Easy on the eye

These six kitchens will change the way you think about design, colours and light.

- Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

#1 OH, SO EARTHY!

WHO Etienne Hanekom

WHERE Malmesbury

With a crackling fire on which a pot of bredie is slowly simmering, this platteland kitchen is all about conviviality and comfort. “My kitchen is actually incredibly simple,” says interior designer Etienne about his weekend home. It’s basically an island with a grocery cupboard and a stove. like the fact that it doesn’t quite feel like a kitchen, but more like a living area with an adjacent fireplace and breakfast table.

When Etienne bought the house, the kitchen was dark and narrow, located at the end of a passageway with no door to the outside by no means the appealing space it is today.

“At least there was a pantry next to it; as a result, was able to combine these two rooms and incorporate the old outbuilding as a scullery,” explains Etienne. All that remains of the old kitchen is the hearth.”

The showstopper is two glass sunrooms’ that were built on either side of the kitchen. The idea was to make the kitchen part of the courtyard, and that’s also why created flowerbeds right up against the house.”

Style wise

Wood was a logical choice in this space as it is durable and creates a warm, welcoming feel. The oak floor invites you to walk barefoot. People love this element, especially during a retreat,” says Terry. The oak is repeated in the cupboards and shelves, creating a neutral architectural palette. This is characteristic of Johann’s work: he likes to give his clients a monochrome backdrop which they can then decorate themselves.”

With the scullery the dirty kitchen”, as Terry calls it hidden behind a door, the look is always picture-perfect. And despite the open design, there are more than enough drawers and cabinets for storage.