Cafe-style kitchen

Kitchen renovation designed for professional chef features cabinets, black granite benchtop, glass mosaic tiles, oak bar top

A place for everything and everything in its cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray — A place for everything and everything in its place baking supplies are kept above and below the baking workstation in this kitchen designed by Toni Roberts. With three ovens and plenty of bench space, it is possible for several people to work in the kitchen simultaneously. The splashback features shimmering mochaccino-coloured glass mosaics that ensure glamour is not sacrificed for functionality. The door at right leads into a matching laundry.

Positioning the main work area so it faces countertop, glass, interior design, kitchen, gray, black

A removable wood prep board is integrated into countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, real estate, white

A warm brown stain on this oak bar countertop, interior design, kitchen, gray

Coffee colours and natural woodgrains bring an inviting, countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray

Modern cooking can provide a real sense of theatre, especially if the chef is a professional. But even for amateur cooks, the kitchen has become a focal point for entertaining.

This new kitchen was designed for Tracey and Dave Bartlett, who run a highly successful cafe and catering business, and not surprisingly, it had to meet the needs of the professional chefs in the family. Toni Roberts of Kitchen Architecture was commissioned to remodel the kitchen, to make it larger and better equipped.

"The family love to entertain, but they also use their kitchen for food testing and baking," Roberts says. "They required a main work area that would allow Dave to cook facing outwards, so he could talk to guests. There also needed to be bench space to plate up for 10 or more people. And they required a separate baking area and a drinks zone."

Roberts configured a 1.5m extension to the house to accommodate these elements, collaborating with the architectural draftsperson to ensure the design met council requirements.

"We needed to angle the ceiling at the end of the kitchen, but this is largely concealed by the bank of full-height cabinetry."

The designer positioned the baking area on this rear wall, but retained part of the original walls to accommodate cavity sliders and to minimise structural changes.

"These doors can be closed to screen off the baking zone from the drinks area on the right. This is especially helpful if the food mixer is being used. It functions like a scullery, but it's a lot more open and pleasant to work in we introduced a new full-height window to this end of the kitchen so it is flooded with light."

The main food preparation area comprises a sink bench under the window, and a long island with an induction cooktop. An L-shaped bar top provides additional bench space for plating up.

"We continued the mainly black and white colour palette from the family room, but also introduced warm coffee shades, which give the kitchen a cafe aesthetic," says Roberts.

The mid-brown stain of the oak bar top highlights the woodgrain, while a dark-stained suspended shelf visually balances the Cosmic Black granite of the benchtop beneath.

"We teamed this with new classicwhite cabinetry recessed panel doors provide an enduring, handcrafted look," says Roberts.