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

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.

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.

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.

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: John Gollings and Robert Gray