Crisply modern

It's not so long since the days when the biggest decorating budget was given over to the formal living room. Today, it's the kitchen in the limelight and that's because the kitchen is just as much about entertaining as it is about cooking.

This new kitchen was designed with exactly this in mind. The kitchen, which was a collaboration between designer-owner Fiona Wilson and Kady Ward of Matisse Kitchen Design Studio, replaces a dated early '90s kitchen in granite and a variety of lacquered timber veneers.

"Although well designed, the original kitchen was a victim of its time," says Wilson. "This kitchen is all about entertaining the island works as a bar where people can pull up a stool and socialise."

Wilson says she has always been an admirer of Arclinea kitchens designed by Antonio Citterio, so she specified Arclinea stainless steel and black cabinets.

"Being mindful of the budget, we opted for a combination of black lacquer and laminate doors. And the bar top at one end of the island is black oak."

Wilson says the mix of materials adds textural interest. The design team also specified two different handle styles recessed and negative-detail pulls.

Ward says accommodating the large collection of appliances in a relatively small space was a challenge.

"Putting the cooking centre within the island helped organise the kitchen. And the Arclinea extraction riser avoids the need for a hood."

Other special features of include a colour-changing RGB light pendant.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Jamie Cobeldick