Dekton Makes an Impact in a Designer’s Kitchen

When designing her own kitchen, interior designer Wendy Morris knew she needed several things: in her indoor and outdoor spaces, she wanted an aesthetic that complemented the black and bronze façade of her Auckland home; the surfaces had to be low maintenance; and she wanted seamless drawer and cabinet fronts for a sophisticated look. 

Having used Dekton in many previous client projects, she turned to the Cosentino brand to fulfil her wishlist in her brand new, harbourside home in Auckland. Soke was chosen for an impressive kitchen island in the open-plan kitchen and living area. Kelya was specified for the cocktail bar counter and cabinets on the other side of the kitchen, and also for the cabinetry, benchtop and cladding in the adjacent outdoor BBQ area. 

“The colour is dark, so it matches our exterior, but it’s soft, with lots of veining in it. It means our black BBQ and fridges look more integrated. The veining of Soke was chosen to complement the Kelya, which matches the bronze front door.” says Wendy. “Soke also works with the oak cabinets and the table extension, which is lovely to sit at for meals.” 

The grey surface, inspired by concrete floors and part of Dekton’s Industrial collection, was also specified for the splashback, manufactured by Stone by Design, behind the stovetop hobs. 

“A real bonus with Dekton is that there is a variety of thicknesses to choose from for all types of applications, including 4mm which we used for our drawer fronts and 12mm for our splashback. It’s great to be able to use the thinner product, which makes a big difference and gives you a lot more options and space for your benchtop.” 

In the powder room tucked behind the kitchen, a vanity top in Kelya and a concrete basin reference the aesthetic in the kitchen and creates a moody, contemporary space. Outside, Kelya gave the designer the durability she needed in the outdoor cooking area. Because it is scratch- and stain-resistant, the Dekton surface, which is carbon neutral from cradle to grave, could stand up to the harsh exterior elements. 

“It’s really hard wearing,” Morris explains. “We’ve had no marking whatsoever, even though we put hot pots or pans on it. There’s been no chipping at the edges of the Kelya draw fronts. And we’ve had no problem with the Dekton heating up in the sun, even though the area is north facing. Functionality and aesthetics are both easily met with Dekton, making it very easy to recommend to my clients for their homes.”