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Sea shells from the homeowners' personal collection are inlaid into this island to remind them of past holidays

A view of akitchen, wooden cabinetry and flooring, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, room, orange — A view of akitchen, wooden cabinetry and flooring, concrete and granite benchtops, many accessories, pendulum and spot lights, white tiled splashback, glass cooktops, stainless steel sink, faucetry, ventialtion, microwave and ovens.

A view of akitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, cabinetry, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, table, orange

A view of a kitchen, wooden benchtops and cabinetry, countertop, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, room, table, wood, orange, brown

A view of a kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, room, orange

A view of a kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, wood, wood flooring, wood stain, orange, brown

A view of the banquette in the kictehn, coffee table, desk, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, living room, room, table, black, brown

A viewof a shell inlayed into the concrete macro photography, nautilida, gray, black

A close up view of the concrete benchtop. material, table, wood, wood stain, red

Often, it can be the smallest details that make a kitchen remodeling project stand out. These details can give the homeowner a chance to express a little of their own personality.

The owners of this holiday home gave their kitchen a personal touch by incorporating shells from their own collection into the island design. The shells hold special significance, as they were collected over several years on favorite holidays.

Fu-Tung Cheng, the designer of this kitchen, is fascinated by the use of shells in design. The ammonite shell is the icon of his company Cheng Design.

"It's a very compelling shape like a snowflake, in that they all look similar, but no two are ever the same. The very structure suggests the order of society and life itself," he says.

The homeowners approached Cheng because they wanted to freshen up their holiday home that had been custom designed 20 years previously.

"The house itself is a nice shape, but it's very conventional. They'd never had time to appoint it well, and there was no detailing work done," Cheng says.

Another motivation for the remodel was to combine the kitchen and adjacent breakfast room so the couple could spend more time together.

The homeowners liked Cheng's work for its sculptural elements, and the new island provided an opportunity to create a sculptural focal point.

Cheng has used this island design in several projects, and it can be built with open or closed shelves. The bamboo cabinetry is tapered, so it doesn't need a toe-kick. The oval shape of the island is both practical and aesthetic.

"It is easier to walk around rounded, half-circle ends. Elliptical shapes provide both ease and elegance they are slender and not as ponderous as a rectangular island," Cheng says.

One side of the island's concrete countertop cantilevers over the edge, allowing room for people to sit. Its sharp edge is protected by an amber-toned resin bumper inlaid with the owners' shells.