For love of family

This kitchen – designed with a modern country lifestyle and young family in mind – features timber elements and a matt black theme

The owners had a modern country style in

The solid timber casual-dining island benchtop complements the

There is no visible rangehood while ventilation is

The kitchen's tones and finishes work well with

The scullery is completely tucked away. This is

We used matt black fronts with nano-technology finish

Minimalist pendants throw light on the stepped benchtops.

The kitchen is designed to cater to parents

The floor-to-ceiling wall cabinetry means the country kitchen

The kitchen cabinetry tones with other cabinetry in

Designed by Lara Farmilo, Akzente/Poggenpohl

From the designer:

The owners were building a very large home on acreage outside of Mangawhai, north of Auckland.

Because we had designed and supplied their kitchen for their previous home, they approached us with a blank sheet and a generous space.

In fact, we ended up designing the bar area, laundry and four wardrobes as well as the kitchen.

The owners had a modern country style in mind with timber elements and a matt black theme. They also wanted a low-maintenance factor, in consideration of their busy lifestyle with three boys in tow.

We used matt black fronts with nano-technology finish – showing no finger-marks – accented by a heavily embossed and structured timber décor set of doors on tall and wall units.

Wherever practical handles were avoided.

The solid timber casual-dining top complements the timber flooring and table tops – both dining and coffee tables.

The benchtops are 20mm Dekton Sirius with a rippled surface. Again, matt black but now introducing texture.

Minimalist lighting was chosen for above the island and below the wall units.

There is no visible rangehood while ventilation is by downdraft, set between the induction hobs and running down through the floor slab to the outside.

Cooking on the island was chosen so the owners could cook facing the outside, with its pool and rolling countryside outlook.

The two refrigerators are integrated, as are the dishwashers, for an uncluttered look.

All that’s on show are the two elegant Gaggenau ovens – and the glass-splashback, reflecting the view across the pool and the hills.

The scullery is completely tucked away. This is long, straight, and efficient with its own sink, dishwasher and boiling and chilled tap.

The bar has the same finishes as the kitchen, black top and black fronts, and is designed symmetrically around the glass door wine conditioner.

The owners say: ‘this kitchen is absolutely pumping before school – five of us in here preparing lunches, having breakfast, coffee talking and yet the kitchen copes so easily with the traffic volume because it is spacious and designed with immaculate attention to detail, we love it!’