Winner

- HIA NT 2011 Major Kitchen Design of the Year

- HIA NT New & Renovated Kitchen Project up to $25,000

 

WINNER 2011

HIA Northern Territory

New & Renovated Kitchen Project up to $25,000

LYONS, DARWIN

 

WINNER 2011

HIA Northern Territory

Kitchen Design of the Year

LYONS, DARWIN

 

A simplified palette of ‘Blackened Ash’ cabinetry and ‘Cream Flash’ overheads have been used in this striking open plan kitchen.  The kitchen with the island bench facing the outside entertainment area is set up to be the hub for entertaining colleagues, friends and family.  Sleek, streamlined, luxurious expanses of light coloured stone and glass provide the perfect accent to the dark cabinetry.  The lowered bench provides a space for breakfast and casual meals.  Extensive storage facilities have been provided in the adjoining walk-in pantry and abundance of soft-closing pot drawers.  This kitchen also features a dedicated pull-out bin and under-mounted double sink.

 

Designing a kitchen is a long and detailed process.  We begin with the basic house plans and the space allocated by the design, the clients likes and dislikes and a wish list of things to include in their new kitchen.  Most of our design is done on computer and 3D full-colour images are presented to the client.

 

In this new house at Lyons, the young couple wanted their kitchen to be modern and sleek, but they also wanted something that was a little different.  They wanted the kitchen design to be such that the kitchen was a part of the outdoor living area which has large by-fold doors opening out to timber decking.

 

We were able to create a highly functional kitchen which exudes a ‘wow’ factor and provides the perfect hub for entertaining.

 

We chose the Amerind ‘Blackened Ash’ high gloss doors and panels to create a dramatic effect and help to break up the large expanse of their living area.  Amerind ‘Cream Flash’ gloss panels were used on the overheads to avoid a top heavy feel to the space.  The ‘Blackened Ash’ was laid horizontally except on the tall end panels as the height of the panels would have required us to have a join on the panel.  We decided the effect of the vertically laid ‘Blackened Ash’ was preferable to a join.

 

In the original brief we planned to use a fully integrated rangehood and worked on a number of options.  There was an issue with ducting the rangehood as it backed onto an internal wall.  We planned to have a narrow bulkhead over the lowered overheads to conceal the ducting.  As the design progressed it was decided to use a canopy rangehood instead.  Ducting was taken up into the ceiling space and run through the space to the outside.

 

We also wanted to create a breakfast and casual meals area.  We wanted to visually separate this area from the preparation bench and make it a feature of the kitchen.  The bench was lowered and thickened for this space.

 

Downlights were installed under the overheads to provide task lighting and pendant lights were placed over the island bench to provide not only task lighting but to create a focus on the work area.

 

SmartStone ‘Vanilla’ was used on the benchtop to create a clean and modern look and to create a stark contrast to the ‘Blackened Ash’.  Glass splashbacks were chosen for their ease of maintenance and their reflective finish.

 

 

All drawers on wall cabinets are of equal height and long 352mm handles have been used horizontally adding to the beautiful streamline look of this kitchen.

 

We decided to use aluminium framed frosted glass doors for the adjoining pantry to give a more open feel to the space.  ‘Cream Flash’ overheads are top hinged, Abey ‘Quadrato’ sinks are undermounted and we have also included a dedicated pull-out bin for convenience.

 

As part of the brief we were also asked to create a set of storage/display cabinets to match the kitchen for the adjoining dining area.  Handle-less cubes were designed and installed in a staggered pattern.