Contemporary upmarket kitchen suits renovated villa setting

An effective kitchen design will reflect balance in form, tone and texture as well as fitting into the bigger design picture.

This large family kitchen with walk-in scullery by designer Morgan Cronin has been designed in conjunction with a substantial renovation of a double storey villa.

"In terms of looks, the owners wanted a contemporary aesthetic that combined timber, satin lacquer, marble and Corian," says Cronin. "The kitchen also had to both stand out as a feature and at the same time work well with its wider surroundings."

As the kitchen is a social hub for the family, the owners also requested seating at the island for four or preferably five.

The combination of the dark-stained, textured wire-brushed planked oak with honed white marble results in a classic-meets-contemporary look. These high-end finishes, contrasting texture and tone, ideally suit the renovation of the older home.

"To assimilate the new kitchen into its surroundings, we proportioned the wall cabinetry to be neatly framed by the nib walls and bulkheads," says the designer. "To further integrate the spaces, the traditional scotia continues from the living and dining room into the kitchen."

Similarly, the feature black 2.4m-wide custom extractor is designed to suit the proportions of the large kitchen window.

"However, it was a fine balancing act here as the rangehood needed to make a strong statement to ensure it wouldn't be lost in the mass of windows," says Cronin. "At the same time it had to be fine enough to not impede morning sun flowing into the kitchen or inhibit the view out to the kids playing in the backyard and pool."

And the kitchen is as hard-working as it is attractive and in keeping.

The large fridges and dishwasher are integrated into the cabinetry, with two more dishwashers located in the scullery.

The generous space available allows for the simple luxury of the chef being able to stroll out of sight into the well-equipped workspace around the corner.

Cabinetry interiors feature advanced hardware and compartmentalised storage while some have interior lighting.