Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 31 No 8 New Zealand | Page 99

The kitchen, which needed to be at the
heart of the house, is positioned within the
main living area on the long axis. Extralarge stacking glass doors open up both
the kitchen and living area to a sheltered
courtyard and outdoor dining area.
“The doors peel back, so the entire
corner is open to the outdoors, which
makes it hard to define what is inside and
what is out,” Steere says. “The outdoor
spaces become internal and vice versa.
The courtyard is protected from the fresh
sea breezes, but the sightlines remain – it’s

still possible to enjoy the view through
the living area and out to the beach on the
other side. Even the master bedroom at
the far end of the house benefits from this
transparency. You can see right through
the house to the sea beyond.”
To evoke the Hamptons look, and to
define the kitchen within the overall living
area, there is a white-painted tongue-andgroove-style ceiling above the work area.
Bands of clerestory windows immediately
below this, on both sides of the space,
introduce plenty of natural light.

Facing page, top and lower: There’s a touch of the
contemporary and the traditional in this kitchen in
a new beachfront house designed by Craig Steere
Architects. The cabinetry is reminiscent of houses
in the Hamptons, while the sculptural marble
island imparts a strong, modern aesthetic. Air
conditioning, although seldom used, is provided
through vents in the toekicks.
Above and following pages: The kitchen and
living area open up to a sheltered courtyard with
polycarbonate roofing above a slatted ceiling. With
the doors peeled back from the corner, there is a
clear view across the living area and out to the sea.

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