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With its bar-style counter and sleek, contemporary design, this kitchen puts a whole new spin on home entertaining

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View of a bar style kitchen which features floor, flooring, furniture, interior design, living room, table, gray

View of a bar style kitchen which features cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, gray

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View of a bar style kitchen which features furniture, interior design, living room, room, gray

View of a bar style kitchen which features architecture, ceiling, furniture, interior design, living room, table, gray, black

View of a bar style kitchen which features furniture, house, interior design, living room, property, real estate, table, white, black

View of a bar style kitchen which features cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, interior design, kitchen, room, gray

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Kitchens play an increasing role in our social lives today. No longer the sole realm of the cook, they have become a focus for entertaining and this is reflected in their design.

This new kitchen is part of the major remodelling of a 30-year-old hillside bungalow belonging to interior designer James Yong of Interlink Design.

Yong says walls were removed to open up the space, including a wall between two large structural columns. Removing this wall created space for a long bar-style counter, which continues out the far side of the kitchen.

"Wrapping the columns in tulip wood veneer was a way to disguise them," the designer says. "It was also a way to introduce strong vertical forms that help to anchor the kitchen-bar area and balance the more horizontal elements."

The overall space has a sleek, monochromatic look. Yong says he used wood to add visual warmth, as well as indirect mood lighting in the form of two long translucent strips on the ceiling, which provide a golden glow.

The kitchen pairs white Corian benchtops with matching white high gloss cabinets. These have recessed handles to reinforce the clean uncluttered look. The white is contrasted by gleaming Black Marquina floor tiles enlivened with streaks of white.

"Wherever possible, we have laid the marble so the grain appears continuous," says Yong. "The flooring continues in the living area, which is a step down from the dining-kitchen platform."

To further enhance the semi-industrial bar aesthetic, there is a suspended steel shelving unit above the long benchtop, and the cabinetry has aluminium toekicks.

Yong says the cooking centre is positioned on the far side of the bar area, and is designed for Western-style cooking. As with most Malaysian homes, there is a separate semi-outdoor wet kitchen for preparing local dishes.