Going with the grain

Designed by Melanie Williams, Matisse

From the kitchen designer:

The brief – a shared use kitchen for a busy family including a culinary creative who requires uninterrupted entertaining while preparing and cooking.

The area has an abundance of space which needed to be filled effectively so as to not have an empty void with a ballroom effect.

This was addressed by balancing the tall units with the expansive bench space and creating visual variety with the directions of the woodgrain as well as having a bench/work/entertaining area that contrasted in colour and texture with the block of the adjacent space.

The innovative pantry storage, copious amounts of drawers, integrated fridge freezer and Gaggenau 200 Series cooking appliances, filled out and balanced the space beyond the benchtop area.

The wraparound bench area itself features Arclinea warm fossil oak wood veneer applied with a dark contrast of graphite matt lacquered wall cabinetry.

This is paired with the exclusive Arclinea Italia stainless steel integrated handle and PVD bronze plinths.

With the ability and space for the rangehood to be ducted to the external wall behind the cabinetry, this provided an open space above the wall units rather than a bulkhead.  

This created a bold horizontal element for the overhead cabinetry that teams well with the peninsular back panel of matching material.

A long bench height window was incorporated into the layout with a wraparound bench and continuation of the underneath cabinetry.

The trendstone quartz benchtop with boxed waterfall ends reveals exquisite open shelving using the matching wood veneer. 

Bold open wall shelves in lacquered grey contrast well with the accompanying matching quartz splashback.

Almost never attempted, the striking horizontal wood grains of the cabinetry complement the grain direction of the warm wooden floors.

Blended harmoniously together, the warmth of the wood threads through to the natural vein pattern of the benchtop.

This is offset by the dark toned appliances and black window joinery.

Designed by: Melanie Williams, Matisse

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Jamie Cobel