Large, open kitchen with black, monochromatic palette and steel island

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Morgan Cronin kitchen with metal island, large scullery, dark colours and diverse material palette

This clean-lined kitchen merges with the wider environment interior design, kitchen, living room, real estate, room, gray, black — This clean-lined kitchen merges with the wider environment through the introduction of a bulkhead around the room. Black was chosen as the predominant colour because as well as adding a dramatic feel it also complements the timber surfaces in the adjacent open-plan living spaces.

This scullery can be screened from view by architecture, countertop, interior design, kitchen, gray, black

Under-cabinetry LED-light strips provide task lighting that complements architecture, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, under cabinet lighting, gray

This substantial island in a kitchen by apartment, house, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, brown, gray

This clean-lined kitchen by designer Morgan Cronin merges apartment, interior design, living room, real estate, room, gray

When the house has one appeal and the owners want another for their new central kitchen, it can be tricky to merge the two and achieve overall harmony. Sometimes, broad design strokes are required.

This sleek entertainer's kitchen forms the social hub of a large, open-plan living space. Morgan Cronin of Cronin Kitchens says the clients had asked for a unique, modern, minimal, clean-cut kitchen.

"As this was quite a departure from the home's generally traditional feel, the challenge was to meet the brief but also enhance rather than contrast that aesthetic."

The owners' pre-purchased stainless steel appliances two glass-door beverage fridges, a French-door refrigerator and 76cm oven were also to be incorporated.

This substantial island in a kitchen by designer apartment, house, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, brown, gray — This substantial island in a kitchen by designer Morgan Cronin incorporates a large, steel table frame which plays down the overall scale of the island and allows for plenty of leg room.

"To start with we made a modest alteration to the building envelope," says Cronin. "By moving one wall out over an existing deck area, the shape of the room was significantly improved and additional space was freed up for the large scullery.

"A bulkhead was introduced to create a continuous line around the room from the low point of the existing angled ceiling helping integrate the old and new."

New blade walls were also added to frame the entrance to the central scullery and define the drinks preparation area.

A commercial-style, secret cavity slider closes off the scullery when required.

"In terms of colour, black makes a bold statement and works well with the existing Rimu floors, windows and trim as well as the shiny stainless steel appliances. The minimalist black-on-black tones also give the kitchen its modern, clean look."

However, it's the contrast in materials black steel, black glass, black stone and black-stained oak that provides the kitchen's warm, tactile appearance.

The long metal-faced island draws the eye and is a feature of the design.

"The steel table frame, with its open seating area and fine legs, reduces the impact this large island has on the space. Plus this particular configuration gives ample bench space and seating and keeps it in proportion to the room's size," the designer says.

Credit list

Designer

Morgan Cronin, Cronin Kitchens

Benchtops

Steel island table frame and benchtop edge details finished in black powder coat; Absolute Black granite, honed and enhanced finish

Sinks

Blanco Silgranit Metra 9 and Subline sinks, both in anthracite finish from Hafele

Handles

Recessed aluminium in black powder coat

Ventilation

Bosch extractor power pack

Refrigeration

Fisher & Paykel French door fridge with water and ice; two Vintec glass-door refrigerators

Stools

Miunn

Awards

Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Kitchens – Highly Commended

Cabinetry

Doors and drawer fronts, American Oak ¼-cut veneer from GVP, stained black and finished in a tinted black satin finish polyurethane lacquer; island drawer fronts and side panels, constructed from 5mm-thick steel sheet, laser cut to size with black powder coat; drinks area over-cupboard doors, black powder coat aluminium-framed doors with toughened Indo Dark Grey glass inserts; black melamine combined with black Formica carcass interiors

Taps

Hansgrohe, black, with spray, by Philippe Starck

Hardware

Blum hinges and Blum Intivo Terra Black drawers; Blum HK door lift mechanisms fitted to five doors; Hafele bin frame with two 17L bins; Hafele Lemans corner shelving unit