It's all white

Contemporary kitchen design is all about paring back the decorative elements and concentrating on the basics. Sleek, simple and streamlined are all words that conjure up the essence of minimalism. They're also the words given to designer Linda Haefeli by the owners of the remodelled house featured on these pages.

"The owners had a very clear idea of the type of kitchen they wanted," says Haefeli. "It needed to be very sleek and minimal, not fussy. They didn't want any nooks or crannies where dust could gather."

Haefeli says the kitchen also needed to fit in with the look of the rest of the split-level house, which has many new contemporary features.

"Narrow aluminium skirting boards and aluminium- rather than timber-framed doors typify the detailing in the house," she says. "The owners wanted the kitchen to reinforce this look."

To ensure the open-plan living area would be large enough to accommodate their requirements, the kitchen was pushed back beneath the stairs that lead to the floor above. This created a much larger space for the kitchen, dining and living area, which were formerly quite constricted.

In keeping with the minimalist requirement, the kitchen was built to a simple galley layout. A bank of white lacquered cabinetry forms the rear wall, while a large, 1200mm-wide, island-style peninsula provides the work surface and additional storage.

The benchtop and waterfall side of the peninsula are a standard white Corian. The peninsula doors and drawers are also Corian they feature a Boffi Kitchens proprietary system that is a lighter weight than the benchtops.

"The owners' love of symmetry determined the design of the cabinetry on the rear wall," says Haefeli. "We started with an integrated side-by-side Liebherr refrigerator-freezer in the middle of the units, then positioned Miele appliances at either side. Matching cupboards on the other side of these appliances provide pantry and crockery storage."

These cupboards have the same handles as the Miele appliances. Both cupboards incorporate benchtops.

To continue the streamlined theme, the owners chose a Boffi sink and gas cooktop, which sit flush with the benchtop. The cooktop has the elements in a line, rather than front and back. The sink was also chosen for its large size.

Haefeli says the owners' desire for a highly visual, uncluttered kitchen exten-ded to the decision not to have any form of overhead or in-bench ventilation.

"There is plenty of cross ventilation in the kitchen. And, as much of the cooking is done outdoors on the barbecue, we didn't feel there was a great need for a rangehood anyway."

Haefeli says a touch of whimsy was provided by a strip of LED lighting above the cabinetry. Originally designed to provide standard white light, the owners chose to introduce coloured lighting.

"The LED strip is a bit of fun it also works visually with the coloured blue glass door panel at the top of the stairs."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes