Beneath the surface

At first glance, this kitchen appears to be an uncluttered, minimalist space a room where aesthetic considerations are paramount. In fact, this is a hard-working kitchen, packed with appliances, that was designed for a busy family.

The brief for the project was to create a contemporary, light-filled kitchen so the family could prepare food in comfort and enjoy entertaining together, says kitchen designer Lisa James.

"The layout maximises storage space while providing plenty of bench space," she says. "I designed the island to be a multipurpose layout space for food and drinks preparation, and to function as a buffet area and family homework table.

"The stone benchtop extends to the floor at both ends, enhancing the block-like shape of the island only the seating space is recessed. The island becomes a piece of furniture separating the kitchen and dining space."

Drawers with concealed finger pulls and doors with push catches eliminate the need for door hardware. Small appliances such as the kettle and toaster are housed out of sight in a walk-in pantry, and the dishwasher doors open only 33cm, rather than the more normal 69cm.

This means that the kitchen's two dishwashers do not impede traffic flow, says Smeg's Tony Lee.

"The dishwashers are set at a height so that people don't have to bend down to load and unload," he says.

Unusually, the kitchen features both an induction cooktop and a gas cooktop, to accommodate the homeowners' wish for both facilities, says Lee.

"The stainless steel cylindrical rangehoods above the cooktops provide a sculptural element within the space. They avoid the need for overhead cupboards to house the ventilation, and maximise the light and view from the clerestory window," he says.

"Although the colour palette is light, this is quite a masculine kitchen, and the curved lines of the cylindrical hoods soften this look and provide an element of fun."

Rather than a single large oven, the designer has installed two white wall-mounted ovens side by side, for a choice of small- or large-scale cooking.

The ovens are thermo-sealed, to minimise heat transfer to the kitchen. The wall-mounted ovens and microwave are the right height for loading and unloading, and allow the cook to read the controls easily, says Lee. Below the microwave is a pull-out stainless steel shelf to safely rest hot items on.

For further details, visit the website: www.smegappliances.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas