Seeing double

Most of us expect a kitchen to be hard wearing but, to be fair, the durability depends on the amount and type of use it is exposed to.

The owners of this home are realistic about the knocks their kitchen will likely sustain over time. With four children of their own, and a large circle of family and friends who regularly eat with them, they put function high on their list for architect and kitchen designer Duane Stone.

"We want a large, easy-to-use, kosher kitchen. It also needed to be family-friendly and the hub of our home," says one of the owners.

"We regularly entertain friends and family for festive meals, so we wanted plenty of space for cooking, plus seating in the kitchen and adjacent family areas for quite a lot of people," she says.

This kitchen includes two of most things two islands, one with four chairs that can also be used as a breakfast bar, and a second, with a built-in bookcase and storage for children's games, that creates some separation between the kitchen and family dining table. There are also two sinks, dishwashers, ovens and refrigerators, as well as double sets of crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, all stored in separate pantries, so the owners can easily adhere to kosher cooking practices.

The family dining table and a partially separate living area provide the flexibility for entertaining that the owners require.

"The kitchen is here to be used, but we also want it to look good," says the owner.

Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and stained wood cabinetry are hard-wearing and easy to clean. The highly patterned granite on one island helps disguise spills and crumbs, while the black granite on the second island and the perimeter work areas has a brushed finish so fingerprints don't show. Stained rather than painted wood on most of the cabinetry is also easier to look after.

"This is a large kitchen, so a mix of finishes and materials makes it more lively," says the architect.

Zimbabwe Black granite countertops contrast with the light-stained wood cabinetry, while the dark lacquer on the pantry door and the cabinetry on one island breaks up the space and adds extra interest. The highly patterned Juparana Delicatus granite on the other island introduces movement and vibrancy to the otherwise muted finishes inthe kitchen.

Moldings on cabinet doors and drawers are simple and contemporary, in contrast to the more traditional detailing in the rest of the house.

Story by: Mary Webb