Timber veneer adds a softer touch to a semi-industrial style kitchen

With open-plan living now pretty much the norm in our homes, we can no longer consider kitchen design in isolation.

But it’s not just a case of making sure your new kitchen complements its adjacent living areas – a skilled designer can enhance the look and flow of the whole space.

Designer Leonie Metge took the opportunity to do just that when she was asked to create the kitchen for this large contemporary rural home.

Metge’s involvement in the project began at the concept stage, with the space for the kitchen and scullery having already been allocated. And at this early point, she was able to make key changes that would have a dramatic effect on the way the kitchen integrates with the wider open-plan interior.

“The home is very architectural, with a high cathedral ceiling in the living areas, exposed black steel beams running throughout, and epoxy concrete-look flooring,” says Metge.

Lowering the ceiling in the allocated space helped give the kitchen definition and also a more intimate scale.

Metge says that while an all-black kitchen would have had the required industrial look, the effect could have been too hard. Instead, she opted for a softer mix of timber veneer and black, plus some use of stainless steel.

But instead of limiting the stained American White Oak veneer to the kitchen, she extended it into the dining area on one side and a study on the other – so further integrating the kitchen into the wider space.

It also provided a much neater solution for access to the master bedroom located off the dining area. Instead of an obvious opening, the wood panelling incorporates a secret door into the bedroom.

With the kitchen space now well defined, the designer established the layout of the functional requirements.

The owners host dinner parties for up to 20 people at the large dining table so, as well as having a freestanding cooker in the kitchen, there are double ovens in the scullery, plus a dishwasher and sink.

A more casual, day-to-day dining table for four is attached to the island bench.

“All the elements had to be carefully balanced. We had to make sure nothing over dominated,” says Metge.

“All the materials tie in with those in the rest of the house, and the result is a nice soft elegance.”

Story by: Paul Taylor

Photography by: Kallan MacLeod