Relaxed kitchen celebrates traditional tones and minimalist cabinetry

Not sure what surface looks best where in your kitchen? Try looking to the surroundings. This kitchen with textured granite countertops is an exercise in making great material connections.

This kitchen had to work well for entertaining black-and-white, building, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, cupboard, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, home, house, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, material property, property, room, table, white, wood flooring, gray

Classic tones meet modern, minimalist touches like recessed architecture, beige, building, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, home, house, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, living room, loft, material property, property, room, tile, white, wood flooring, white

A long slender pendant contrasts the solidity of cabinetry, countertop, cupboard, floor, flooring, furniture, house, interior design, kitchen, material property, property, room, shelf, sink, tap, tile, white, gray

The semi-industrial patinated metal rangehood is a feature cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, house, interior design, kitchen, material property, property, room, shelf, table, tile, gray

Classic material – granite – meets contemporary slender countertop, cuisine, cutting board, dish, food, furniture, interior design, kitchen, room, table, tile, wood, white

Designed by Rachele Simmons-Taling, Berloni New Zealand

Design challenges:

The clients are not formal entertainers but host casual get-togethers frequently meaning the new space had to suit both their calm personal lifestyle as well as large gatherings of friends/ family.

They needed to feel comfortable, relaxed, and “at home” for both needs.

Design solutions:

For a serene, relaxed atmosphere and traditional tonal look, we chose the soft colour palette of a pale, warm beige for the minimal styled cabinetry and light oak flooring.

Their adjacent furnishings were dark chocolate leather, so we mimicked that colour on the wall cabinetry, plinth, island pendant and legs, tying those spaces together.

We married the stainless appliances with the grey concrete block wall of the lounge fireplace tying those cool tones together.

This coupled nicely with the metal patinated hood, which has the same beige matt lacquer as cabinetry then a dark grey wire-brushing effect on top.

Finally, the Matarrzo stone tied all the coloured elements together with its cream base, beige and grey veining throughout.

We chose the leathered rough finish to the stone for textural interest and a closer-to-nature feel.

Credit list

Designer

Rachele Simmons-Taling, Berloni New Zealand

Benchtops

20mm Matarazzo leathered granite with 40mm mitred side waterfalls on island; and 20mm Matarazzo leathered granite mitred waterfall on perimeter bench, from Universal Granite and Marble, fabricator AGB Stone

Lighting

Kitchen island pendant – Sweet 16 LED strip powder-coated finish; Kitchen ceiling – Starlight recessed spots in White finish; dining pendant – Vorona hand-blown glass bulbs in custom cluster; Kitchen cabinet – LED strip powdercoated finish, all from Coombes & Gabbie