Divide and rule streamlined entertainer's kitchen by Leonie von Sturmer

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Streamlined entertainer's kitchen by Leonie von Sturmer

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von furniture, interior design, kitchen, product design, table, white — Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von Sturmer Design featuring marble benchtops, sleek cabinetry, long drawers, two ovens and refrigerators, and a computer riser.

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von floor, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von countertop, furniture, interior design, kitchen, product design, table, gray

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von furniture, interior design, product design, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von interior design, kitchen, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von architecture, house, interior design, property, real estate, table, gray

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von countertop, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von product design, tap, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, product design, table, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von floor, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, product design, room, gray, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von cabinetry, countertop, interior design, kitchen, product design, room, gray, white

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von ceiling, ceremony, function hall, home, interior design, light fixture, lighting, lobby, restaurant, room, table, brown, black

One way to bring a more human scale to a large kitchen is to break down its forms visually. This might mean adding counter surfaces in two contrasting materials, or finding a fresh way to frame the cabinetry.

This kitchen, by designer Leonie von Sturmer, forms part of a rear-of-house extension that incorporates the outdoor living space and pool to create one long entertainer's area. Von Sturmer says the owner wanted the kitchen to look pristine when entertaining, so all appliances are integrated or relegated to the walk-in pantry, which acts as a discreet workspace.

"I finished most of the kitchen surfaces in white to merge with the greater volume, but I also added contrasting materials that anchor the kitchen and help delineate it," says von Sturmer.

Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von ceiling, dining room, home, interior design, light fixture, lighting, restaurant, room, table, wall, black — Kitchen designed by Leonie Von Sturmer of Von Sturmer Design featuring marble benchtops, sleek cabinetry, long drawers, two ovens and refrigerators, and a computer riser.

"The large L-shaped island plays a central role in this. For the long cantilevered section, I chose a durable engineered stone in white this part of the island is used as a breakfast area for the children and includes seating for four.

"However, the shorter counter is a built-up marble slab in black, which gives the impression of a dense, heavy worksurface. This is the area of the island the grownups often gravitate to over drinks. This section has a furniture-like appeal and is an appropriate entry point to the kitchen from the living areas. As a result, the island appears as two separate but connected elements."

The bank of wall cabinets is another substantial element within the long run of rooms. This piece has also been tamed by material contrast here, a stained-timber canopy frames the entire cabinet block, breaking up the serene expanse of white.

"It was important to balance these two forms because the design is so pared back. However, the owner also wanted plenty of storage, which can be tricky in a minimalist kitchen. To solve this, I added large-capacity drawers throughout even the glass backsplash slides back to reveal additional shelving."