Vibrant finish

An assorted mix of modern and natural materials, combined with vivid splashes of colour, creates a kitchen that's at one with its coastal environment

view of this colourful kitchen using maroon colours ceiling, countertop, dining room, home, interior design, kitchen, living room, real estate, room, table, brown, orange — view of this colourful kitchen using maroon colours and polished timbers heavily

view of the kitchen showing maroon bench/eating area cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, table, wood flooring, brown

view of the kitchen showing polished timber flooring, chair, countertop, dining room, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, room, table, wood, red

Create a contemporary kitchen while maintaining the established ambience of a 1920s beach house. This was the brief the owner of this home gave to architect John Mills. He responded by using an eclectic selection of materials in an innovative way.

"As part of a complete renovation, I was asked to design something that reflected the personality and style of relaxed coastal living, while retaining the original essence of the home."

Mills says he prefers designing for individual impact, rather than following a fashion. This philosophy was recognised when he won a Resene NZIA Branch award for the project.

Walls that once separated the kitchen from the living and dining rooms were removed to create one large living space. The kitchen is now a busy thoroughfare, connecting various areas of the home. The curves of the island reflect the way people interact with the space, says Mills.

"People don't move in straight lines. So why design sharp angles? I like curves because it gives you less obstacles."

Copper on the island base reflects the grain of the matai tongue-and-groove floor and will develop an interesting patina.

The floor has been sanded back and given a coat of polyurethane paint to provide a simple, but durable surface.

Black kitchen cabinets help create an illusion of space, and seemingly vanish at night. Concealed lighting from the rangehood illuminates a hand-painted, blue tile splashback.

"The tiles pull the whole design together and act as a visual exclamation mark. This gives the architecture punch and individuality," says Mills.

The clients like a lot of colour, as shown by their choice of art, which inspired Mills' selections. Predominant colours include black, lime green and a rich purple on the plywood base of the island. This draws out the red tones of the walnut top.

"When combining wood types, it's important to select highly contrasting grains. If they are too much the same, things become discordant," says Mills.