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Designing a kitchen in a new home brings freedom of expression and a few constraints

View of a kitchen which features a hood architecture, ceiling, house, interior design, loft, gray, white — View of a kitchen which features a hood that is cantilevered from the wall, kitchen island, stainless steel benchtops, wooden splashback, kitchen appliances, cabinetry, lighting, timber flooring.

View of a kitchen which features a hood architecture, daylighting, house, interior design, product design, gray, orange

View of a kitchen which features a hood architecture, ceiling, countertop, floor, home, house, interior design, real estate, room, gray

View of a kitchen which features a hood architecture, interior design, product design, white, gray

iew of a kitchen which features a kitchen architecture, countertop, daylighting, home, house, interior design, kitchen, property, real estate, room, gray

iew of a kitchen which features a kitchen architecture, ceiling, countertop, daylighting, house, interior design, kitchen, loft, table, white

View of a kitchen which features a hood architecture, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, daylighting, home, house, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray

A new home's open-plan interiors imply a freedom of expression when it comes to designing the kitchen. However, being on view from adjacent living areas means there are some preset design boxes that need to be ticked.

Simple and geometric, this kitchen by designer John Gaynor forms part of a new house with a relaxed, open ambience. The client wanted a durable kitchen that would stand up to the rigours of family life.

"The environment helped shape the design of this kitchen," says Gaynor. "We created a strong, uncomplicated design that would not read as a kitchen when viewed from surrounding spaces."

In addition, materials were chosen to tie in with the broader material palette.

"The timber front matches the floors, the white cabinetry echoes the plaster walls, and the stainless steel benchtops chime with the adjacent window frames and breeze-block walls," Gaynor says.