This elegantly balanced kitchen draws inspiration from a mid-century architectural aesthetic, featuring textural battens with natural materials, where the very fabric of connected family living in all its beauty is experienced. Our clients wanted a welcoming feel with warm, earth-sourced materials, a connection to the garden and a bespoke furniture look for their St Heliers new build.
In true mid-century style, a dramatic 4.2 metre elongated window is configured as a key form. Long oak cupboards above and white drawers below repeat the same horizontal rhythm and proportions, emphasised by layering hidden LED lighting to each of the three levels.
Weaving materiality with form, oak veneer warms the tall walls with battens expressed in an L-shaped motif. This motif is echoed in veneer treatments of both tall walls and subtly evident in the island plan.
The clients wanted it to feel “like the garden is right there”. Toni designed the 4m bench and three surrounding panels to extend deep into the window jambs - a complex detail created to seamlessly frame their intimate garden beyond.
This view from outside reveals the scullery beyond and the attention to fine detailing of each material to the glass frame, a careful collaboration of several trades at site. Wanting appliances hidden yet intuitively accessible, we tucked the fridge and ovens around the corner for a first-impression of elegance.
Meeting the client’s wish for the messy functions of baking and juicing, an open scullery is discreetly located behind; fitted with a sparkling chilled water tap and an overflow dishdrawer. Its materiality reiterates the kitchen in highly serviceable yet realistic Melteca equivalents from Laminex.
For the home planning centre and tall ‘breakfast pantry’, custom oak recessed handles are handcrafted with precision to fold seamlessly into the veneer door faces and side.
Benchtops feature an elegantly patterned quartzite, chosen for its serene beauty and earth-real character. Hand-picked at the suppliers, the Champagne stone with its textural grain and warm hues complement the oak cabinetry and waterborne-finished floors beautifully.
To encourage family connections, a hidden home-planning zone doubles for both homecraft and games. Two solid oak drawers inside are exquisitely crafted with simple round finger openings and a place for everything.
Kitchen Architecture’s ‘Activity Zoning’ design methodology with accessible storage planned with intentionality, have been rigorously created throughout this kitchen to keep the flow and ergonomics at its prime.
The island continues the battened pleat-like story balanced in white, allowing the stone to shine. For mere delight, Toni carved out a delicate curve to shape a seated gathering place. Each exquisitely crafted batten remains equally spaced using radial modulation geometries, 3D-modelling technology and 1970’s pattern making techniques.