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Simply marble – Carrara marble kitchen designed by Robyn Labb
Simply marble – Carrara marble kitchen designed by Robyn Labb from Kitchen Trends volume 2710
Every kitchen design has to start somewhere, whether it is with the choice of materials, the shape of the room, a fabulous view or the need to accommodate a young or growing family.
The owner of this home loves Carrara marble and wanted to use it to create a centerpiece in her new kitchen. The space has expansive views over the nearby hills to the sea beyond, so kitchen designer Robyn Labb suggested taking out an aluminum garden window, which provided the only visual connection with the terrace and outlook. By replacing this window with bifold doors, the entire back of the house now opens up to the sunny east-facing terrace.
"We have kept the new kitchen on the same footprint as the old one, but by opening up the back wall of the house, the whole room looks and feels much more spacious," says Labb.
Carrara marble flows over the top and down three sides of the kitchen island, so it looks as if it has been honed from a single block of stone and placed in the center of the space. The same marble features on the backsplash behind the oven and cooktop, tying the design together.
"The owner wanted her kitchen to be fairly modern in style. We have achieved this by using simple, clean lines and handleless doors and drawers. But because the rest of the home is more traditional and in recognition of the classic nature of Carrara marble, we decided to introduce a similarly traditional style for the cabinetry," says Labb.
Ducting for the rangehood is concealed in a bulkhead, and square-edged stainless steel trim on its lower edge matches the stainless steel countertop below. The bulkhead helps keep the lines of the kitchen clean and uncluttered, and high cupboards in this space would have been difficult to access.
So as not to interrupt the long span of the island and to keep the sense that it has been hewn from a single large block of marble, a small breakfast nook with three stools takes up just one small corner of it.
The owner wanted her new kitchen to include a separate scullery, so Labb's solution was to design the main kitchen in a galley style and to add a U-shaped scullery in the space behind the oven and cooktop.
For practicality, the countertop in this compact space is stainless steel. The scullery includes a full wall of cupboards and drawers, a second oven, dishwasher and sink, plus a refrigerator and freezer. Small appliances are kept out on the counter, where they are easily accessible. Most groceries are stored here, although supplies of regularly used items such as oils, spices, rice and pasta are also kept in the main kitchen.
"This scullery is really well equipped as both a work and cleanup zone, so the main kitchen can always look good," says the designer.
This kitchen is located between a family living area at one end and a dining area and large terrace at the other end. Replacing an aluminium garden window with large bifolding doors has transformed the kitchen and established an easy connection with outdoor living spaces.
Kitchen designer Robyn Labb was asked to incorporate Carrara marble into her design, as the owner really liked this material.
Before renovating this kitchen, there was only a small garden window through which to admire the view. Now this kitchen feels a part of the wider landscape. A scullery is concealed behind the Carrara marble splashback.
The refrigerator and freezer at the entrance to the scullery can be accessed without inconveniencing the cook.
The scullery is well appointed with a second oven, dishwasher and sink. Small appliances can be left on the benchtop and open shelves display frequently used items.
Credit List
Benchtops
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Honed Carrara marble from Granite Workshop
Taps
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Perrin & Rowe from In Residence
Story by Mary Webb
Photography by Jamie Cobeldick
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