Flowing aesthetic

Reconciling the client's needs and desires for a new kitchen project can be something of a balancing act. For example, if a sense of warmth and a semi-industrial look are both on the wish list, some adroit material choices will be needed to achieve design harmony.

The owners of this modern kitchen, by designer Jonas Carnemark, made several such seemingly contradictory requests. The couple have a family and frequently entertain, and wanted the kitchen to be open to the views and have its own design presence, as it was to be in proximity to the living spaces, says Carnemark.

"Orientation was important in the design. The first thing I asked was where the owners' main focus would be in the kitchen. Naturally they wished to take in the outlook while they worked but I also wanted to ensure the most used elements would be there at their fingertips.

"The answer from both was the sink-prep area', so I set this in the island facing the scenery. The cooktop and substantial rangehood are in close proximity on the wall behind."

Carnemark also introduced a butler's pantry around a corner at the rear of the kitchen, so messy work could be out of the public eye.

The owners asked for a semi-industrial aesthetic but the kitchen also had to have a natural warmth. To achieve this, the designer selected SieMatic cabinetry in a walnut veneer.

"The natural warmth of the wood is a visual extension of the Santos mahogany floors the vertical grain seems to flow across the floor and up the sides of the cabinets," he says. "This orientation of the grain helps accentuate the height of the room and discourages the eye from looking deeper into the space toward the pantry at the rear of the kitchen."

Contrasting the wood finishes is a generous use of stainless steel a metal often associated with commercial spaces. The ovens, range hood, central counters, cabinet handles and toekicks are all in this shiny, resilient material.

An Italian granite with an exotic, delicate vein was selected for the tabletop and the counters on the perimeter. This stone echoes the coolness of the metal and as a natural material, creates an intermediary link with the cabinetry faces and the floor. The ruby red glass tile backsplash also strikes this midpoint, being cool to the touch and visually warm at the same time. Set behind the cooktop, it also evokes the glow of the fire from a traditional hearth or stove.

"The red glass is reflective to some extent, so when standing at the range there is a sense of the movement of the river behind," he says.

Also making a contribution to the design is the breakfast table. It points toward the outlook, and its understated, sturdy metal legs again reflect the semi-industrial sensibility.

This kitchen also lives up to the practical requirements of a family kitchen. Knee-height refrigerator drawers form part of a vertical stand of integrated refrigeration to the left of the cooktop area offering easy access to cool drinks for the smaller family members. Freezer drawers under the counter provide handy access to storage when unloading groceries, as does a pull-out pantry between the secondary oven and microwave and built-in coffee-maker.

"Precision storage is a feature of SieMatic cabinetry," says Carnemark. "Details such as a deep pot drawer by the oven that incorporates the toekick area into its volume bring efficiency, whether you are catering to the family or a crowd. Naturally, the river view draws the eye, but this kitchen offers a balanced backdrop, whatever the season or occasion."

Story by: Charles Moxham