CATCHING THE WAVE
A TONAL SCHEME LAYERED WITH SWEEPING SHAPES IS A DREAMY COMBINATION IN THIS RENOVATED MELBOURNE COOK ZONE
STRATEGIC CURVES
Adding curves in all the right places was key in getting a kitchen that felt relaxed yet sophisticated. “Kitchens with a big bench and lots of cabinetry can look boxy, so we opted for bold curves with a statement sweeping island bench below a bulkhead that echoed the same organic lines,” says Rebeka. To accentuate the island’s shape, custom timber batons painted in Haymes Paint Grey Shadow form a sculptural arc below the benchtop. The opposite end of the bench caters for informal meals, with circular Kmart stools tailored with terrazzo tops from Signorino to match the floor.
ISLAND BENCH
The luxuriously long island bench is topped in striking ‘Grey Tundra’ stone from Signorino and stretches for four metres. The central curved section is home to storage, prep space and a Franke sink paired with a Phoenix ‘Vivid Slimline’ brushed nickel sink mixer from Cook & Bathe. >
THE LOOK: CURVES AHEAD
Flowing organic curves depict one of the most coveted interior looks at the moment, with the trend beautifully reflected in the kitchen. “Because gentle contours evoke a more relaxed, playful style, it’s a look more and more people are embracing, as it reflects the way we want to live,” explains interior designer and builder Rebeka Morgan of BuildHer Collective. “They have a softness which can be incorporated in many ways, from rounded islands to circular hardware, lighting and Mediterranean-inspired arches.” Beyond their sensual silhouettes, curves can also enhance comfort and conviviality, especially around an island designed to promote casual dining and conversation.
“I FIND TONAL SPACES WORK AS THEY ADD DEPTH BY LAYERING SIMILAR COLOURS HARMONIOUSLY” ~ REBEKA, INTERIOR DESIGNER
ROUNDED EDGES
Curved open shelves in Slice Veneers ‘White Oak’ display organically shaped vessels and invite guests into the kitchen. Gentle shapes present intriguing sculptural forms, while a vast concrete floor was essential to the luxurious space. “The biggest splurge was the stone for the benchtop followed by the concrete floor, but they were essential to ground the space,” says Rebeka.
BESPOKE DETAILS
“We used a custom-designed steel ‘piano key’ support for the end of the island bench, to marry the kitchen with the upstairs,” says Rebeka of the striking detail (above). She also opted not to include overhead cupboards, enhancing the spacious feel. “People sometimes feel they need wall-to-wall cabinetry, yet here there’s ample under-bench storage with cupboards for small appliances and staples in the butler’s pantry.”
PALETTE
The tonal scheme is visually gentle and continues into the butler’s pantry (right). Against walls in Haymes Paint Grey Shadow, ‘Grey Tundra’ benchtops and splashbacks from Signorino form the foundation.
“It provided natural patterning, in a slightly lighter shade of grey to the polished concrete floor in ‘Alpine Ice Ash’ from VicMix,” says Rebeka. Uniting the shades is joinery in Haymes Paint Pale Mushroom.
INSIDER TIP
Add curvature where it counts. “Find the areas where it will create the most impact,” says Rebeka. “Often people overuse a feature which can detract from its effect, so think about the flow and experience of travelling through your space and add a few
wow moments along the way.”