tomarata Treat

These clients were building a very large home on acreage outside of Mangawhai, north of Auckland. They approached us, as we had designed and supplied their kitchen for their previous home, giving us a blank sheet and a generous space to work with. They had a modern-country style in mind, with timber elements and a matte-black theme. They also wanted low maintenance, in consideration of their busy lifestyle and three boys in tow. 

For the cabinetry, we used matte-black fronts with a nano-technology finish – which shows no finger-marks – accented by heavily embossed and structured timber doors on tall and wall units. Where practical, there are no handles.

The solid timber casual-dining space, which slices into the black island, complements the timber flooring and also the tabletops in the adjoining dining and living spaces. The island and the benchtops are all 20mm Dekton Sirius with a rippled surface. Again, in matte black, but now introducing texture.

The clients chose to have their cooktop on the island, so they cook facing the outside, with its pool and rolling countryside backdrop. There is no visible rangehood. Ventilation is by downdraft (between induction hobs), through the floor slab, to the outside.

Two refrigerators are integrated into the cabinetry, as are the dishwashers, to create a ‘non-busy’ look. The only appliances on display are two, elegant Gaggenau ovens, which sit on either side of the glass-splashback, reflecting the view across the pool and the hills.

The lighting chosen was minimal, above the island and below the wall units.

The scullery is completely tucked away behind the tall bank of cabinetry. It is long, straight and efficient, with its own sink, dishwasher and boiling and chilled water tap.

As well as the kitchen, we also designed the bar area, laundry and four wardrobes in the house.

The bar has the same finishes as the kitchen, with a black worktop and black fronts, and is designed symmetrically around the glass-doored wine conditioner.

The clients say this kitchen is “absolutely pumping before school – with five of us in here preparing lunches, having breakfast, coffee, talking and yet it copes so easily with the traffic volume because it is so spacious and designed with immaculate attention to detail, we love it!

This kitchen was Runner-Up in the TIDA Imported Kitchen Awards 2021. Read the full article HERE