Elegant appeal
Statement surfaces that do all the talking
When building their dream home in the picturesque city of New Plymouth on New Zealand’s North Island, Dellys and Ray had complete faith that their daughter in-law Annika Rowson would deliver their ideal kitchen. With a wealth of experience, Annika, director of Rowson Kitchens, was keen to take on the special project and create an alluring, functional space to set the tone for her in-laws’ home. “Dellys and Ray wanted a kitchen that had furniture-like appeal and doubled as a dining area,” she says. As the couple’s bedroom, guest powder room and living area were all accessed via the kitchen, it was also important that the design aided flow between zones. The solution was a space-savvy galley layout, with a solid waterfall island teamed with a cantilevered table that can be admired from all angles. “The lovely tones and patterning of the Dekton Taga surface envelops the bench, forming a sculptural centrepiece that sits back beautifully with the rich timber veneer cabinetry,” says Annika of the result, which is a joy for her special clients to cook in and entertain in. Annika has also reaped the rewards, with wonderful meals shared around the new dining table. “It’s incredibly satisfying to create a space that offers great aesthetics and functionality in equal measure,” she says. A job well done.
SURFACE APPEAL
Stainless steel benches meant Dellys and Ray were after a more luxurious, elegant surface. They chose Dekton in Taga from Cosentino’s ‘Stonika’ range. The ultra-compact, high-gloss surface offers the durability of an engineered product with stone’s beauty. “The tones were the ideal foil for ‘Recon’ veneer cabinetry in Carob from Prime Panels,” says Annika. “And as the surface is heat-resistant, hot pans can be placed there directly from the cooktop.” >
DUAL SINKS
A brushed nickel Greens sink mixer on the island (below), along with a second wet area on a back bench (right), offers convenience and luxury. “When the cooktop is on the island, I like to include a main sink alongside it so there’s no need to cross the kitchen to fill or drain pots,” says interior designer Annika. To support this dual role, a bar nook with a Fisher & Paykel wine fridge has a Parex hot and cold filtered tap.
OPEN SHELVING
Open shelving was offset with a backdrop of travertine finger tiles to define a drinks nook (right) and stylistically break up the cabinetry. Timber shelves offer a place to display glassware, ceramics and greenery, with undermounted
LED strip lighting creating subtle ambience after dark. “To make the tiles a real feature, we chose dark grout so their shape and texture pop,” says Annika.
INSIDER TIP
Make your island work hard. “In smaller kitchens, get maximum functionality from a compact footprint with a galley layout where the sink and cooktop sit on the island,” says Annika. “This allows you to have more storage space and a back
wall of integrated appliances.”
“CANTILEVERING THE TABLE BALANCES THE SOLID FORM OF THE WORK BENCH AND ALLOWS FOR ANOTHER CHAIR ON THE END IF NEEDED” ~ ANNIKA, INTERIOR DESIGNER
BUILT-IN DINING
An island bench with a drop-down table eliminated the need for a separate dining area. “In-kitchen dining suited Dellys and Ray’s lifestyle, and with an adjacent covered outdoor entertaining area, we felt there was no need to double up with a big table inside,” says Annika. To delineate the table, a level change sees Cintesi chairs (for similar, try Matt Blatt), with the timber Prime ‘Recon’ veneer in Carob creating contrast and a more tactile surface to sit at. A cluster of Søktas ‘Ollo’ pendants helps define the table and adds elegance.