Makeover magic

As the centre of operations, the island plays a prominent role in contemporary kitchen design. Its sense of importance is even more defined when it is treated as a stand-alone feature of the kitchen.

This kitchen, designed by NKBA member Colleen Holder and manufactured by McGregor Kitchens, reflects such a design approach. A large white-lacquered island with a deep CaesarStone Snow benchtop forms the centrepiece of the room. The island provides a dramatic counterpoint to the perimeter cabinetry, which features Laminex Lustrous Elm a wood-look laminate with a distinctive horizontal graining.

"The client wanted the stark look of the CaesarStone, with its pure white quartz, to make a bold contrast to the visual warmth created by the laminate doors and timber flooring," says Holder. "For this reason also, all the cabinetry is clean lined, with aluminium-strip drawer and door pulls."

The CaesarStone benchtop is 120mm deep on the front, but reduces to 60mm on the other side of the island, which houses additional storage and a dishwasher.

CaesarStone, which is distributed by The Laminex Group, was also chosen for its practicality.

"I have specified CaesarStone many times and it has always lived up to expectations," says Holder. "I particularly like the selection of colours available, and the fact that the quartz is nonporous, which makes it resistant to staining and, on top of that, very low maintenance."

Holder says the low-pressure laminate on the cabinetry was a cost-effective way to achieve the required wood veneer look. The Lustrous Elm colourway was chosen to match the shade of the new timber flooring in the kitchen.

For more information, contact The Laminex Group, freephone 0800 303 606. Website: www.thelaminexgroup.co.nz.

To contact Colleen Holder Design CKDNZ, phone (09) 527 1420, mobile 027 479 6444. Email: colldesign@xtra.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas