Brown Architects, Robyn’s brief from the clients was for it to be very stylish, sleek, high-end and beautifully manufactured. And fulfilling such a seemingly straightforward request requires a lot of know-how. “Often the kitchens that look very simple and sleek can be difficult technically,” says Robyn.
To her, the star of the show is the glamorous Statuario marble and oak island with perfectly mitred edges. “There’s a big steel frame hidden below that marble, and that gives it the rigidity and strength.”
Its elegant lines means a lot of precision work went into it. “You have to rely on your best cabinetmaker and your best stonemason. The two of them worked quite closely together. If you have numpties on the job, it won’t look like that – it’s a perfect job, you couldn’t fault it. The textured oak is married to the marble, it’s just seamless.”
And the rest of the kitchen is just as seamless. “Pretty much everything is integrated; the only real appliances you can see are the ovens. And there’s a secret door at the back that looks like cabinetry, but it’s a door into the scullery.”
The premium look is completed with accessories chosen by Jen. “She very clever,” says Robyn. “Together we’re quite a good team.”
THE DETAILS
Tapware: Dornbracht Tara Ultra in chrome from Metrix Sink: Mercer Burlington
Lighting: LED strip lighting
Joinery: Satin finish, half black-wash, horizontal grain textured oak veneer by Hewe Kitchen & Interiors
Benchtops: Honed Statuario veined marble from SCE Stone & Design, and stainless steel
Integrated appliances: Cool Drawers by Fisher & Paykel, all others (including ovens, warming drawers, dishwasher and fridge) by Miele.
Cooktop and rangehood: Miele Internal hardware: Blum
TREND FILE What’s new, nice and notable in the kitchen
Hang about: We love the restaurant-style steel hanging open shelving in this Auckland city fringe townhouse owned by a young couple. Designer Michelle Gillbanks of Kitchens by Design says the shelves were created for everyday items to be on display and, more importantly, be on hand when needed, ensuring efficient easy flow within the limited space. They’re finished in a polished Metalier coating in colour Ravine and the solid steel plates are removable for easy cleaning. “A traditional kitchen with an industrial feel,” says Michelle. “A true working kitchen.” kitchensbydesign.co.nz >
In hot water:
According to energywise.govt.nz, the hot water in your cylinder should be set at 60°C to prevent the growth of legionella bacteria (have a plumber or electrician check it). But you don’t want it that hot coming out of the taps. The Grohe Essence Professional mixer (1) has an integrated temperature limiter that can be individually set to a maximum water temperature. And that’s not even the fun part. As well as winning awards for its innovative design, the mixer’s f lexible hygienic hose comes in 10 bold colours. $1185, robertson.co.nz
Get the look:
Tile Space Marvel Statuario Polished 750 x 1500mm tiles can be created with the look of book-matched marble (2), which is where the two stone surfaces are mirror images of each other. A new range also recreates the look of brushed iron and Corten steel. The designs are printed onto the tile using the latest HD technology with all the attention to detail and flair that Italian design can bring. The Marvel Statuario marble look is also available in 1.2m x 2.4m slabs. tilespace.co.nz
Sleek drawers:
If you’re looking for kitchen drawers with clean lines, check out Legrabox from Blum (3). The drawer sides are elegantly straight and super-slim. Available in a variety of finishes including anti-fingerprint stainless steel or steel with a matt coating of black, grey or white. blum.com
Plan ahead:
A new kitchen is a major investment, so the advice from Master Plumbers is to plan any gas appliances and plumbing fixtures and fittings well in advance. That way, you will ensure they are as functional and safe as possible. Consider how you’ll use your kitchen. Do you need two sinks or one? Do you want a waste disposer? Your plumber can advise on products that will suit your household’s needs. Certain types of installation work must be carried out by an authorised tradesperson. You can check if your plumber is authorised by asking to see their card or checking the public register at pgdb.co.nz. You will be given a gasfitting certificate – keep this in a safe place, as you may need it when you come to sell or for insurance purposes. masterplumbers.org.nz
Add drama:
Black is back in the kitchen, so make a bold statement with these refrigerators from Liebherr of Germany (4), that come with a unique surface finish called BlackSteel. A brushed stainless finish with a charcoal colour embedded in the final surface, BlackSteel is resistant to fingerprints and scratches. These side by side fridges also offer the very best performance features from the Liebherr brand and also score well on energy performance ratings. home.liebherr.nz
Stylish sinks:
Scandinavian-designed brushed copper and brushed brass sinks and taps by Nivito (5) are a great way to add colour or a statement piece to your kitchen – there are kitchen mixers to match. From Paterson, paterson.co.nz
On the bench:
Porcelain tile is impervious to water, so it won’t stain, fade or change colour and it’s easy to clean and longlasting. So now that it’s available in large slab sizes, it’s being used more frequently for kitchen benchtops (6). Metaline Iron 1.2 x 2.6m porcelain tile can be used as a f loating top, or a tiler can mitre the edge to create the look of a 100mm benchtop. tilespace.co.nz
Cool and quiet:
The door is the thing when it comes to the Panasonic HL-PF685 built-in wall oven with pyrolytic selfcleaning. Modern and clean-looking in either black glass or stainless steel, it also has an anti-slam function. It’s quadruple glazed with heat ref lective glass, so you’ll stay cool. And it locks during pyrolytic self-cleaning. $4199.99, panasonic.com/nz
Charge ahead:
Declutter your home with a handy Smart Shelf wall charger or in-built USB charger from PDL by Schneider Electric (7). Designed to hold two smartphones or one tablet, PDL’s Smart Shelf keeps your devices out of the way when charging. Energy efficient USB wall chargers provide a speedy charge and have inbuilt surge, current and over-temperature protection. pdl.co.nz >
In the hood:
As the kitchen is often the social hub of the home, the design of major kitchen appliances plays an important role, says Miele’s Rudi Niemoeller. With atmospheric lighting when switched on, the Miele Pearl rangehood (9) is a striking kitchen feature. Designed to be dimmable, the Pearl’s 90cm canopy is pitched so that tall cooks have plenty of room to peer down into pots and pans. And technologically, this rangehood boasts a powerful and energy-efficient Miele Eco motor. miele.co.nz
Grilles thrill:
Add a subtle metallic accent to your kitchen with new Oxford decorative grilles (10), which add interest to cupboard doors – they’d make a particularly fine addition to a wine cabinet we think. Available in a range of designs and finishes include brass, black nickel, polished chrome and antique copper. From In Residence, inres.co.nz.
In reach:
Hafele’s TurnMotion II (11) makes life easier when you’re dealing with those tricky corners and low cupboards in your kitchen. The height-adjustable trays fully swivel for easy access, or can be locked in place, especially if you’d like to take them in and out. The whole thing is designed to be simple to install – they can also come in handy under your sink to hold cleaning products. hafele.co.nz