Two-tone family kitchen provides plenty of space and storage

This project sits in the context of a beautiful Arts and Crafts residence. The owners loved the home's classic style featuring natural materials and hand-crafted detailing, but not so much the small, dark, outdated kitchen that went with it.

In its place, they wanted a modern kitchen opening out to a courtyard and terraced garden, says designer Pauline Stockwell.

"I designed a user-friendly kitchen suitable for a family of four plus friends. The four metre-long, white Corian benchtop doubles as a dining table for six. And, being engaged from early on in the design, I was able to locate this directly under the two skylights which provide sunshine at breakfast time. Corian was chosen for its aesthetic, with stainless steel used on the hob bench for practicality and ease of cleaning."

For a busy family, plenty of storage was a must and the designer added a large side pantry for food stuffs and breakfast preparation. There are also extra-wide kitchen drawers and over-cupboards for functional cooking items, while the extra-deep island houses additional storage.

The combination of dark and light materialsaccentuates the sleek design and also works with the wider Arts and Crafts interiors.

Story by: New Zealand TIDA Kitchens

Photography by: Paul McCredie