Part of a contemporary new build located in North West Sydney, this kitchen caught our eye this week – the combination of deep blue joinery, traditional stone and warm oak make for quite the luxurious statement. “My client asked us to deliver a classic, yet contemporary space with a nod to European luxury,” says interior designer and vice president of the KBDi Awards, Gavin Hepper.
Family life is central to the home’s inhabitants – the kitchen was designed to be durable and functional to accommodate a large extended family. “Stepping into this light filled space from the entry, you are immediately struck by the scale of the dramatic over-sized island that defines the heart of the home,” says Gavin. Special design features include a specific ‘morning zone’ which sits inside the adjoining butler’s pantry – it’s where the family prepare coffee and juices.
Layout aside, it’s the metallic accents combined with the natural textures and colour in the stone and timber that bring warmth and connection to the raw concrete architecture of the surrounding home. Neolith sintered stone, in Calacatta Gold, features in the kitchen – it was used throughout the home and appears around the fireplace and on the bathroom floors and walls too.
Traditional oak cupboard fronts highlight the gold veining in the Calacutta stone and provide further warmth against the surrounding concrete. Custom fluted panels, in a bespoke shade of blue, adorn the front of the substantial island bench. A bespoke pendant light hangs above – it was custom coated to match the rest of the metallic finishes in the kitchen. “The glowing bronze metallic finishes add an elegance and sophistication,” says Gavin.
“Overall, I love the balance of materials as they sit harmoniously alongside each other with no one thing shouting over the other. This was cleverly achieved through design restraint. Also, the pure scale of the island and its craftmanship leads itself to being a drawcard within the home,” says Gavin.
Testament to its calibre, the space was awarded the TIDA (Trends International Design Awards) Australian Designer kitchen of the year award as well as the KBDi’s NSW Kitchen of the Year in the ‘Kitchen Plus’ category.
Photography: Louise Wellington Photography
