Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 32 No 4 New Zealand | Page 82

Architect: Megan Edwards, Megan Edwards Design Cabinetry manufacturer: AQS Furniture Cabinetry: Anegre (English tawa) to pantry and outer face of island; Designatek thermoformed vinyl finish to underbench cabinets Hardware: Blum Tandembox; continuous aluminium handles; solid Anegre pantry handle, by cabinetmaker Benchtops: Brushed stainless steel Flooring: American oak, oiled Lighting: Light Plan Splashback: Glass mosaic tiles by Arte Domus Kitchen sink: Ikon Oven, refrigeration: Bosch Ventilation: Asko Awards: Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Kitchens – Highly Commended Story by Charles Moxham Photography by Sam Hartnett see more images, search: 48640 at trendsideas.com search: american oak at trendsideas.com search: tida at trendsideas.com Above right: The predominant use of wood on the double-height interior is balanced by white walls and the white thermoformed vinyl on the underbench cabinetry. Stainless steel benchtops connect with the appliances, including the substantial refrigerator-freezer, and the aluminium cabinet handles. A green entry door, large artwork and occasional cushions bring splashes of colour to the two-tone interior. says. “It sits back into a niche which anchors it and creates a comfortable human scale.” In material terms, the kitchen is at one with its wider surroundings. The rich anegre veneer pantry and fridge-storage area match the wood tones of the sloping plywood ceilings and oiled oak floors. The solid anegre pantry door handle is a touch often seen in kitchens from the 1960s. The adjacent study area is predominantly in wood too, as is much of the furniture The rear walls of the kitchen are in dark glass tiles, creating a strong backdrop. And these tiles are repeated behind the adjacent study area. search | save | share at trendsideas.com In addition, the living area wall surfaces that aren’t wood are in complementary white, a tone echoed on the under-bench cupboards. “Both this white hard-wearing vinyl and the stainless steel benchtops – another classic Sixties surface – are easy to keep clean,” says Edwards. “‘The kitchen is relatively modest in size for two reasons – we didn’t want it to dominate the wider living area, but it also makes it easier to use. Its compact size ensures a tight triangle between fridge, oven and sink.” The kitchen’s glazing and the clerestory windows ensure worksurfaces are flooded in light.