Anyone for tennis?

By its very nature, a kitchen is a place where the family gathers, but this doesn't mean it has to be a major thoroughfare. For the owners of this house, however, that was exactly the situation with their original kitchen the position of the main door ensured all the traffic was straight through the middle of the work area.

Kitchen designer Damian Hannah of German Kitchens says there was an easy solution to the problem he simply closed off the lower half of the door with the new Poggenpohl cabinetry. This blocked the throughway but meant the owners could still enjoy a glimpse of the ocean beyond.

But that was just one element of a major remodelling programme that has doubled the size of the original kitchen.

"The owners wanted to be able to keep an eye on the family while working in the kitchen," Hannah says. "By removing internal walls and glazing an exterior wall, we were able to increase the size of the kitchen, and open it up to the outdoor living areas. This ensures the owners have a view of the pool and tennis court."

Sleek Poggenpohl cabinetry, loosely based on the Segmento design, wraps the perimeter of the room on two sides. A large island provides additional workspace and storage, and doubles as a breakfast bar.

Both the perimeter cabinetry and the island benchtops with waterfall sides feature a boutique solid quartz sourced from Brazil. The blue graining within the stone was a key attraction, says Hannah.

"The owners have a love of 1960s furniture and accessories and they also have a Murano glass collection, which is displayed in the kitchen. The quartz complements these items."

Hannah says he was careful to ensure the kitchen would be warm and welcoming, hence the choice of the Poggenpohl Blossom White cabinetry.

"This is a very warm white that goes well with the wood floor and quartz."

The 750mm-deep rear cabinets feature counterweighted drawers with full extension runners to maximise storage. The extra depth also provides plenty of room for the large appliances requested by the owner. A mirrored glass splashback further enhances the visual depth, making the benchtops appear even larger.

"The horizontal glass display cabinets also have a mirrored backdrop. The reflective surface and interior lighting make the Murano glass glow," says Hannah.

Recessed Poggenpohl handles that run almost the entire length of each drawer provide a smooth front to the cabinetry. As well as ensuring there are no protruding pieces, the handles enhance the linear look of the kitchen.

Other special features of the cabinetry include extra-large bins for recycling and everyday waste, a stepladder concealed within the kickboards, pull-out vegetable baskets, a pop-up power point on the island and pull-out systems in the pantry.

"Although the pantry is just 600mm wide, the drawer systems provide the same storage capacity as a 900mm-wide fixed-shelf pantry," says Hannah.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes