Large central island makes kitchen the hub for entertaining and family life
Impressing with its clean lines, interesting materials and restrained detailing, this kitchen can meld into the architecture or steal the limelight as a social hub

A kitchen design often references elements beyond its own footprint, complementing or enhancing the wider interior design or even the home’s architecture or its views. This project, by designer Kirsty Davis, is a pared-back example.
“The kitchen forms part of a concrete, tilt-slab modern home with soaring 3m-high ceilings, an open layout, lots of windows and polished concrete floors. “In keeping with this look, the kitchen itself is sleek and contemporary – while at the same time creating its own statement,” says Davis.
“The kitchen is the hub of the home both in terms of entertaining and family life. So, the owners wanted a generous island with space for casual seating. In response, we designed the large, 6m-long central island with a mitred waterfall benchtop at one end and a gravity-defying 1.2m-long cantilever at the other – making it a feature and a secondary, informal dining space.”
In reality, the long, floating bench is underpinned by a steel supporting structure.
“The owners also wanted to take in the home’s rural and tree views while they prep or clean, so the hob and sink are set on the island.”
Another feature of the home is a rich Rimu batten ceiling with black negative detailing. Working with this, Davis designed a matching drop-down bulkhead to seamlessly house the cassette rangehood and ducted ventilation system.
Offering a modern, minimalist backdrop, the rear of the kitchen is a wall of white vinyl, punctuated by a line of reflective ovens. Storage and smaller appliances are fully integrated here.The large fridge-freezer, wine fridge and the dishwasher are all located in the open, walk-in pantry, accessed from the side of the kitchen.
Black painted glass splashbacks in the pantry were set at the same height as the wall-mounted appliances in the kitchen. And the pantry is also in the same colours and materials as the kitchen, making it appear as a continuation of the more social space.
“The owners really wanted a handleless, minimalist kitchen and to achieve this we used the Blum Servo-Drive drawer hardware and push-to-open doors as well as the advanced Servo-Drive Flex push-to-open hardware for appliances,” says Davis. “With the use of the latest materials such as the vinyl wall covering, and high spec hardware, the kitchen is at once highly contemporary, yet understated.”
Credit list
Designer
Benchtops
Wine fridge
Builder
Flooring
Taps
Liebherr Dishwasher
Awards
Cabinetry
Lighting
Ovens, cooktop, warming drawer, convection microwave, refrigerator, coffee machine, dishwasher
Waste disposal
Cabinet hardware
Splashback
Ventilation
Waste disposal
Story by: Blum New Zealand , New Zealand TIDA Kitchens
Photography by: Anthony Turnham
Blum fittings solutions make opening and closing furniture a breeze and bring enhanced user convenience to the entire home - and in particular to kitchens. More than 7,900 employees work hard all over the world to perfect the motion of Blum's fittings - lift, hinge and drawer systems.
New lean-to adds valuable space to this retro kitchen makeover
Clean-lined two-tone brown and white kitchen connects well with surroundings
Soft black and white finishes help integrate this kitchen into its bolder surroundings
For more than 30 years, Trends has promoted great home design ideas through its print, digital and online media.The Trends International Design Awards – TIDAs – take that involvement to the next level with the search for the best kitchens, bathrooms and homes across a number of the countries where Trends has a presence.
Home Trends Vol. 34/2
Placing the kitchen at the heart of a home is not just about creating a convenient zone for easy food preparation and eating meals.Just as important is the way it's seen as an attractive place where family can spend time together, or visitors or guests can gather.So what are the important aspects of the design that turn it into a social hub?