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Light-filled, modern wood veneer kitchen has everything to hand to make family life easier.

Connected to the wider interior and zoned for efficiency, this contemporary kitchen makes light work of cooking, coffee-making and conviviality

​​​​​​​This light-filled kitchen by studio203 is built for apartment, architecture, building, ceiling, daylighting, floor, furniture, home, house, interior design, kitchen, loft, property, real estate, room, gray
​​​​​​​This light-filled kitchen by studio203 is built for action, with tight, economical work triangles, no overhead cabinetry above the rear work bench and a wall of cabinetry to one side, that contains everything from a pantry to generous refrigeration.

An effective kitchen design will likely be well connected in more ways than one. These include having distinct zones, so more than one can use the kitchen at once; an easy flow to adjacent indoor and outdoor living spaces; plus material references to the home’s wider interiors. This light-toned kitchen succeeds on all these fronts.

Together, the kitchen and dining area in this renovated home comprise a key gathering place for the family, says architect David Haseler.

“That’s whether it’s just to chat around the island or dining table, make a snack or drink, or to cook and share meals with family and friends.

“In addition, this central ground floor space is connected to the north-facing windows and garden, so benefits from the warmth of the sun and proximity of the herb garden,” Haseler says.


This kitchen by architect David Haseler has everything apartment, architecture, building, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, design, floor, flooring, furniture, home, house, interior design, kitchen, loft, property, real estate, room, table, tile, wall, gray
This kitchen by architect David Haseler has everything to make family life easier. There’s even a dedicated cupboard in the island for storing children’s school shoes. The side cabinetry houses tall elements such as the pantry and fridge, and the cooking zone is to the rear, while the sculptural island is designed to look the part with stools or without them.

The kitchen is comprised of three primary components. The first is the full height joinery wall – part of a wood lined volume in the centre of the home. This accommodates taller kitchen elements, including the refrigerator and pantry.

The second element is the rear perimeter cabinetry which includes the sink, dishwasher and stove below bench height. The back bench is free of overhead cupboards and incorporates a mirror splashback recessed into the wall.

The third part of the kitchen is the island bench which floats free in the space and offers a clear prep surface able to be used from all sides.

All three components are in a pared-back palette of Hoop Pine veneer and white laminate. And the white and wood surfaces don’t stand alone – they’re a continuation of the joinery style seen in other connected spaces.

“The kitchen is strategically zoned to make it easy for two people to use the kitchen at once.

“So, whether it’s making a cup of tea, loading the dishwasher, or prepping for lunch or dinner, no one gets in any one else’s way."

For example, the pantry, cutlery drawer, bin drawer and benchtop power point for kettle and toaster are all in proximity, creating an efficient work triangle for getting breakfast or a coffee.

Similarly, sink, dishwasher and bin drawer are all under the rear benchtop, with large drawers opposite in the island making loading the dishwasher or washing items in the sink easy.

​​​​​​​This light-filled kitchen by studio203 is built for apartment, architecture, building, ceiling, daylighting, floor, furniture, home, house, interior design, kitchen, loft, property, real estate, room, gray
​​​​​​​This light-filled kitchen by studio203 is built for action, with tight, economical work triangles, no overhead cabinetry above the rear work bench and a wall of cabinetry to one side, that contains everything from a pantry to generous refrigeration.

Lastly, pans, larger plates and utensils are located near the oven and cooktop, resulting in a close work triangle for a chef cooking up a storm.

The kitchen’s simple, understated palette and finishes means it forms a quiet backdrop to family functions in the reimagined dwelling.

The white laminate surface reveals the birch ply beneath, while waterfall ends on the rear bench and one end of the island add a craft-like appeal to the design. The integrated cabinet pulls are horizontal for horizontal components and vertical for the full height joinery wall.

The kitchen’s cubic forms read cleanly, with recessed skirting boards, end negative detailing and the mirror splashback all presenting the rear bench as a stand-out volume rather than just a continuation of the adjacent wall surfaces.

Credit list

Architect
David Haseler, studio203
Structural engineer
TTW
Lighting design
Petra Kleegraefe from Architectural Lighting Design
Cabinetry
Custom – white laminate on birch ply with shark-nose flush handles; hoop pine veneer on MDF
Benchtops
Custom – white laminate on birch ply
Kitchen sink
Blanco Quatrus double bowl undermount sink
Flooring
Bluestone, from Epic Stone
Awards
Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Kitchens – Highly Commended
Builder
Durant BDM
Joinery
Holtz Joinery
Sustainability consultant
Integreco
Cabinetry hardware
Blum soft close hinges; Hafele extendable towel rail
Splashback
Mirror glass from A&D Frameless
Taps
Caroma Liano Sink Mixer
Refrigeration
Fisher & Paykel, ActiveSmart, integrated
Lighting
Linear LED, from TecLed

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: John Gollings and Robert Gray

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