DESIGN FOCUS: A FEAST FOR THE EYES

As a place for everything from cooking and eating to entertaining and gathering with family and friends, the kitchen is the heart of any home. It can be a space that invites creativity as well, not only with food but also with design. Contemporary or traditional, urban-inspired or with a countryside feel, adorned with neutral colours or noble materials, bespoke or modular: there are many options to reflect your own style.

- KARINE MONIE

Open kitchen

Eliminating walls between the kitchen, dining room and living area has become the norm in contemporary homes. Why? Because it creates an inviting and bright atmosphere and in addition allows the host to be part of the conversation with guests when preparing food. In her most recent project in Sydney, Australia, architect Carla Middleton achieved exactly that. “I wanted the whole rear extension of the house to be open, to create a sense of space filled with natural light,” she says. “The kitchen was designed to fit appropriately within the [living] space without looking too large or small.”

For Sashya Thind, founder of ID8 Design Studio, the extremely challenging floor plan of a Boston home she worked on for clients led her to create an open concept kitchen. “It was the only way to make the space feel airy,” Thind explains. “The house also has amazing water views of the harbour, which is visible from the kitchen.” In this sophisticated and contemporary kitchen, the play between materials became the focal point.

“The stone is a quartzite, which is strong and easy to maintain while being extremely expressive,” she adds. “The wood paired well with it while warming up the palette… I hid all the appliances by panelling them, and created a pantry under the stairs for additional storage.” The result is balanced and elegant, combining aesthetic appeal and functionality.

A personal touch