When working on this project we were inspired by a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic to which I wanted to add a sprinkling of Art Deco. The living area where the kitchen sits is about nine metres one way and nine and a half the other, so it's a big space, and the kitchen had to be of a certain scale and strong character to fit within that grand room. I really wanted to introduce a rounded side to the island, a nod to that Art Deco like other details that I have included within the home. The flooring is engineered timber, in a herring-bone pattern and I wanted brass for the tap-ware and the joinery handles... I also wanted to use natural stone for the benchtop to further elevate the quality of this kitchen... Against all these strong elements, which finish would be right for the joinery?
Watch the video below to see some of the thinking that went into this kitchen's design...
"The client's a little bit concerned because I’m pushing them towards very dark joinery, but I know that it will look great. The large room has plenty of natural light..."
I played with the idea of some coloured dark board material for the kitchen at first, but actually wanted a timber tone and whilst there are many timber tones that I liked I really wanted to use a really dark Polytec Melamine Woodmatt. It's got a beautiful textured surface and iI knew it would look great with a nice brushed-brass look on the kick plate, which would also allow me to separate the flooring from the joinery. The Steccawood range was ideal to help achieve the rounded end of the island. I had different sizes to choose from, and was undecided between concave or convex profiles. These also come in beautiful timber finishes to match the look of the cabinetry doors.
To see what the kitchen looks like when finished, here's the video ...
The beautiful rounded end that gave us that nod to the Art Deco was the perfect addition to this kitchen island and it also gave way for the use of Steccawood, not only ideal with the construction of the rounded end, but also to add further textual element with its elegant ribbing. The reverse shark nose in the stone benchtop gave a beautiful defining line.
The Steccawood not only works well on the arc it also works beautifully on a flat surface, and working with a team of quality joiners also allowed me to include an integrated hidden cabinet...
I couldn't be happier with the end result of this project.
My best advice for you when working on your own kitchen project is to make sure first of all that the design relates to the rest of the architecture of your home, and as for the finishes they too need to relate to the other finishes used in your home to obtain a cohesive space. Finally, always, ALWAYS, choose products of quality.
James Treble has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. James is also an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for plenty of Design information. Most of James' knowledge is also accessible via Practical Design Online Course.
Comments