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Glass, stone and metal combine to cool effect in this minimalist kitchen with cleverly integrated storage space

A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and countertop, floor, furniture, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, table, gray — A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, stone benchtops, pendulum lights, stools, stainless steel sink, faucetry, fridge, ventilation and hob.

A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, room, table, wood, wood flooring, gray

A view of the kitchen, stone benchtops, wooden countertop, interior design, kitchen, gray

A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray

A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray

Designing a minimalist kitchen that makes a bold design statement which at the same time functions practically in a family home is a challenging proposition.

The architect-designed home where this kitchen is located is all about clean lines and open, clutter-free space. The kitchen had to fit with this look, but also provide for the day-to-day and entertainment needs of the homeowners and their children.

Kitchen designer David Kane of Pepper Design took several design cues from the architectural characteristics of the home. In places the house has thick, white interior walls, giving it a solid, substantial feel. Kane wanted to replicate this in the kitchen, so he chose a 60mm-thick, white composite stone to create the island. Rather than just use the stone as a benchtop, Kane also used it to create a vertical support on one side of the island, giving it a chunky and robust side profile.

The island is designed to function as what Kane calls a central dialogue area during social occasions, and as an additional food preparation and informal dining area the rest of the time.

"Having a second sink in the island provides an extra space to peel vegetables if there is more than one cook in the kitchen - or it can be filled with ice and champagne during a party. It's a feature which is very popular with the client," Kane says.

The low, long, horizontal window on the kitchen's end wall suggested a similar shape for the kitchen cabinetry. The client initially didn't want any wall-mounted cabinetry in order to preserve the minimalist look. However, Kane suggested that a small glass-fronted glassware cabinet would provide the kitchen with a linear look to match the window without appearing cumbersome.

Kane and the client settled on sleek, black glass-fronted cabinetry for the kitchen's back wall. The glass provides a tonal and textural contrast to the paler white of the benchtop, which is made of the same composite white stone as the island top. An inset aluminium groove along the top of the doors functions as a handle without interrupting the glossy form of the cabinetry, and provides a further nod to the shape and materiality of the window.

Aside from its aesthetic qualities, the cabinetry is extremely well made. The carcass is shock and chip resistant thanks to PVC edging, while panels that contact the floor are finished with 6mm thick aluminium on all edges for watertightness.

Whereas an average kitchen's life span might be 10 to 15 years, Kane estimates that this cabinetry will last for 20 to 25 years. The superior quality is one of the reasons Kane says this kitchen has a furniture-like feel to it should the owners move, he expects the kitchen to go with them.

The oven and steam oven/warming drawer are mounted next to each other so that both are at optimum height. Cupboard and pantry space is concealed behind the doors that surround the appliances, which close flush with the wall.

To ensure a fully integrated look, Kane has done away with kickboards, pointing out that they are not required with tall units as you never stand close enough to them to require an indent.