How tight space restrictions were overcome in this sleek kitchen design

A wealth of storage is tucked out of sight in this family kitchen which achieves a dramatic presence without detracting from the sea views

A white waterfall benchtop flowing over a wood-fronted architecture, countertop, interior design, kitchen, waterfall benchtop, timber, black cabinetry

Breathing space – chairs are tucked right under interior design, kitchen, black cabinetry, timber, di Rosa Cabinetry & Furniture

Space is at a premium in this contemporary house, interior design, kitchen renovation, tight spaces, di Rosa Cabinetry & furniture

On this kitchen design, the perimeter cabinetry’s minimalist architecture, countertop, interior design, kitchen, window, di Rosa Kitchen & furniture

A fixed low glass window is incorporated into architecture, cabinetry, countertop, house, interior design, kitchen, black, gray

This kitchen is constrained by floor-to-ceiling glass doors architecture, countertop, benchtop, house, interior design, kitchen, black, di Rosa Cabinetry & Furniture

What can you do if you have limited space for your kitchen?

One approach is to turn the limitation to an aesthetic advantage – which is exactly what designer Glen Diprose did for the kitchen featured here.

The kitchen is part of a new home and the owners wanted a minimalist, modern design with a dramatic presence and plenty of storage, preferably tucked out of sight, says Diprose.

“However, it was a tight space to work with, having floor-to-ceiling doors at each end of the kitchen and a stairwell almost directly in front.”

To optimise movement in this through area, the island was designed with sufficient space to tuck the breakfast stools right in when not in use.

To give the kitchen a sense of drama and to address storage requirements, Diprose designed a full wall of rear cabinetry in a dark finish.

To further maximise storage he added internal drawers behind the full-height cabinet doors and introduced more drawers on the island.

And it isn’t just the storage that disappears from sight when the doors all close.

“We also integrated two fridge/freezers, and chose a flush cooktop matched with a concealed power pack rangehood, to keep the clean look.”

While having only a simple recessed handle pull running right across the bank of cabinetry adds to the kitchen’s minimalist look, it wasn’t that easy to achieve in practical terms.

“It was tricky to continue the finger pull handles across the integrated fridge/freezers,” Diprose says. “In the end, we applied custom steel to the appliances and painted this to match the cabinets – thus continuing the handle line.”

A glass balustrade was chosen for the adjacent stairwell so the kitchen wouldn’t feel constricted by the proximity of the stairs.

The kitchen’s perimeter benchtop is in a dark Dekton to match the rear cabinetry. And Diprose ran this heat-resistant surface on beyond the window as part of the outdoor barbecue area.

“However, the waterfall countertop on the kitchen island is in a white Eurostone – giving it a stand-out presence. The front of the island, drawers included, is finished in wood to bring a warm contrast to the cool wall cabinets.”

Wood is also repeated in the cooking zone to visually connect the front and rear of the kitchen.