A
new kitchen is meant to re-enforce ones taste, validate personal achievements
and status, and offer physiological comfort. Renovation of the kitchen is an
occasion for reinforcing ones happiness. The kitchen as a place and design
process is as complex as any other part of our life. Things should be kept
simple, but in order to achieve simplicity, the designer has to work closely
with the clients to unfold the complexity of their requirements, draw essential
ideas and apply them creatively into a new design.
In the current
family, Vicki’s
passion for cooking and colour complemented the technical nature and attention
to detail of Peter’s. Working with them
stretched my knowledge and abilities, as they expected the new kitchen to be at
the highest level of quality, function and design.
They were both tired of the
old kitchen made of dark wood, small cabinets with a constrictive “U” shape,
hidden somewhere at the back of the ground floor. Working in the old kitchen felt
more of a punishment than anything else. The kitchen lacked a useful bench-space, was
cluttered, dark and too small for their large family.
Vicki wanted to have a new kitchen that is light in
colour, airy, that will become the centre of the newly renovated wing, open to
the living room and dining room and able to accommodate their large family and
friends. Hence, the oven and cook top were placed in the middle of the largest
wall facing the living room and a step away, we created a massive island
housing the sink and overhung on two sides.
The new design, with the central position of the island allows the cook
to interact either with the family seating in the living room or with the
guests from the newly built deck. Vicki’s passion for colour was expressed
through a burned red colour (X Factor of Resene) for a large splash back
stretch on the whole 4.8 metre wall. The red was, as
expected, the peak of the colour scheme, otherwise composed of the reddish
brown of the timber board, light buttery colour of the stone(Caesar
stone-Buttermilk) and the soft Whispers White (of Dulux) high gloss of the
cabinets.
After a general layout and the final decision of
the important features, it was Peter’s turn to complete the specifications with
some fine touches and technical essentials: two undermounted bowls, a brushed aluminium
kicker to bring a soft industrial look to the sleek cabinets, led lights under
the bench for and excellent evening atmosphere and free of heat light source for
people sitting on the bar stools, and low voltage halogens under and inside the
wall units. Peter was aware of the importance of the kitchen investment and
durability wise, thus he required up-to-date hardware of Hettich: soft closing
steel drawers and V6+ runners (heavy duty), high steel walls for pot drawers,
soft closing integrated hinges, Orga professional cutlery trays and anti slip
mats, high quality folding doors Lazy Susan with chrome rail and melamine, pull
out for spices, oils and vinegar.
With equal contribution from both clients, with
their early involvement in the planning process, the end design was sure to
achieve the perfect balance between “looking good”, “feeling good” and “a working
well kitchen”.
Text and Kitchen design by Valentin Tinc
Photos by Tim Turner Photography
Kitchen by Smith and Smith Cabinet Makers, Melbourne
Kitchen by Smith and Smith Cabinet Makers, Melbourne
It is good to feel stressed free from planning your kitchen renovation.
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