Pure and simple

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Pared-back design and hidden storage solutions make this kitchen an unassuming backdrop to a lively living area

This is one end of the bench of cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, lighting, room, tile, wall, wood, gray — This is one end of the bench of this simple kitchen

View of the bench & cabinets - View cabinetry, countertop, interior design, kitchen, room, under cabinet lighting, brown, gray

Outlook of the kitchen sink & tapware - bathroom, countertop, glass, interior design, plumbing fixture, product design, sink, tap, black

The simple kitchen & dining table - The architecture, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, house, interior design, kitchen, room, table, wall, wood, wood flooring, brown

Outlook of the kitchen oven & it's splashback furniture, interior design, table, black, white

Overall view of the kitchen - Overall view architecture, cabinetry, countertop, interior design, kitchen, product design, room, gray

To make a strong design statement a kitchen doesn't have to be large, or feature lots of detailing and a variety of finishes. Sometimes, less really is more, as the kitchen on these pages illustrates.

Designed by architect Peter Monckton for his own home, the kitchen is a lesson in orderliness, with a design that is pared back to essentials.

The new kitchen is part of the major renovation of a 1920s duplex, which created one large living area from three small rooms. As the house is close to the ocean, Monckton says he wanted to create a relaxed, casual feel and borrow the traditional beach house concept of placing a kitchen along one wall.

"We wanted the kitchen to play a secondary role to the living areas, hence its simple, pared-back design," he says. "The kitchen needed to be a neutral backdrop, with art works and colorful furnishings providing the focus of attention."

A single 18ft-long Corian countertop and a bank of cabinetry are positioned against one wall. With metallic-painted cabinets above the countertop concealing all the small appliances, the only detailing in the kitchen is the small knob handles of the doors and a single mixer. Monckton says even the Corian countertop, which has an integrated sink, features a fine, mitered edge, rather than a lip.

The cabinet doors immediately above the countertop lift to expose appliances and power outlets, while the next row of cabinets provides storage for crockery and glasses. White-painted drawers below the countertop are used for pot storage.

Overall view of the kitchen architecture, cabinetry, countertop, interior design, kitchen, product design, room, gray — Overall view of the kitchen

A floor-to-ceiling black, color-backed glass panel and backsplash at the left end of the kitchen help ensure the larger appliances are discreetly positioned.

Monckton says the cabinets, the countertop and a narrow skylight create a series of planes within the volume of the space. Sections that appear to have been sliced away add to the overall composition. The effect is further enhanced by a mirrored kickboard that is recessed four inches, making the lower cabinetry appear to float within the space.