Remodel merges kitchen, dining and outdoor area

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Multi-use space by designer Kim Duffin

An appliance pantry and a powder room are bathroom, floor, interior design, gray, black

Open-plan family kitchen outdoor area by designer Kim architecture, ceiling, dining room, furniture, interior design, room, table, wall, gray, black

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Created by designer Kim Duffin, this multi-use space architecture, blue, ceiling, home, interior design, light fixture, lighting, living room, purple, room, wall, gray

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Created by designer Kim Duffin, this multi-use space interior design, real estate, gray, white

This multi-use space by designer Kim Duffin has house, interior design, living room, real estate, gray, black

This multi-use space by designer Kim Duffin has architecture, house, interior design, gray

In a climate that allows alfresco living most months of the year, it makes sense to open up a home's interiors to fresh air and sunshine. Designers may even go so far as to blur the line between indoors and outdoors completely.

This project by kitchen designer Kim Duffin forms part of a redeveloped home in an inner-city suburb. Duffin says he took the client's initial brief and applied his own vision.

"The design places a dining area, kitchen, appliance pantry, powder room and a large outdoor space at the rear of the home. We wanted to bring all these various elements together in one large volume, in a way that would optimize space and create a connection between all zones.

"The outdoor and indoor areas read as one space, separated only by large bifolding doors and a change in flooring direction. Similar tones and finishes link the two spaces visually."

The kitchen is set to one side of the room, downplaying its presence, with the prep areas out of sight, in the new appliance pantry.

"We were able to reconfigure the rear walls to assimilate the appliance pantry on the right, by the kitchen, and powder room to the left, near the stairs. Both ancillary spaces are hidden from view behind doors in the paneling. The refrigerator and freezer are also integrated, to the left of the appliance pantry door."

A window backsplash forms a connection to the outdoors and brings additional natural light onto work surfaces. Glass fronts on the upper cabinets also help make the room feel lighter. The long, linear nature of the cabinetry is accentuated by recessed aluminum pulls. The run of cabinets continues outdoors to the alfresco area. While the finished effect is seamless, all-weather finishes have been used outside.

To maximize floor space and downplay its presence, the island backs onto the booth seat at the head of the dining table. The raised seat back conceals kitchen clutter from diners.

"The tabletop is the centerpiece of the kitchen," says Duffin. "It has a clear acrylic substrate that allows the engineered stone to be side and backlit. LED lighting colors can be matched to any RGB-paint value the possibilities are almost endless."

As the room is open to a shared driveway, laser-cut aluminum screens bring a degree of privacy. This feature is repeated on the other side of the room, by the stairs.