DESIGN STATEMENT: GOLD COAST KITCHEN Interior Designer: Darren James www.interiorsbydarrenjames.com.au Precision, attention to detail and an appreciation for the finer things in life are qualities often associated with the German culture. So when the German owners engaged Interiors by Darren James to design and build their dream kitchen they wanted premium quality in every detail: design, materials, workmanship and finish. This project clearly demonstrates what is possible when you combine good design, the latest technical mechanisms, quality materials and handcraft production techniques – a project that exceeds every expectation. Whilst the clients requested an ultramodern design they still wanted it to suit their Australian lifestyle. Central to the brief was the need to satisfy an enthusiastic and demanding gourmand by creating a kitchen that “feels like home” yet still packs a punch visually and supports the entertaining of family and friends. The result is a free flowing functional kitchen design that makes the best possible use of the available space in this long and narrow room. The existing space The original kitchen was small, cramped and non-functional. To pave the way for a larger space highly sought after by the clients, the diving wall that separated the previous kitchen and an unused sitting room was bought down – a concept the clients hadn’t considered until now. The resulting space was a larger room, approximately 7.5 x 3.2m. Starting from scratch we were now able to square set all the walls, ceilings and windows. The existing windows and sliding doors were also removed and replaced with new double glazed windows. Hidden work space hides the mess and reduced visual depth To shorten the visual depth in such a long room, a scullery focused purely on function is placed at the rear of the room to hide the mess when entertaining and ensures the kitchen is kept clutter free. Housing a large side by side Miele Fridge-Freezer and providing storage for food and everyday bulky appliances, the scullery also acts as an out of the way prep zone. A stainless steel benchtop provides the ultimate surface in terms of hygiene, heat resistant and food preparation for this home chef who avidly enjoys cooking. Wall Oven feature & room divider A strategically placed wall oven feature surrounded by LED strip lighting is suspended 300mm off the floor and 300mm off the ceiling creating a unique floating look and provides access either side to the cleverly hidden scullery. Metal supports and bracing was incorporated into the construction of the wall and thicker timber framing was also used to ensure structural integrity. A selected range of stainless steel Miele appliances included in the feature wall further enhance the cutting edge look whilst providing all the functional requirements of the clients’ healthy cooking style. The black glass finish on the feature door and drawer fronts complement the ‘piano finish’ of the surrounding ‘Ebony Maccassar’natural veneer. In keeping with the desired minimalist look, all the black glass fronts are handless and open electronically using Blums ‘Servo drive’ mechanisms. Thanks to this technology with the simple press of the button the wall oven feature easily transforms from a stunning furniture piece to a fully functional storage space. To complete the high class finish, black ‘intivo’ drawers, black internals and 10mm glass shelves are incorporated ensuring this feature wall remains a showpiece whether open or closed. It is important to note that due to the clients’ sensitivity to formaldehyde all the board that was used throughout the kitchen both internal and external was ‘EO’ class substrate. Functional cooking and cleaning zones A number of work zones within the kitchen ensure the space operates efficiently at all times. The cooking zone includes an induction cooktop for efficient cooking whilst the Neff rangehood is cleverly concealed in the piano finish ‘Ebony Maccassar’ natural veneer which is highlighted by LED strip lighting. To enhance the overall look the veneer work on the rangehood feature box is grain matched and mitred to create a superior and seamless finish. The sink area consists of a large single bowl ‘professional series’ Oliveri sink and a water efficient KWC Inox vege spray mixer ensures even bulky baking items and trays are easy to clean. A three bin system is placed at the bottom of the sink cupboard on a servo drive mechanism allowing the client to easily open without the need of any hands. A zip hydro boil with its own font and drain unit is also incorporated into the sink area. Due to its placement above the dishwasher a thicker benchtop was required to handle the drain depth that extends from the bottom of the zip font. For this reason the benchtop is 100mm thick and to create visual impact the ‘Metero’ Staron benchtop reduces to 20mm over and into the cooktop area. Practical Island Bench that packs a punch…. The visually stunning island bench serves dual function purposes. Staron ‘ solid surface was selected for its contemporary appearance as well as for its durability and has been raised 20mm to define a casual seating and dining area. The client has a passion for baking, making her own pastry, pasta and breads. Like many a pastry chef she prefers working on natural stone. Therefore a 20mm piece of ‘Calacutta’ marble was selected and inlayed into the 100mm Staron ‘Metero’ benchtop. The gorgeous showpiece slab gives the impression of elegance, adds visual character and complements the other natural elements perfectly. Piano finish natural veneer open-shelves supported with steel rods to eliminate the need for visible gables are located either side of the island to house the clients loved collection of frequently used cookbooks. A custom made stainless steel light rack provides functional task lighting, bottle glass storage and further enhances the professional look of this ‘home chef’ style kitchen. Again, supports are positioned between the trusses in the ceiling to provide appropriate support. Storage Storage has been well considered in this kitchen with a scullery providing ample space for groceries as well as specific areas that have been custom designed to house items such as recipe books, small appliances and cutting boards. Every storage item has been thoughtfully located in terms of function and frequency of use. Storage space has been optimized with the use of easy access drawers using Blum’s slow motion drawers. Again the kitchen has been fitted out with the full range of Blum organizational accessories including plate racks, spice racks, knife racks as well as ‘orgaline’ for cutlery and utensil. Luxurious quality finishes One of the main requests of the owners was to include luxurious quality finishes to create maximum visual impact. A combination of different textures and finishes were incorporated to ensure high esthetic qualities as well as top performance. This was created by creatively combining an array of high end materials and textures: The piano finish ‘Ebony Macassar’ natural veneer, black painted glass, automotive high gloss grey lacquer, stainless steel, Calacutta Oro marble and Staron Tempest all combine to create a sophisticated and visually stunning space. The incorporation of the mirror splash back not only adds to the sense of space but ensures nothing is taken away the sophisticated simplicity that this kitchen already boasts. Light it up LED stip lighting is thoughtfully placed for both ambient, feature and practical purposes. It particularly highlights the stunning design of cabinetry features seen throughout this kitchen. Natural lighting is maximised with the inclusion of a sliding door in the scullery which conveniently opens out to the alfresco area. LED Downlights have been thoughtfully placed throughout the kitchen to illuminate task areas and work surfaces.

Open plan kitchen and living room with custom kitchen island that includes wine storage. Open shelving mounted on steel brackets support dishes and provide for light from above.

This open urban kitchen invites with pops of yellow and an eat in dining table. A highly functional, contemporary beauty featuring wide plank white oak grey stained floors, white lacquer refrigerator and washing machine, brushed aluminum lower cabinets and walnut upper cabinets. Pure white Caesarstone countertops, Blanco kitchen faucet and sink, Bertazzoni range, Bosch dishwasher, architectural lighting trough with LED lights, and Emtech brushed chrome door hardware complete the high-end look.

A Seamless Integration of the kitchen the dining room The semi-open kitchen with a sliding-glass panel offers the flexibility to extend the kitchen into the dining area, offering a more spacious party area to entertain friends and family. One can enjoy the view of lush greenery whether cooking or dining. The kitchen countertop serves as a spacious worktop, while creating a perfect bar area to enjoy a drink or two. Simply close the sliding glass to seal off the kitchen. Simple yet stylish bar stools add to the modernity of the kitchen area and create a perfect bar table for enjoyment. Lighting plays an important part to enhance the overall ambience. Ceiling light troughs create a visual illusion of a higher ceiling, while light troughs above the countertop serves as a practical task light for food preparation.

Mark Lohman

An open plan kitchen, dining and sitting area with external terrace. Photography by Chris Snook

This old tiny kitchen now boasts big space, ideal for a small family or a bigger gathering. It's main feature is the customized black metal frame that hangs from the ceiling providing support for two natural maple butcher block shevles, but also divides the two rooms. A downdraft vent compliments the functionality and aesthetic of this installation. The kitchen counters encroach into the dining room, providing more under counter storage. The concept of a proportionately larger peninsula allows more working and entertaining surface. The weightiness of the counters was balanced by the wall of tall cabinets. These cabinets provide most of the kitchen storage and boast an appliance garage, deep pantry and a clever lemans system for the corner storage. Design: Astro Design Centre, Ottawa Canada Photos: Doublespace Photography

Installation of new kitchen with custom cabinets and white marble countertops; reconditioned exposed ceiling joists; new custom-fabricated steel, floor-to-ceiling bay window. Photographer: Jeffrey Totaro

David Butler

This kitchen has a strong connection to the outdoors. Photo by Trent Bell

An elegant home office for the whole family

floor to ceiling window, built-in desk, hanging cabinets, flowers, leather office chair, roller, light wood floor, recessed lights, white walls, black window trim, light cabinets, black accent chair

Kitchen, wood floor, stone wall, stone column, indoor-outdoor, seamless flow, concrete counter, integral sink, concrete sink, glass wall, glass cabinets, open, natural, art wall, books, photography display, Mosaic Architects, Mosaic Interiors, Jim Bartsch Photographer

This home was built in 1952. the was completely gutted and the floor plans was opened to provide for a more contemporary lifestyle. A simple palette of concrete, wood, metal, and stone provide an enduring atmosphere that respects the vintage of the home. Please note that due to the volume of inquiries & client privacy regarding our projects we unfortunately do not have the ability to answer basic questions about materials, specifications, construction methods, or paint colors. Thank you for taking the time to review our projects. We look forward to hearing from you if you are considering to hire an architect or interior Designer.

Custom designed hanging glass cabinets frame in this view of the kitchen from the dining room. Centered below the cabinets is the larger of the two kitchen islands, both were constructed with reclaimed barn wood in the herringbone pattern and granite countertops. Each island include a custom-made copper farmhouse sink. The cabinets in the rear of the kitchen are also custom-made and were constructed out of oak, while alder was used for the horizontal slats. To the left of the island is the wine wall, with french glass doors, and brass pulls to match the ones on the fridge and freezer. Photography by Marie-Dominique Verdier