Pride of place

In this day and age, custom-made has, to an extent, lost some of its meaning. However, if you specify an Italian kitchen, and it's made in Italy by artisans from a small family business who even fly over to install it then you can be confident you've received a truly customised service.

Such was the situation with this loft apartment. Originally two penthouses, the separate spaces were bought by one owner and remodelled into a single, five-bedroom space by Brian Connolly, from Zivkovic Associates Architects.

"One of the owners is from Pescara, Italy, where Favetta Kitchens a company renowned in Italy for its stylish designs is based. The kitchen works in relation to the adjacent family room that faces out onto a deck. Sliding doors allow three flowing spaces to be formed," says Connolly.

Zivkovic Architects' conceptual drawings were sent to Favetta Kitchens, who modified and refined the design slightly, as per the owners' instructions. To ensure the utmost accuracy, a Favetta Kitchens' team flew across from Italy to personally install the kitchen.

Overall, the design is relatively simple. A bank of touch-latched, white-lacquered drawers and cupboards surround the refrigerator. Other white accents include the back of the benchtop, with adjustable lighting providing a backdrop to the family room, and the benchtop itself which is white Corian.

Contrasting with the brilliant white is the distinctively striped zebrawood panelling. One modification included the addition of a low table to the island. Pedestal-mounted, it sits on a column of striped, compressed hardwoods. Adding texture to the floor is an inset of washed river stone tiling, set in a casing and covered with a durable acrylic, so it appears as if the pebbles are under glass.