Blank canvas

Depending on your personal preferences, there can be a number of ways to approach kitchen design. While some people prefer a bright, colorful zone that is an obvious center for family life, others might prefer their kitchen to subtly recede into the background.

If you have an abundance of views and a home filled with fine art, as do the owners of this central-city apartment, then it is likely you will fall into the latter camp. Located in a boutique 1960s building, the 15th floor apartment was redesigned by Nick Murray and Caroline Loke, from Nicholas Murray Architects. The kitchen, which accents pristine white with the warmth of wood, was designed as a subtle backdrop to the art.

"Before the remodeling, the apartment's overall atmosphere was quite masculine," says Murray. "However, with the introduction of the wooden floors, the overall ambiance of the room was softened."

While the remodeled apartment features a new layout and new components, such as cabinetry, floors and ceilings, aspects of the existing kitchen appealed to the homeowners. They saw it as a platform that would accentuate the vivid colors of their comprehensive collection of art and carpets.

"The kitchen is one area of the house where some of the existing cabinetry was retained," says the homeowner. "It's manufactured from Emporite a relatively ageless and durable material so we just decided to add to it. However, the kitchen island was designed for a very tall man, so it was necessary to redesign it to suit our lifestyle."

Another new feature is the leather-upholstered cabinet attached to the island. As well as providing countertop storage for small appliances, and additional storage space on the living room side of the island, the cabinet provides a shield, behind which any clutter can be temporarily hidden.

Story by: Trendsideas