The kitchen of the future Miele
Architect Sue Carr embraces the challenge of designing kitchens for a “very different kind of future,” using Miele appliances with refined detailing, enduring aesthetic and functionality.
Ask director of Carr, Sue Carr, why her go-to appliance brand for fitting-out projects is Miele and her answer barely misses a beat. “Quality, functionality, craftsmanship, aesthetics.” Sue says what first impressed her about Miele was the “clean, simple lines and strong visual appeal,” but the relationship between this designer (who has been at the forefront of her industry for four decades) and the century-old German brand is now just as much driven by a shared vision for redefining spaces to fit changing needs.
“With spaces becoming less defined and more multifunctional, it is imperative that
appliances fit seamlessly, without cluttering the aesthetic,” says Sue. “As the heart of the home, the kitchen has to flow with the rest of the house, so there are no obvious departures in materiality, aesthetic and design.”
For Sue, the best designed kitchens represent “a composition of fully integrated appliances, streamlined, crisp joinery, beautifully detailed materials and, importantly, a layout that supports the requirements of its users.”
Widely celebrated for her uncomplicated aesthetic, Sue’s reductionist approach, scrupulously and courageously peeling away unnecessary layers, is perfectly aligned with Miele’s removal of handles and seamlessly integrated appliances. For Sue, attention to detail at this level is never simply a trend, but an integral part of design, “the way it should always be.”
Whether it is a 100-storey residential skyscraper or a bespoke residence, it’s the process of collaboration that energizes and excites Sue Carr, who says working with Miele has always been “incredibly successful. Miele understands the power of great design and has always had an appreciation of refined detailing ... and functionality that leads the field.”
Opposite page, right: The Walsh Street Apartment by Carr features Miele appliances in the kitchen, which combines the warmth of timber joinery with an onyx-hued island and oversized rangehood.
Opposite page, left: Adderley Apartments by Carr include an entertainer’s kitchen with every detail thoughtfully crafted to offer a tactile sense of luxury, from the timeless, integrated Miele appliances to the highly considered materiality of terrazzo, timber and metal detailing. This page: Carr specified Miele appliances at the South Yarra Residence, where they fit seamlessly into the design without cluttering the aesthetic.