Room with a view

In most modern houses, the kitchen is the operations centre, which is why it is often positioned in the heart of the home. However, sometimes there is a need to provide a degree of separation between formal and informal living areas.

In this house, the kitchen takes pride of place in the centre of a large living space with a spectacular lake view. But the separate areas within this space are defined by the position of two semi-freestanding cabinet units, which act as room dividers.

Kitchen designer Lloyd Richardson of Lloyd's Joinery, who worked with the owners, Margo and Tom Pryde, says these two walls of kitchen cabinets were also designed with respect to the living spaces on either side. To the left is a reading room, and to the right is the living area.

"Rather than having a flat wall on the other side of the cabinet units, we provided bookcases in the reading room, and panelling to the side facing the living room."

Glazing at the top of the pantry units and a bifolding door allow the reading room to be closed off if required. But, because the owners didn't want an open door to interfere with the easy flow between the rooms, the door folds away into the cabinetry when not in use.

The two rows of cabinets effectively create a U-shaped kitchen, with a galley-style work area. Richardson says the shape and the neutral material palette of the kitchen ensure the dramatic view remains the focus.

"When you are working at the sink bench, you feel as if you are hovering just above the lake," he says. "This feeling is enhanced by the window that opens right onto the rear benchtop, which can act as a servery to the terrace."

Benchtops, including the island top that wraps down the sides, and the lower splashbacks feature white Quantum quartz stone. To provide a refined look, the 20mm benchtops were rebated so they present an edge of just 10mm.

"This creates the effect of a thin skin wrapping the benchtops," says the designer. "As with many other features, the elements that appear simple usually involve the most challenging processes."

Underbench cabinets are in light oak veneer similar veneer splashback panels either side of the contemporary rangehood reinforce the horizontal lines of the kitchen. There is also an anodised aluminium shelf providing symmetry with the rangehood.

"For visual consistency, the dimensions of the appliances and the cabinet fronts line up right around the kitchen and even on the cabinetry in the rooms on either side," says Richardson.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Jamie Cobeldick