For the connoisseur

Wine bottles suspended on steel rods form a backsplash in this sleek family kitchen, which also features a concealed home office

Architectural view of this modern kitchen angle, architecture, area, black and white, design, diagram, drawing, floor plan, font, line, plan, product, product design, structure, text, white, white — Architectural view of this modern kitchen

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Close-up view of the kitchen's splash-back - Close-up bookcase, furniture, interior design, shelving, brown, gray

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Close-up view of the oven & cellar - countertop, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, major appliance, gray

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Modern furniture featured in this contemporary kitchen cabinetry, countertop, furniture, interior design, kitchen, brown, gray

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Taking care of the practicalities in a kitchen design doesn't mean innovation has to be compromised. The best designs merge the two to provide a kitchen that offers something out of the ordinary.

This new kitchen is part of a major remodel of a 1980s house by architect Simon Rodrigues, who says the kitchen replaces a room that was internalized, with a limited outlook.

"The original kitchen related poorly to both the interior and exterior living areas," he says. "In reorganizing the floor plan, the existing porch, entry and passage were absorbed into an enlarged living space and the kitchen placed against the west-facing wall."

A large, horizontal window, with a window seat, was introduced to the north wall to provide views of an elevated pool and waterfall.

Rodrigues says because the west wall sits against a retaining wall, and is relatively cool, it provided an ideal position for wine storage.

"The owners wanted to display part of their wine collection," he says. "And while this wall doesn't include their premium collection and is not climate controlled, it is naturally insulated."

The wine bottles, which are suspended on long steel rods, appear to float between the countertop and ceiling. Bronze mirror glass behind the bottles, and bronze-tinted glass sliding doors create a warm, cellar-like ambience.

But the kitchen is far removed from any other rustic connection. Sleek, parallel CaesarStone surfaces, including a 12ft long island countertop, provide a highly contemporary galley-style layout. Both counters are visually anchored at one end by large box elements.

The tall cabinet against the wall houses the oven and refrigerator, while the freestanding box at the end of the island provides a pantry and small appliance storage. This cabinetry also incorporates a small home office the doors facing the living area open to expose a desk and computer area. There is also space for school bags and a bulletin board.

"Positioning these box elements at this end of the kitchen ensures the views are not interrupted," says Rodrigues. "The cabinets also partially conceal the hallway to the bedrooms, making it more discreet."

A warm neutral color palette, which includes a Laminex-designed wood veneer on the island, ensures the kitchen doesn't dominate the overall space.

The architect has also introduced a sense of intimacy, with a new dropped ceiling above the kitchen to accommodate the air conditioning system.