VOLUME 32 NO 04(N)
home kitchen bathroom VOLUME 33 NO 2(U)
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CONTENTS Highlights from this issue of
HOME KITCHEN BATHROOM The design of your home is the result of your style preference, your requirements – and the influences of your site. The best way to get you started on your planning is to gather together as many inspirational ideas as possible. So to help you create the home, kitchen or bathroom you've always wanted, we’ve collected some of the latest design and product ideas in this issue of Trends. But you're not limited to what you'll find on the following pages – you also have access to much, much more when you head to the Trends website at Trendsideas.com There you'll find a wealth of design ideas and solutions in our 160,000 images, nearly 19,000 articles and 870 videos. And when you’re ready to start your home design project, we can put you in touch instantly with professionals and companies who can help to make all your final selections easier. Join us today on Trendsideas.com where you'll discover a whole new world of design inspiration!
HIGHLIGHTS Editorial Director Paul Taylor – paul.taylor@trendsideas.com Sales Judy Johnson – judy.johnson@trendsideas.com Costas Dedes – costas.dedes@trendsideas.com Enquiries sales@trendsideas.com Contact 011 649 571 5710 USA
The old interiors of this New York loft apartment were stripped out to make way for a light and open new design by Alexander Gorlin. You'll find more inspiring apartments at Trendsideas.com
Vibrant splashes of lime, layered worksurfaces and custom drawers for glasses make this MKS kitchen an entertainer’s dream. Head to Trendsideas.com to find more colourful kitchens.
This contemporary ensuite by Minosa strikes a pleasing balance between high-functioning design and the allure of natural materials. See more from this designer at Trendsideas.com
More ideas, information and inspiration, plus the full multimedia experience at Trendsideas.com
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homes
Lofty ambitions This renovation of a classic New York loft breaks down the typical distinction between a home’s public and private realms
Previous pages: Dating back to the 1900s, this New York industrial loft had already been converted to an apartment when its current owners bought it. Architect Alexander Gorlin says the existing apartment was a rabbit warren of small rooms, whereas his new configuration creates a large open and flexible space that suits both comfortable daily living as well as entertaining. Above: The existing apartment was totally gutted apart from the structural columns, and everything peeled back to reveal the original brick walls. The seating niche was created by removing smaller rooms that were in front of it.
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One of the general rules to follow when planning the layout of a home is to arrange the space so public living areas are separated from the more private areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms. But architect Alexander Gorlin took a different tack when renovating this industrial loft in New York’s Chelsea district – installing a large pivoting mirrored panel that creates a flexible connection between the new open living area and main bathroom and bedroom. Although the space in the original
1900s building had already been converted to residential, Gorlin says the existing interior didn’t suit its new owners or their lifestyle. “It had been chopped up into a rabbit warren of rooms,” he says. “We started by totally gutting and reconfiguring it so you could experience it as a single space.” With all the partitioning gone, Gorlin was left with a 250m2 shell, with just the support columns intact. The existing small-paned windows were replaced with large single panes to
give the loft a more contemporary feel, and any wall linings were peeled away to reveal the original brick walls. “It was a kind of archaeological excavation of the space.” From here, Gorlin aimed to make as few insertions as possible, an approach in line with the owners’ wish for their apartment to be one large open space – it needed to work for comfortable everyday living and for entertaining. One of the owners also had grown children who would visit occasionally,
and there was initially talk of including two guest rooms as well as the main bedroom suite. “But I convinced them to have just one guest room and to allocate more of the space to their own bedroom, so they would have a luxurious loft with one large, flowing entertaining area.” Gorlin says that from here the space planning was very simple. “The main living space needed to face the wall of windows overlooking 17th Street. And it made sense to put the main
Top: The open living area was positioned overlooking 17th St, leaving the quieter back of the apartment for the main bedroom. The owners have a number of collectible art pieces and furniture. The table is by architect Norman Foster, and the displayed leather jacket belonged to graffiti artist Keith Haring. Above: The apartment’s existing small pane windows have been replaced by large single panes to give a more contemporary look. The door of the service elevator in the background displays a backlit photo of fire escapes in Chelsea, taken by one of the owners.
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bedroom in the back of the apartment where it’s quieter.” The kitchen is a freestanding insert in between the living areas and bedroom. And it’s here that Gorlin added the 360° pivoting panel that’s mirrored on both sides. “It’s a fun feature,” he says. “A door usually means something beyond is private, but this is the opposite of what you’d usually call private.” If it’s closed, the mirrored surface reflects back the space you’re in. And
when angled open, it can reflect various views of the bedroom and the shower. “It adds to the flexibility of the space and has a sensual feeling to it.” While the granite-walled shower has necessarily some sense of enclosure, the open design continues in the bedroom, where the double vanity is a freestanding element in the space. Gorlin describes the overall interior as a fun New York loft. “It’s an exciting environment with a touch of the unexpected,” he says.
Facing page: The entry vestibule to the apartment. As throughout the apartment, the kitchen is designed as a freestanding element that doesn’t extend to the ceiling, reinforcing the interior as one large open space. Above: Doubling as workspace and bar, the kitchen island has a hand-nailed zinc top. Uplights emphasise the height of the space while the kitchen cabinets have glass fronts, lit from behind so they also glow. An inconspicuous passageway to the right leads to the guest and powder room.
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Architect: Alexander Gorlin Architects Interior designer: Larsen Design Builder: Olympic C&P Lighting designer: RS Lighting Design Doors and windows: MBR door; Olympic C&P Flooring: Wood from Reclaimed DesignWorks Paint: Benjamin Moore Light fixtures: Abovo Rain Lamp; Bec Brittain Shy 17 light Island countertop: Custom zinc from La Bastille Faucet: Grohe Leather bar stools: Moroso Granite: SMC Stone Showerhead: Fantini Rubinetti Furniture: Norman Foster Arc dining table; Hola dining chairs by Cassina; Dennis Miler steel torque tables; Michael Berman sofas; Eames chair by Knoll; bed by Berman Rosetti Rugs: Edward Fields Story by Paul Taylor Photography by Erik Petschek
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Previous pages: Public or private? This large 360° pivoting panel between the kitchen and main bedroom and bathroom is mirrored on both sides. Depending on the angle it sits on, it can reflect an image of the shower or the bedroom – or the living areas when fully closed. Right: The bathroom vanity is part of the overall bedroom space, while the toilet is behind the frosted glass door. Behind the tv wall is the shower – seen reflected here in the mirrored pivoting partition – with the kitchen and living areas beyond that.
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Pavilion in the sky Solidly grounded on a steep hillside, this home transforms into a glass and steel pavilion on the top levels, optimising its stunning outlook
Previous pages: Looking down on Queenstown, New Zealand, this home is supported by massive stone walls emerging from the ground, with long horizontal topping beams forming the floor plates at each level. Above and facing page: Working with a steep site, architect Francis Whitaker cut into the face of the hill to create a large basement that includes the garage, a wine cellar, and a lobby with a grand staircase and lift to access the upper floors.
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The view from the top of Queenstown Hill is truly breathtaking. However, its extremely steep gradient was certainly an issue for the architect who conceived this multi-level holiday home. On his first visit to the site, architect Francis Whitaker says it wasn’t clear how he was ever going to build a house there. “It’s an exceptionally difficult site – extremely steep,” he says. “It’s the uppermost section of the highest subdivision in Queenstown, so it can never be built out. However, there was a problem – we had no flat land to build on.” Whitaker’s solution was to design a long
narrow form, just one room wide, and partially submerge it into the hillside – following the contours of the land. “We had no brief from our clients for the look of the house, but because of the spatial requirements and the large number of rooms, the house simply became a series of narrow layers emerging out of the ground,” the architect says. “The building actually generated itself. It’s the only way it could exist.” The initial phase of the project was to cut a huge notch out of the hillside to create a flat and stable platform for the house. Peter Campbell,
Previous pages: The grand living and dining room on the top floor of the residence is terminated by a giant stone fireplace and chimney structure that rises right up through each level of the building. This forms a key part of the structure for the home, as does a similar form at the other end of the building.
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from local construction company Triple Star, explains the lengths they had to go to just to secure the site. “We excavated a long, 15m-deep cut into solid rock, then inserted 150 rock anchors 14m into the exposed rock,” says Campbell. “From here, we poured a huge concrete slab and two significant concrete chimneys that, with other elements, would act as bracing for the building.” This ground level forms a large basement where owners and guests park their cars, and is the main entry point to the home – effectively creating a large, subterranean porte cochère.
“This level also houses a climate-controlled wine cellar, bar, and a dedicated home theatre. The garage itself is like no other – it’s fully tiled and lined in oak, with art on the walls. Very James Bond,” Campbell says. The architect envisaged the garage as a large car showroom, built to very high specification. “When the homeowners are in residence, the garage door is left open and people drive directly into the bottom of the building,” says Whitaker. “From here, they enter the house via a suspended glass door system into a timber-lined lobby that contains the cantilevered staircase
and lift that both access the two floors above.” The next level is dedicated to the owners’ children, and contains three bedrooms, a large rumpus room, the laundry, and a self-contained maid’s suite. Above that, the topmost floor is effectively a one-bedroom, glass-fronted house, with huge indoor and outdoor living areas, and an even more expansive view. This upper level is visually much lighter than the floors below, which give it the effect of floating in the sky above Queenstown. The large eaves that extend out from the pavilion reflect and accentuate the layered nature of the design.
“Overall, it’s a planar design, with enormous concrete floor plates, supported by stone-clad concrete walls and chimneys that break through the floors, creating an extremely forceful composition,” says Whitaker. “The top floor is a steel and glass pavilion – again punctuated by the schist columns – with a pop-up roof. The raised roof contributes to a high four-metre stud in this area and admits more light thanks to the clerestory windows directly underneath it.” For the home’s interiors, the owner engaged Di Henshall, a specialist interior designer whom he’d worked with on three previous projects.
Above: A feature timber ceiling, wood-finished walls and wood floors, together with the stone fireplace, all connect with Queenstown’s pristine natural environment. The combined living and dining environment is formed beneath a raised roof section that the architect says enhances the light, airy, and uplifting quality of the space.
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Above: The kitchen is positioned on the hill-facing side of the great room letting the living and dining areas take pride of place. The long island provides a casual seating hub while the timber surfaces connect with the use of wood throughout the interior. Much of the furniture for the project was imported from Australia by interior designer Di Henshall.
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“The owner is a perfectionist, and was very clear from the outset what he wanted,” Henshall says. “It was key that I didn’t compromise the architect’s vision, yet still satisfy the owner’s expectations for it as a home, not as a building.” “The interiors also had to be in synergy with the landscape and the climate,” she says. “Everything we did, we did to complement the naturalness of New Zealand. It is such a beautiful location that we didn’t want to put anything into the house that took away from the natural beauty of the outside environment. What we added was supportive rather than obstructive.”
Because the structure of the building is so powerful – essentially concrete, stone and steel – the interiors were softened using butt-jointed timber on the walls and ceilings. “The timber was stained to a sophisticated grey-brown for a softened, weathered look,” Henshall says. “This took time, but it was an essential part of the project, because the timber formed the main palette for the whole interior.” The designer says this was one of the biggest residential projects she’d ever undertaken. “Because of the scale of the house, all of the furniture had to be custom made,” she says.
Left: The prep sinks and cooktop are positioned on the perimeter countertop – optimising natural light on this work surface and keeping the business end of food preparation away from the adjacent living spaces. The kitchen’s location also means it’s just a few steps from the outdoor living area.
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Architect: Francis Whitaker, Mason & Wales Architects Interior designer and kitchen designer: Di Henshall Interiors Builder: Triple Star Cladding: Alucobond from Cudoclad Roof: Nuralite watertight system Flooring: Timber, from CTC Flooring Wallcoverings: Oak linings from Herman Pacific Splashback: Grey back-painted glass Countertops: Estaurio by Neolith with American Walnut timber end panels and stainless steel on perimeter bench Kitchen sink: Stainless steel Oven, steam oven, cooktop, warming drawer: Gaggenau Ventilation: Qasair Refrigerator: Sub-Zero, integrated Wine fridge: Vintec Heating: Diesel boiler; underfloor from Peak Plumbing Audiovisual: AV & Automation Spa: Vanguard from Southern Spas & Pools Awards: Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Winner Story by John Williams Photography by Jamie Cobel
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Previous pages: The roof continues out beyond the living room walls, providing a covered terrace that incorporates a sunken seating space in front of the second massive stone fireplace and chimney. Together, the two chimneys bookend the glass and steel pavilion living spaces. Right: A grassed area and garden accompany the outdoor living area.
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Tardis down the garden A modest rectilinear form from the outside, this building magically expands on the inside to a five level, three bedroom home
Previous pages: An understated landscape element? No, it’s a private, light-filled guest house designed by Mitsuori Architects. Its distinctive cladding is Accoya timber – not a species, but rather an ecologically sound pickling treatment to prevent moisture but encourage natural weathering. A temporary grey stain was applied until the sun and rain take over. This ‘wall’ will soon be covered in vines, furthering the home’s disappearing trick.
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The term hiding in plain sight comes to mind with this surprising home designed by Matthew Murfett and sited at the end of a tennis court. “The brief called for a guest house to accommodate the owners’ visiting children and grandchildren,” says Murfett. “It had to look different from the main home on the property, be some distance from the existing structure, and have an understated feel. With various constraints to consider such as setbacks and driveway location, we proposed creating a house at the end of the tennis court with the look of a landscape wall.” The resulting design is a simple rectilinear
form from the outside with the Accoya treated timber cladding finished in a grey stain that will fade as natural weathering takes over. Accoya acetylated timber is an eco-friendly process, not a species. The wood, in this case pine, is pickled to achieve moisture-prevention benefits similar to those gained with tanalised wood – but without the heavy chemical input. Greenery will grow up the facade over time, adding to its appearance as a landscape feature. “The facade on both long sides of the building is animated by louvre screens that can be opened or closed to keep the interiors comfortable,” says
These pages: Automated shutters provide protection for the windows behind, control sun and heat on the interior and animate the look of the house on the outside. A key part of the project was to ensure the guest residence didn’t seem to interact with the main house. Not only is the new home in a completely different style, it also acts a bit like a hunter’s hide – inside it’s all views and light while from the outside its function is hard to read.
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Murfett. “These reach to varying heights, corresponding to the interior spaces behind.” The raised vertical timber elements on the cladding work hard in the design. They serve to bed the shutter systems, provide protective ends for the cladding, and conceal the steel skeleton that give the multi-level building its strength. The entry, located to the side of the home, negotiates an incline via a small ramp, while the zinc cladding here matches the greying wood and wider natural setting. Render was used as the cladding finish at the other, less public end. Both ends are inset slightly, bringing shelter,
shade, and a sense of privacy. Part of the owners’ brief was that the new house wasn’t ‘looking’ at the main home. Elements like the wood shutters, and these inset end treatments help achieve this. “The guest house presents as a single-storey landscape feature but actually incorporates five split levels of living spaces,” says Murfett. “By careful configuration of these spaces we were able to include a large living and kitchen area, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, ample storage, and a roof deck within the 85m2 footprint.” One way the architect gained space was by having circulation elements opening directly
Facing page: The custom shutters swing open as well as having operable blades, while the windows directly behind them can be opened for cooling cross ventilation. Above: A small ramp leads up to the home’s front door. The inset end – in glass and natural zinc – admits plenty of light, while the metal tones in with the grey wood cladding. The inset furthers privacy and also provides shade from the sun.
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Preceding pages: French oak in a Driftwood finish used for joinery and flooring tones in with the cladding, while providing a durable, nomaintenance interior surface. Above: The room-height shutters and corresponding windows admit ample natural light into the kitchen zone. White, understated cabinetry with minimalist push-to-open catches downplays the kitchen’s presence in the context of the greater space.
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into the rooms – rather than using up valuable square meterage with hallways and landings. From the front door you step directly into the warm, light-filled living, dining and kitchen space. The home’s feature interior finish echoes the look of the timber cladding. However, the treated pine wood used outside would not have been strong enough for flooring. So French oak in a Driftwood finish was chosen for the floors, stairs and joinery. The balance of interior surfaces, including the kitchen cabinets, is in a complementary white. The private master bedroom is half a flight
down at the other end of the residence while most other bedrooms are on the bottom level of the home, which is underground. “It was important to get natural light down to this bottom floor – especially as it’s mainly the children who will be using these bedrooms. To achieve this, we used the stairs as light wells,” says Murfett. “Tall windows are positioned next to the stairs, directly corresponding to the louvre organisation on the exterior, and we chose riserless treads to further optimise light penetration.” Stairs leading up from the living room take you to another bedroom and the roof deck.
Above: With usable floor space at a premium in the guest residence, a pop-out television is housed in the low cabinetry on the inner side of the wall that separates the front door from the lounge. Full-length drapes provide privacy during the evening. Legend: 1 entry, 2 lounge/kitchen/ dining, 3 master suite, 4 bedrooms, 5 storage room, 6 roof deck.
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Architect and interior designer: Matthew Murfett and Melissa Lim, Mitsuori Architects Kitchen designer: Mitsuori Architects Landscape designer: Ben Scott Garden Design Builder: Malford Constructions Kitchen manufacturer: Darcey Cabinets Cladding: Accoya timber cladding from Matthews Timber; zinc from Craftmetals Roof: Bluescope Window joinery: Accoya timber Main floors: Royal Oak Floors Tiles: Lapege tiles Paint: Resene Heating: Hydronic Lighting: Masson for Light, ISM Objects, Aqualux Awards: Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Highly Commended Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Michael Kai
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Right: Stairwell meets lightwell – while the stairs descend straight into rooms to optimise usable floor space, they are still located in one area. With tall operable windows beside the stairway, and stair flights with riserless treads, maximum sunlight penetrates right down through the home to the underground bedrooms.
kitchens
Life of the party Vibrant splashes of lime, layered worksurfaces and custom drawers for glasses make this kitchen an entertainer’s dream
Previous pages: Contrasting metallic lime green and charcoal cabinetry faces are balanced by the natural warmth of a hand-crafted raised oak countertop in this stand-out kitchen makeover by Chris Moore, managing director of Mackay Kitchens. Above: The crisp, geometric design caters to the owners’ love of casual entertaining while also meeting the needs of an efficient family kitchen.
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Often in a design there’s one leading element that draws the eye. In this contemporary kitchen, a feature is the eye-catching splashes of green – but that’s only one wow factor of many. This kitchen’s the hub of a renovated family home and the brief called for a high spec kitchen with plenty of features to impress, says designer Chris Moore, managing director at Mackay Kitchens (MKS). “The owners often do their entertaining ‘around the kitchen bench’ so they wanted this to accommodate casual social gatherings as well as informal family meal times,” Moore says.
In response, the island and benchtop have prominence in the design. The expansive solid oak benchtop provides table space while the lower granite bench behind allows for food prep to be done by the hosts while chatting to guests. The raised front bench features crafted finger joints and offers a warm counterpoint to the vibrant lacquered lime green seen on the island, rear cabinetry and internal pantry bench. The balance of the cabinetry is a deep charcoal. “As storage was important in this kitchen, we created the large step-in pantry in the corner to house small appliances as well as food.”
However the bulk of the storage comes from the bank of under-counter drawers to the rear that runs almost the full width of the kitchen. Bathed in natural light from the windows, the benchtop in this area is in practical stainless steel. Again with a mind to entertaining, there are two electric push-to-open drawers at the front of the island. These were custom built to house wine glasses and tumblers, with internal LED lighting included as added extravagance. “Another unusual element in this design is the corner countertop cabinet,” says Moore. “This operates like a sash window – when you
raise one panel, the other moves too, meaning only two shelves are seen at any one time. The arrangement means you can swap from display shelves to storage shelves with one action.” A wine fridge and utility nook also had to be included and these are tucked behind a newly installed wing wall to the side of the workspace. “Overall, this kitchen achieves a generous, welcoming feel and the tall mirrored toekicks under the rear run of cabinets add to the overall sense of spaciousness,” says Moore. “The feature lighting cluster positioned at one end of the island was designed by the owner.”
Top: Storage aplenty – a bank of deep under-counter drawers on the kitchen’s perimeter cabinetry is matched by further drawer space on the inner side of the island. Above: The kitchen designer also introduced a generous corner pantry with bifold doors for appliances and food storage. This has a lime green countertop that matches other splashes of green in the design.
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Designer: Chris Moore, Mackay Kitchens (MKS) Cabinetry: MDF with spray lacquer, high gloss metallic finish Cabinetry hardware: Blum Benchtops: Granite in Moonbeam; American white oak solid timber; stainless steel Floor: Ceramic tile from Brymac Tiles Lighting: UGE Lighting Splashback: White tile Kitchen sink: Blanco Subline; Panama Food Prep Centre by Burns & Ferrall Taps: Nobili Acquerelli spout from Burns & Ferrall Oven: Scholtés Cooktop: Miele Ventilation: Custom Refrigeration: Samsung Dishwasher: Miele, integrated, from Kitchen Things Wine fridge: Vintec from Kitchen Things Awards: Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Kitchens – Highly Commended Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Jamie Cobel
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Right: Intricate finger-joins at the ends of the oak benchtop add visual interest and reflect a high standard of craftsmanship. This raised top also screens out any clutter on the lower granite bench behind. The kitchen’s white tile splashback introduces a neutral tone between the metallic and natural wood surfaces.
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Behind closed doors With textured laminate cabinetry, a blued metal rangehood and LED-lit glass splashback, this sculptural kitchen shows off form and hides away function
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Great design sometimes requires stepping back from a project and seeing a broad stroke that will change the feel and flow of a space. Prior to its reinvention by interior designer Lauren Levant, this home’s original kitchen had been a cramped, builder-grade workspace with a splintered, inefficient layout. “The owner had a very clear picture of what she was looking for in its place,” says Levant. “This was a space that would be light-filled and breezy – sort of California-clean looking – with some exciting transitional details.” At the same time, the owner wanted to be
sure that, beyond upping the form and function of the space, this upgrade would also add energy and interest. A master stroke in the design was Levant relocating the garage entry door in pursuit of achieving a much more effective layout. “This relatively small construction change allowed for the addition of a continuous wall of cooking equipment and storage,” Levant says. The large range is flanked by an integrated fridge on one side and a pantry on the other. The pantry’s shallow depth allows space behind it to accommodate the existing and immovable
This page: With cabinetry on two walls, a generous cooking zone, large central island and an adjacent dining table in the same finish as the cabinetry, this kitchen achieves an effective balance between stand-out good looks and day-to-day function. The hard-working, contemporary kitchen design is by designer Lauren Levant of Lauren Levant Interior.
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Above: The two laminate finishes – a dark wood look on the wall cabinetry and majority of the island with a light wood look on the outer side of island – both have a textured finish. Right: The glass splashback can be written on with a wax pen – a novel way for the owner to have notes and recipes to hand when cooking. The stainless steel appliances offer an effective complement to the woodlook laminate and glass panels.
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ductwork and plant in a discreet fashion. “A second wall of storage at the side of the space finishes short of the ceiling – bringing a feeling of openness, and creating a transition down to the third element, which is the large centre island,” says Levant. With all the storage and dedicated work areas established, the interior and kitchen designer was able to introduce dramatic floorto-ceiling windows on the remaining wall. This feature element within the room moves the eye outside and makes the kitchen volume seem twice as large as it actually is.
“A mix of tactile, interesting finishes in this design helps soften the lines of the space. A rolled steel hood, made by a local metal artist, has a natural mill-scaled patina with eye-catching hues of blue and grey.” Textured laminate finishes on the cabinetry are contrasted by the sleek touches of steel and the gleaming glass splashback, which is edge-lit by imbedded LED lights. “Boasting clean lines, sophisticated modern finishes, and surprise detailing, this kitchen has achieved everything the owner sought after for this central hub within her home,” says Levant.
Top: Layer upon layer – the kitchen’s various elements are set at different heights creating visual interest. Above: At night, the designer lighting and embedded LEDs that frame the glass splashback mean the kitchen takes on quite a different personality. Left: With integrated refrigeration to the left and a pantry to the right, the kitchen hides much of its functionality behind closed doors.
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Kitchen and interior designer: Lauren Levant NKBA, Lauren Levant Interior Cabinet company: Crystal Cabinet Works Builder: Tim Kane Cabinetry: Textured laminate from Northern Contours Benchtops: White Zen quartz from Cosmos Lighting: Pucks by Hafele, pendants from Restoration Hardware Splashback: Vitro architectural Starphire glass from Rex Glass Kitchen sink: Kohler Faucets: Moen Oven and cooktop: Monogram Ventilation: Best Range hood insert, custom steel surround from Iron Eden Microwave: Sharp Refrigeration: Sub-Zero Dishwasher: Miele Windows: Thermatru Awards: US NKBA – Best Medium-sized Kitchen; Best Before & After Kitchen Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Dave Bryce Photography
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Left: Functionality everywhere – two electric sockets are conveniently placed on the business side of the island while a microwave is tucked in at one end. The gleaming white quartz countertop – matching the perimeter countertops – provides a low-maintenance worksurface.
Blurring the lines Together with a pantry and laundry, this light-filled kitchen tucks in at the side of the home, adroitly meeting setback considerations
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Location is as important a consideration for a kitchen designer as it is for the home buyer. This kitchen, part of architect Craig Rossetti’s own home, responds to its setting in several ways. “We sited the kitchen at the side of the home using setback space to neighbouring properties that would otherwise be potentially wasted. “The kitchen works well in the low-ceilinged space and the large opening to the doubleheight dining and living space gives it presence there without having to be a tall space itself,” says Rossetti. This location also provides sightlines from
the kitchen to the outdoor dining room and right through the living area to the pool beyond. It’s well connected in other ways too. A walk-through pantry to one side opens directly to the garage for the quick unloading of groceries. Extending out in the other direction, the laundry is set up to act as an overflow for the kitchen when catering for large events. Both these ancillary spaces also work well under the low ceiling height required in this area and can be closed off with pocket sliders. Complementing rather than competing with the great room, the kitchen is finished in white
Above: A mirror splashback and island front extends the sense of space in this kitchen. Architect Craig Rossetti designed the house – his own – and the kitchen in it to have a strong connection to nature. Hence the wood-fronted upper cabinets and travertine floor running throughout. Following pages: The kitchen is positioned so have sightlines to the outdoor spaces, living area and pool beyond – perfect for letting the chef keep a watchful eye on teen antics.
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Architect: Craig Rossetti, Rossetti Architects Cabinetry: Classic Joinery Cabinetry hardware: Blum Benchtops: Caesarstone Flooring: Silver travertine from Premier Paving and Stone Lighting: UGE Lighting Splashback: Mirror Kitchen sink: Franke from Masters Home Depot Taps: Karmando Vicario Oven: AEG Competence Cooktop: Barazza Ventilation: Ilve Refrigeration: Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher: Bosch Activewater Awards: Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Kitchens – Highly Commended Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Andrew Ashton
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Top: Run of rooms – utilising every inch of available space governed by lower-ceiling setback requirements, the laundry, kitchen, and pantry are all in a row and feature the same cabinet and benchtop treatments. Above: The generous bench space in the laundry is specifically designed to also be used for plating up large dishes for parties, so they can be carried straight to the dining table or outdoor dining space.
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under-counter perimeter cabinetry which offers a visual break between the travertine floor and the overhead wood-finished cabinets. “On a reasonably tight site, we chose the mirrored splashback to confuse the perception of the edges of the property – creating a sense of a larger space,” says Rossetti. And this material relationship – white, wood and mirror – continues into the laundry, pantry and the home’s main bathroom. “The vertical striations on the upper wood cabinets meant we could have wide or narrower cabinet doors as required, without detracting
from the overall look. For example, the exhaust fan was accommodated and concealed behind a broad upper cabinet.” Front of space, the substantial waterfall island is also white with a mirrored front panel. Here, the mirror blurs the line between dining area and kitchen and enhances the feeling of space in the large room by reflection. Two ovens are located in the business side of the island. Operable skylights flood natural light down on the kitchen’s expansive work surfaces and assist with important cross-ventilation needed over the summer months.
Standing at the crossroads Situated at the intersection of two circulation axes, this kitchen is at the centre of proceedings without being the centre of attention
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The homeowners on this project wanted the kitchen to connect effortlessly to the interior and exterior living spaces – creating a functional yet casual kitchen at the heart of their new home. Architect Roy Tebbutt at Strachan Group Architects (SGA) says the understated kitchen is positioned at the intersection between the main circulation hallway and the entry concourse – a pergola-like element that runs right through the interior and out to the lawn and pool area. “Being an integral part of the home design process from the outset led to the kitchen becoming a logical extension of the materials
and detailing seen elsewhere throughout the interior,” says Tebbutt. Perhaps the strongest material connection is the bamboo cabinetry. This pale wood is also introduced on internal doors, custom bathroom cabinetry, occasional shelving, built-in window seats and bookcases. “And the connection doesn’t stop there. The bamboo also connects with the home’s window joinery and the slatwork that forms the pergola.” The modern plywood ceilings complement the bamboo cabinets, too, while the matt green splashback also tones in with both these warm,
Above: Bamboo cabinetry with recessed handles on the lower doors and push-to-open latches on upper doors connects with the wider use of wood in this new home. Book shelves introduced at both ends of the island give it a furniture-like feel when viewed from the central hallway. The home and contemporary family kitchen were designed by architect Roy Tebbutt of Strachan Group Architects.
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Right: It’s easy to understand the owners’ chosen emphasis on wood when the home is considered in its wider natural context. From the pool deck to the joinery to the tables to the ceilings and the kitchen cabinetry, nearly everything is made from this highly sustainable material. Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Simon Devitt
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Architect: Roy Tebbutt, Strachan Group Architects (SGA) Cabinetry: Bamboo drawer fronts and panels from Woven Bamboo; clear 2-pot lacquer finish Cabinetry hardware: Blum Benchtops: KSoul Grain; Absola Flooring: Wordup GR tiles from Mobile Ceramics Lighting: Bing pendants from Simon James Design; Manuka pendant from Backhouse Interiors Splashback: Techlam sheet tile from PSP Kitchen sink: Zerox 500U by Blanco Taps: Hansa Linga from Franklin’s Ovens: Electrolux oven; E-Line IOI pyrolytic oven Rangehood: Smeg power pack Refrigeration: Samsung Awards: Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Kitchens – Highly Commended
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natural surfaces. The splashback is made from a single large-format porcelain tile with the matt finish helping to downplay rather than highlight the surface. And the engineered stone countertops with the look of Carrara marble are slender – again, downplaying their presence. While the cabinetry and the island almost literally disappear into the woodwork, the kitchen’s functionality is also downplayed in visual terms. The tall cabinet to the right of the cooktop includes a pantry with pocket doors that allow easy access to the internal countertop and shelves for food and appliances. The other
tall cabinet that bookends the cooking area also has a small pantry that’s used as a coffee station. In addition, the ovens below the cooktop are partly concealed from sight behind the island. The equally discreet rangehood is set flush under the central upper cabinet, its mechanics hidden behind the inoperable central frosted panel above. The panels to the left and right slide across to access additional storage space. Everything was considered to merge the kitchen into the greater interior. The ends of the island have book shelves on them, giving the kitchen a furniture feel when seen from the hall.
Above: The island’s engineered stone countertop includes an understated sink, while a dishwasher, rubbish station and further storage are all set into the business side of the island. The hallway extends beyond the kitchen in both directions. Running perpendicularly across this, the pergola-like orienting feature is made from wooden slats. Floor tiles extend from the kitchen out to the pool area, another way the design blurs the lines with its surroundings.
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bathrooms
Crisp and contemporary This clean-lined bathroom renovation offers refined finishes and efficient space-planning – it also optimises the dramatic views and natural light
Previous pages: Makeup table to the left, double vanity to the right – this bathroom design by 2id Interiors optimises storage, space and views. The 3m-long shower stall has pride of place by the window. The bathroom was created by drawing together space from two existing bathrooms and a water closet.
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Reinventing a tired bathroom with a new look is one thing, but it takes even more design skill to merge a number of existing rooms into one flowing space. And such was the case with this contemporary project by designers Laila Colvin and Rafaela Simoes of 2id Interiors. “This was a major renovation,” says Colvin. “The project was a big transformation from two bathrooms and a closet to one massive master bathroom. Effectively we broke down almost all the existing walls to create this open-plan ensuite. The shower area alone is now 3m long and looks out directly to the water view.
“The apartment is super modern, with dark accents throughout and, to complement the look, the owner wanted a clean and bright aesthetic for the master bathroom,” says Simoes. “This space had to offer clean, contemporary lines but at the same time not appear cold.” In response, the designers chose a material palette in rich Calacatta marble-look tiles, clear and frosted glass, chrome and white quartz. “However, the tile and glass together could have potentially created a cold ambience, so we incorporated walnut wood – our favourite species to work with – as a warm accent surface.
There was already lots of closet and storage space throughout the unit and another request was for plenty of storage in the bathroom too. “To achieve this, we designed a very long vanity with plenty of drawer space. And on the opposite side of the room is a custom shelf unit and makeup table – both offering additional storage space,” says Simoes. “What we really loved about this project was how the new bathroom worked in so well with the wider transformation from an outdated unit with lots of divisions of space to a modern, open-plan living environment,” says Colvin.
Above left: Translucent green glass, stone-look tiles, and white lacquer cabinetry surfaces are off-set by warm walnut panels and accents in the spacious master bathroom. Left: In a design that called for a clean, contemporary look, designers Laila Colvin and Rafaela Simoes created a frosted glass privacy space for the toilet and bidet.
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Designer: Laila Colvin and Rafaela Simoes, 2id Interiors Builder: Brami Casa Vanity and cabinetry: White lacquer wood and walnut, custom by 2id Vanity countertop and basin: White Silestone quartz Faucets and shower fittings: Gaff in chrome Flooring: White Calacatta porcelain tiles Toilet: Duravit Lighting: Beach Lighting Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Emilio Collation
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Facing page: An expansive floor-toceiling mirror behind the makeup table doubles the room’s sense of space – as do the mirrors behind the vanity on the wall opposite. Left: Floored in mosaic tiles with walls finished in marble-look porcelain tiles, the double shower has been given pride of place by the picture window. The shower also includes a built-in, all-purpose bench.
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Luxury and wellness This penthouse ensuite renovation transforms a poorly designed space into a bathroom rich in function and aesthetic presence
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The word penthouse conjures a picture of the very best of everything. However, prior to this top-floor unit’s ensuite renovation, the room had looked reasonably average. Designer Kim Duffin undertook the bathroom’s comprehensive rethink. “The existing space had been enclosed and housed a tub, single vanity, a small shower and a toilet – all lacking a sense of luxury,” Duffin says. “In its place, the owners wanted a modern ensuite that reflected their wellness lifestyle.” The new design was to incorporate a steam and shower room that would allow the user to look out to the master bedroom and city views.
“An early obstacle was the need to relocate the services from fixed drainage points.” Duffin says the ensuite’s existing window sill led a design stroke that served several uses – including addressing the services. “We introduced a half wall reaching up to the sill’s height and continued this around to the vanity wall and on into the new glass combined shower and steam shower enclosure, positioned where the bath had been.” Under the window, the wall conceals the toilet cistern and suspends the black toilet pan. Then, on the adjacent wall, it hides the relocated
Above: This comprehensively reinvented master ensuite in a penthouse apartment features a black toilet suite, black sinks and dark grey plain and patterned tiles. The bathroom, by designer Kim Duffin, balances luxury and wellness. Following pages: A built-out half wall – finished in custom patterned tile – conceals services for the toilet, vanities, and shower, provides a utility ledge, and reflects the LED lighting under the cabinetry above.
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Bathroom designer: Kim Duffin, Sublime Architectural Interiors Floor: Timber plank-look floor tile, Nuances Rovere, by FAP Ceramics, from Metro Tiles Wall tiles: Custom ceramic wall tiles, plain – Zero Charcoal, and patterned, Geo Charcoal by Southern Cross Ceramics, from Metro Tiles Niche splashback: Toughened glass from Glass Backsplash Company Vanity: Lamiwood finished in 2-pac polyurethane from Platinum Polyurethane Vanity benchtop: Ravine/Sepia Oak from Polytec Basin: Above Counter Basin in Matte Black by Studio Bagno from Reece Basin tapware: Bliss Basin Mixer by Mizu from Reece Cabinet doors: Vinyl-backed mirrors from Logan Glass Cabinetry hardware: Tandembox Intivo softclose drawer system by Blum from Lincoln Sentry Steam shower: Effegibi Aqua SteamComplete 45 from Rogerseller Shower glass: Toughened glass from Euroglass Showerhead: Vivid Twin Shower, matt black, by Phoenix Bathware from Reece Shower mixer: Bliss Shower Mixer, chrome, by Mizu from Reece Steam room seat: Stainless steel brackets and wood seat Toilet: Nicole wall-hung pan and seat in Matt Black by Studio Bagno from Reece Flush plate: Sigma 50, matt black with chrome buttons, by Geberit from Reece Cistern: Geberit from Reece Toilet roll holder: Chrome by Phoenix Bathware from Reece Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Steve Ryan
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Top right: The built-out half wall is continued into the shower-cumsteam cubicle. The utility niche is backed with charcoal-coloured glass and lit with low energy LEDs for visual impact. Right: A cut-out in the wall dividing the master bedroom and master ensuite opens up views from inside the steam cubicle out across the bedroom to the cityscape beyond.
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pipework that serves the vanity and shower.” The top of the wall provides a utility ledge for the vanities and for soaps and shampoos in the steam-shower enclosure. The space between the ledge and mirrored wall cabinets above, forms a niche. Charcoal glass lines this, accentuated by diffused LED lighting. The mirrors add to the sense of space. Duffin cut out a section of the wall between the bathroom and the rest of the suite – creating a glass corner that looks across the bedroom to the city views beyond and brings in added light. “When installing a steam shower, the ceiling
inside the enclosed space needs to be raked at a specific angle so condensation runs off into the drain without dripping on the user – again this was tricky in the tight apartment environment.” The combined matt black fixtures, charcoal wall and hexagon feature tiles and LED-lit niche create a sense of luxury. The predominant greyblack tones are complemented by the warmth of the vanity and wood-look tile floors. “We chose the custom wall tiles and the pattern to be added to those on the half wall – then the plain and patterned tiles were fired together, for a perfect colour match,” says Duffin.
Above: The cutout wall section lets light flow from the combined master bedroom and dressing room into the reinvented master ensuite. The designer says the proportions of glass and thickness of the cubicle walls – together with the angle of the ceiling – were all design factors to consider for the master bathroom.
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Force of nature This contemporary ensuite strikes a pleasing balance between high-functioning design and the allure of natural materials
Previous pages: Luxury surfaces, subtle layered lighting with dimmers and a floating shower and bath plinth come together to dramatic effect in this two-toned master ensuite by designer Darren Genner of Minosa. Above: The designer chose to create a real sense of arrival to the new bathing space which is entered through the master bedroom’s walk-in wardrobe. A long, low marble-topped laundry hamper which doubles as a window seat is a prelude to the generous use of Carrara marble ahead.
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Starting from a clean slate is the ideal for any project and such was the case with this ensuite by Darren Genner of Minosa. “With one of the owners working in an award-winning design firm herself, our client had an astute eye for quality design and construction,” says the designer. Their requirements were for an edgy design, a restrained tonal palette with natural materials a feature, lots of storage and a sitting area – plus plenty of natural light. “And finally, as parents of five, they wanted a place to relax and rejuvenate.”
Genner’s approach to the space was to set the room out into three zones: the shower and bath area, the vanity space and a storage-cum-seating area at entry. “The clients’ wish for a monochromatic space drove the material selections. The large-format dark grey tile specified early on meant we needed to balance this with a natural element to help warm the space up. Carrara marble was chosen for this.” To give the ensuite a modern design edge, Genner created a strong statement with the bathing section – introducing a
raised platform for the bathing zone, clad in the richly grained marble. “The platform was a way to deal with the change of material and we mitred the edges of the stone to accentuate this – bringing a block-like feel to the base and rear wall,” says the designer. “Building up the back wall allowed us to introduce handy recessed storage niches and to house accent and room lighting.” The raised form also accommodates the sensor-activated night-light beneath. The vanity, on the opposite wall, was
custom-designed for the project and has a long bench with integrated basins. Above the vanity, the touch-to-open, bifold lift-up mirror-fronted doors provide easy access to the recessed wall cabinets. The bathroom’s lighting is measured and layered – accent lighting runs through the niches and under the step and vanity unit, adding depth to the dark spots of the space and making the room feel larger. Circular sky tubes set above the shower and to the side of the bath bring in more natural light and glimpses of the sky.
Above: The double vanity is hand made from a single piece of engineered stone with two bowls scalloped out of the surface. The vertical bifold, lift-up mirror-fronted doors above the vanity offer a dynamic storage area, raising the doors up and out of the way and allowing easy, speedy access. Adjustable mirrors are installed inside the wall cabinets for shaving and close facial grooming. Showering enjoyment is high in this bathroom – the luxury showerhead offers a ‘waterfall’ option together with the more usual rain soaker.
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Above: The hanging wall mirror and sky tube seen in reflection together with selected tapware introduce a round accent that helps soften the overall clean-lined space. Room lighting is in the form of dimmable LED uplighting running above the marble wall and the recessed mirror cabinets. Facing page: Floating the laundry hamper-cumseating area along with the shower and bath plinth and the cantilevered vanity all help increase the sense of space in the room. Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Nicole England
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Designer: Darren Genner, Minosa Vanity countertop: Corian Hamper countertop: Bianco Carrara marble Basin: Scooped by Minosa Bath: Antonio Lupi Bath filler: Vola from DeDeCe Taps: Brodware from Minosa Wall and floor marble slabs: Bianco Carrara from Marble and Ceramic Tiles: Terra Maestricht from Metz Tiles Shower fittings: Vola shower rail; round wall-mounted Rain Shower; Vola Mixer from DeDeCe Shower glass: Viridian Glass Paint: Dulux Lexicon
Underfloor heating: WarmTech Lighting: LED Rope Light from Genico, Audrey Downlight from Special Lights Accessories: Round mirror from Corporate Culture, fluid-heated towel rail from Avenir Awards: HIA Bathroom Designer of the Year
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Grace and elegance Collaboration between homeowner and designer and an easy balance between traditional and modern features bring this bathroom to life
Bathroom designer: Leonie von Sturmer NKBA, DINZ, Von Sturmer’s Vanity cabinetry: Classic style, panelled door, lacquered Countertops: Super White Granite Shower fittings: Almar fluid shower with rainhead from Metrix Bath: Freestanding, preloved Basin: Vero undermount porcelain basins Taps: Paini Ovo Wall coverings: V-groove panelling on lower wall; Resene, colour Concrete Story by John Williams Photography by Jamie Cobel
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Previous pages: The Pacifica leadlight window and pendant lighting in this bathroom renovation were chosen by the homeowner, with expert guidance by designer Leonie von Sturmer. The room balances a traditional feel with modern accents. These pages: The bathroom’s upper walls are painted a modern soft grey. Matching grey tiles for the floor also complement the benchtop. The vanity is underlit for a soft ambience.
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A key factor in a great design is collaboration – getting the homeowner involved early on, with guidance, says designer Leonie von Sturmer. “For this bathroom, in a renovated bungalow, the owner had wanted a traditional look with modern convenience,” says von Sturmer. “Some things were predetermined, like the tongue-and-groove wainscoting, and the leadlight window. “The owner commissioned the new feature leadlight window with a Pacifica motif in one of the smaller panes.” The window then influenced other aspects
of the detailing, such as the slender black-steel rim around the mirror above the vanity, and the group of three small pendant lights hanging to the side of the bathtub, Besides the wainscoting, other traditional influences include the re-surfaced claw-foot bathtub and the furniture-look vanity. But the in-wall spouts and mixers provide a modern accent and ease of use. “The under-mounted basins add to the clean look, but the porcelain bowls and granite top have classic roots. It’s about achieving balance.” The fully tiled shower is located in an alcove.
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