Home Trends Vol. 36/2

The selection of materials is a key element in the design of a new kitchen. Not only will they dictate the aesthetics of the finished result, they also play a part in how much care and maintenance the various surfaces need, as well as determining how long your kitchen will last before it starts to feel dated. Stone, wood, composite materials, laquered MDF, tile, glass – these days there's a dizzying array to consider. And that's just for the material palette.

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New Home

This expansive showhome by GJ Gardner Queenstown wraps

Character showhome features a strong street presence and private, sheltered outdoor living

From strong, classic roof forms to a rustic interior barn door and relaxed indoor-outdoor flow, this showhome by G.J. Gardner Queenstown is an ideal response to New Zealand’s favourite alpine playground

Dark on the outside, light on the inside

Known as the ‘black barn’, this family home explores the use of contrast and volume. From asymmetric lines to large vaulted spaces, discover how all the design details in this home tell a story

The butterfly roof and and its asymmetrical wing

How connected is your home to its setting? This house celebrates an evocative sense of place

Childhood memories of courtyard houses in India and the vernacular architecture of Ireland inspired a mixed-heritage couple's creative vision for this home by William Duff Architects

Formal living pavilion to the left, informal living,

Five linked pavilions resembling farm buildings add up to one luxury home in a rural setting

From a distance, this rural home resembles a group of classic farm buildings while closer up, the strong architectural forms reflect a more modern sensibility

The Karapiro home by Landmark Homes works well backyard, cottage, elevation, estate, facade, farmhouse, home, house, landscape, outdoor structure, porch, property, real estate, residential area, roof, siding, yard, white

Relaxed family home ideal for entertaining by Landmark Homes

Karapiro weatherboard house by Landmark Homes with separate lounge, indoor-outdoor flow is great for rural and urban sites

Kitchen

Smoked oak cabinetry is matched with a formal-look smoked oak tabletop in this well-connected kitchen

A finely finished cantilevered table top allows this natural-toned Italian kitchen to provide an easy link between the terrace home’s interior and outdoor living areas

While this kitchen by designer Morgan Cronin may

There's more to the design of this island than first meets the eye

Space limitations and a response to the strong architectural setting both shaped the design of this kitchen – including its boldly dramatic island

Crisp and contemporary, this kitchen avoids fussy details such as cabinetry handles for a clean, almost sculptural aesthetic

The practical is downplayed in this kitchen while marble look surfaces, modern stools and chic lighting hold sway

Sitting squarely in the centre of the upper

This kitchen is truly the hub of this new home

That's not a cliché for this award-winning kitchen. Everything about it puts it firmly at the centre of activity in a seaside family retreat

Instead of tucking the scullery out of sight,

Scullery designed to take centre stage

The scullery in this family home isn’t hidden away – instead it takes on a multi-functional role right in the middle of the open-plan living area

Layer upon layer – this kitchen by Daniel

Everything has its functional place in this efficient kitchen

Apart from the tell-tale ovens, this kitchen could be an abstract composition of pleasing materials and forms. But when it comes to mealtime or an indoor or outdoor gathering, the functional layout of main and ancillary spaces shines

Bathroom

Bedroom to the left, living space to the

Holiday pavilion bathroom features a bathtub outside on the deck

Forming part of an ergonomic getaway pavilion at a seaside lodge, this bathroom has one foot indoors and another right out on the deck

Clean and simple with exotic materials and finely

Walnut cabinetry, bronze fitting and sandstone floors give this bathroom an exotic feel

Bathrooms today often seek an exotic, faraway ambience – here, that feel could be a hotel in Morocco or Spain

Marble-look tiles give this master ensuite a luxurious aesthetic

Already generous sized, this restful, opulent bathroom with coastal views maximises a sense of spaciousness in several ways

Luxurious finish leads on to luxurious finish in black, gray

Surprising forms, exotic finishes, and unusual features combine to create an artistic, layered master suite

Some master suites are quiet while others celebrate art and vivacity – this bed-bath-dressing room is firmly in the latter camp

Black and modern to the left, existing, refreshed gray, black

Fresh perspective on heritage and adaptive design

An 1850s heritage sandstone coach-house is given a 21st century makeover that highlights its rugged origins

Cosentino’s latest ultra compact Dekton surfaces – composed

Ultra compact surfaces composed of porcelain, glass and quartz offer a world of design choices

Four distinctive themes ideal for lifting everyday projects are offered in Cosentino’s designer-collaboration and nature-themed Dekton 2020 Collection