Charm & circumstance

Symmetry, sophistication and a timeless aesthetic result when a contemporary-use, new kitchen is married to a character villa

Designer: "the design and workmanship is evident and

A light-toned, marble-look island together with the skylights

The departure from a traditional island with bar

Open shelving in the bar area allows the

Cabinet handles bring opportunity to introduce old-world brass

The upmarket kitchen merges seamlessly with the wider

The substantial scullery is to the right of

The hero piece is a cantilever dining table

Designed by Leonie Hamill, Cube Dentro

From the designer:

The brief – villa empathy meets a blank canvas

My homeowners were extending their substantial villa in the leafy suburb of Greenlane to incorporate a new kitchen, scullery and wine cellar.

Cube Dentro was given the design freedom to create something sophisticated with a clean layout.

Our owners respected a pared-back design approach, but also wanted each space to have its own distinct identity.

Otherwise it was a blank canvas to push creative boundaries and workmanship, while staying mindful of the wider aesthetics of a Victorian villa.

We considered something robust enough to take the knocks of a young child and beloved pooch.

Equal to a beautiful design was the realisation that functionality and a timeless aesthetic would be important for a family with a busy lifestyle.

Resulting design moves

A sense of sophistication, balance and calm was achieved through a limited colour palette of dark American oak cabinetry, contrasted with crisp white granite and pops of brass for a hint of luxe.
Beautiful symmetry has unfolded through the placement of an island in the centre of the room – the white countertop splices through the middle and creates a striking chequerboard effect with the rear wall cabinetry & splashback.
The hero piece is an incorporated cantilever dining table supported by stunning customised brass legs – much thought went into the design of this table and the result is a clever hint of vintage, influenced by the villa’s era.

The built in rangehood is a talking point with its chunky brass encasement around the bottom panel – repetition of the brass throughout the spaces keeps the design story cohesive.

Workmanship and design complexity continues in the wine cellar with its unique honeycomb shelving and warm strip lighting.
Finger tiles in the scullery again hint at the wider character of the villa and are illuminated with warm strip lighting – the granite countertop has been repeated in this room to create unity with the kitchen, along with further brass accents in the tapware.
Open shelving in the bar area is a hit with our homeowners, allowing them to display carefully curated glassware and treasures – again, this is an opportunity to dress the space with a touch of glamour and items from a bygone era to keep with the villa theme.
The departure from a traditional island with bar stools was a thrill to our owners who adore sitting around the cantilever table – it feels more inclusive and social to face guests and this has become a heavily used feature of the space.

Overall

A progressive design has unfolded and our homeowners can imagine themselves growing with the spaces.

Timeless, robust and elegant – the design and workmanship is evident, but more importantly, much thought has gone into uniting the project with the wider aesthetics of a 19th century villa.