Thoroughly modern makeover

Designed by Shane George Design

From the designer:

This kitchen, in an historic, double-storey villa in Ponsonby, was given a thoroughly modern makeover. 

The owners, who are in the food industry, used the words ‘dark’ and ‘moody’ when describing the look they wanted. 

Both are keen cooks and this dictated the appliance selection and their functionality.  

Hence the four cooktop modules: gas, grill, teppanyaki and induction. 

An industrial scale extractor was also needed.

A particular challenge in this project was to accommodate this industrial scale extraction system. 

The large ducting is housed, and hidden, in the top cabinetry and runs down to the underfloor motor units. 

A new space was allocated for the kitchen which is basically in the centre of the home – the dining/family room flows from the kitchen at one end, and from there out to the rear yard, with its pool and pool house.

The opposite end of the kitchen is a formal living room accessed through glass French doors

This kitchen is open to view from the rest of the living areas, so a pared-back, integrated aesthetic was also required. 

The Negresco granite island reads as a solid block of stone, with ‘hidden’ seating for two at one end. 

A bank of open-grain, dark-stained Ash timber cabinetry sits behind the island, containing the integrated fridge, cooktop and storage. 

Above the cooktop blackened steel plate doors hide the extractor. 

Next to the chimney bricks, a slide-away door hides a small appliance garage.

Early on, the owner talked about wanting a strip of plants above the cabinetry, not only to soften the mass of cabinetry, but also to accentuate the height of the room. 

An integrated stainless steel trough was manufactured and set in the ducted area to accommodate and hide the plant pots.

Designed by: Shane George Design

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Olivia Atkinson