Jade Dynasty

This bold kitchen design forms the centrepiece of a new-build home with an expansive floor plan for a family with two pre-schoolers. The clients’ brief for their new kitchen was precise, says Kitchens By Design designer Marianne Gailer, an Elite Designer of the NKBA.

“Primarily, they wanted a warm and inviting feel, with lots of practical storage solutions, plus dedicated seating for family breakfasts. They also requested a scullery for Chinese cooking,” says Marianne. “They also wanted a wow factor ‘feature’ of some sort, and their preference was for an island, but were concerned about being seen while prepping food and cleaning up.”

Armed with this long list of requests, Marianne came up with a clever design, where the cooking, cleaning and preparation stations are located at one side of the kitchen space, creating an excellent work triangle for the ‘cook’ and at the other side, a space dedicated to casual seating and a ‘hang out’ for the kids, with toy storage underneath. The low built-in seating is a great spot for homework and snacking, and a double bi-fold door swings back to reveal the perfect breakfast and baking station.

The star of the show, however, is the island, with its hand-picked slab of jade marble framed in American oak and highlighted by LED lighting. This raised ‘block’ of marble hides the benchtop behind it, giving separation from the open-plan dining/living area. As a finishing touch, the designer specified mirrored toe-kicks to give the island a floating look.

The primary cooking area has been placed along the back wall to avoid onlookers. A matching jade marble splashback, along with integrating the fridge into the full-height cabinetry, gives the kitchen a seamless look, says the designer. The scullery behind the ‘secret door’ is where the Chinese cooking takes place. It has a second fridge, ample storage, with cooking and cleaning station, and a second bin next to the sink.

The experienced team at Kitchens By Design offers an integrated design-tocompletion service. If you’re looking for a new kitchen, please call (09) 379 3084 to make an appointment with one of their designers. Kitchens By Design’s showroom is located at 3 Byron Ave in Takapuna. For inspiration, take a look at some fabulous projects at www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz

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