For all seasons

As any true foodie will attest, when you love to entertain, preparing for a casual meal outdoors provides just as much pleasure as catering for a formal dinner party.

So it stands to reason that a foodie's kitchen should not only provide all the amenities a chef needs, but also have a direct link to both the outdoor living area and the formal dining room.

This remodelled kitchen was designed to do just that. Architect Tim Nicol says the former kitchen was dark and small. It also had low ceilings, and no connection with the family living areas.

"The solution was to entirely reconfigure the kitchen, opening it up to the formal dining room and two outdoor terraces," says Nicol.

The kitchen was enlarged by eliminating a hallway and relocating the adjoining laundry room. The wall between the kitchen and formal dining room was also removed, and replaced with glass pocket doors. This means the owners can now enjoy the spectacular sea views while working in the kitchen, says Nicol.

Additional space was gained by utilising an empty 1m space between the ceiling and the floor above. This created the extra height needed to provide a band of clerestory windows.

"As well as bringing extra light into the kitchen, these windows provide views of the surrounding pine and eucalyptus trees," says Nicol. "The internal windows above the pocket doors are mirrored to keep the feeling of the clerestory windows going right around the room. The mirrors also reflect the views and light from the real windows."

Nicol says the kitchen is a little more formal than many open-plan kitchens the dining room can still be separated from the work space

Simple yet traditionally styled painted cabinets feature raised panel doors and hidden hinges. The white cabinets are complemented by cream-toned tongue-and-groove panelled walls. Interior designer Brenda Wilson says the off-white walls were needed to avoid a very bright, all-white look that would have seemed out of place.

"The tone-on-tone scheme, which echoes the patterned marble benchtops, provides added depth," she says.

A large island serves as both a food preparation and serving area. Wilson says the Calacatta Vagli marble was chosen for its veining and colouration.

"There are several colours within the marble, not just grey," she says. "The taupes and gold tones help to warm the kitchen visually."

Although the cabinets provide plenty of storage without the need for overhead cabinets, there is also a walk-in pantry. This provides additional benchtop space and is a place to store items used less frequently.

To ensure the kitchen is fully equipped for entertaining, large Thermador appliances were specified. These include a powerful rangehood and a 120cm cooktop with a marble splashback incorporating a pot filler.

The main clean-up sink is positioned at the rear of the kitchen, overlooking one of the two patios. Nicol says this courtyard is protected from the ocean breezes and is mostly used as an evening patio.

"With a large fireplace and a trellis structure overhead, this is virtually an outdoor dining room," he says.

A separate patio to the side of the kitchen catches the morning sun and is a favourite breakfast spot for the owners. This patio has ocean views and is shaded by a pine tree, so it can still be used in warmer weather.

Story by: Trendsideas