Sculptural centrepiece

Designed by Kate McMahon and Rob Nerlich, mcmahon and nerlich

From the designers:

At its core, this kitchen is an exploration of architecture’s ability to foster both grand-scale entertaining and deeply personal moments.

Designed with entertaining in mind, the kitchen is a sculptural centrepiece that seamlessly integrates with its surroundings. 

The robust, timber-clad island bench – free of services – becomes a gathering point, inviting conversation while framing the views of the flourishing garden beyond. 

Working functions have been relocated to the back wall, ensuring an uncluttered and serene aesthetic. 

The fridge’s placement within the walk-in pantry further optimises the space, balancing convenience with a refined design language.

The curved brick arc wall plays a pivotal role in the home’s spatial navigation, creating a fluid transition between the kitchen, dining, and outdoor areas. 

The relationship to the garden remains paramount, with seasonal flowering planting schemes bringing a dynamic vibrancy to the experience of being within the kitchen year-round.

One of the key challenges in this project was maintaining the kitchen’s sculptural integrity while meeting high functionality demands. 

The relocation of appliances and services required a reconfiguration of space – merging the laundry and pantry into a single, functional integrated area. 

Zones are considered; cleaning and cooking zones, with generous prep across and between; with consumables in the pantry domain along with high-use items (within reach of cooking and prep zones). 

Non-consumables are distributed between both areas, with higher-use items within easy reach of the island.

Materiality plays an essential role in reinforcing the project’s design philosophy. 

Tasmanian Blackwood veneer is an individual standout feature. 

Highly saturated, it confidently connects to place, referencing surrounding exterior trees and pergola timbers, weaving a narrative that extends to joinery throughout the home. 

The Grey Ether stone, from ArteDomus, provides a counterbalance to the warm saturation of the joinery, creating a tactile connection between interior and exterior, referencing the garden’s flagstone terrace and enhancing the home’s rich sensory experience. 

The integration of ZETR flush power points ensures that functionality remains subtle, maintaining the kitchen’s seamless aesthetic.

The reeded glass overhead cupboard doors, framed in a champagne hue, introduce a delicate transparency that lightens the kitchen’s spatial presence. 

Venetian plaster applied to the ceiling – layered on the underside of the existing first-floor slab – maximises floor-to-ceiling height while meditating on the beauty, longevity and thermal mass of the existing concrete.

The joinery accommodates a dedicated wine fridge for serving wine at optimal temperatures, alongside zones for both medium-term and long-term cellaring. 

Such details speak to the project’s ability to integrate luxury with functionality, meeting the owner’s needs without compromising visual integrity. 

One-off detailing includes a discreet hanging rail over the laundry sink – enhancing practicality without disrupting the room’s visual harmony.

Sustainability is also carefully considered.

• Waste and pollution strategies included the retention of existing structures to minimise demolition waste and embodied carbon, reducing new energy footprint.
• Low-carbon, high-performance materials were specified, including extensive FSC-certified timber and pozzolan brickwork – thermal mass benefits are a strong feature.
• High-performance glazing, enhanced insulation above NCC minimums, and airtight construction details with a reference to Passivhaus, minimise energy use; a fully electric system eliminates reliance on fossil fuels, improving long-term sustainability.

Throughout the kitchen there is balance between sculptural form and functional pragmatism. 

Both a centrepiece and a quiet enabler of everyday life, the kitchen adapts effortlessly from large-scale entertaining to intimate family moments. 

By prioritising the connection to nature, resolving spatial challenges with elegance, and celebrating craftsmanship at every turn, this project reflects the highest standards of architectural design.

Story by: Trendsideas