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Homes with strong architectural features allow their owners to opt for bold use of colours and forms in the kitchen often to great effect.

The owners of this new South Island home asked for a design that would surprise them, says kitchen designer Marianne Gailer of Mobile Kitchen Design.

"They wanted Ferrari-red cabinetry, and a design that would complement the water feature that runs through the home to the kitchen and outside," she says. "The colour brings drama to the kitchen, and fits in with the rest of the house, which has several striking features."

To moderate the strength of the red colour, Gailer has used neutral tones, such as stainless steel for the water station and perimeter benchtops. She has also repeated shapes, such as the circular pillar of the breakfast bar and the circular supports above. Both repeat the cylindrical shape of the water station and help to calm and unify the space.

The home's water feature is echoed in the choice of glass for the shelf above the breakfast bar, one end of which has a laser-cut wavy edge. Gailer also varied the height of the wall cabinetry, to reflect the movement of water flowing through the house.

To meet the homeowners' request for a space fully equipped with appliances, Gailer reworked the architect's plans, removing a third, unnecessary, dining area and replacing it with a space-saving breakfast bar.

"I worked closely with kitchen manufacturer Kitchen Link I chose them because of their attention to detail and quality of workmanship."

Marianne Gailer is a member of the National Kitchen & Bathroom Association (NKBA) and is a member of the Designers' Society.

For more information, contact Mobile Kitchen Design, freephone 0800 My Kitchen (695 482), fax (09) 428 4444. Website: www.mykitchen.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas