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The challenge of designing an unusual kitchen made possible with the help of Cosentino
Andrea Burney, Yellow Fox
Emplacement
Remuera Road, Auckland (New Zealand)
Matériau
Dekton
Aplication
Bathrooms, kitchen worktop, laundry room
End date
2023
Architecture/Design
Andrea Burney, Yellow Fox
Couleur
Domoos, Aeris, Taga
Épaisseur
12 mm, 20 mm
An irregular kitchen, making the most of the high spaces, turning the laundry room into a designer space… Andrea Burney, of Yellow Fox, faced many challenges during the renovation of this flat in Auckland, New Zealand. On the positive side, there was plenty of natural light and large windows, but in order to make the most of the circulation space – which was the main premise of the project – it was essential to carefully choose the materials and modifications to be made.
“The customer’s brief was to modernise the interior spaces and, at the same time, add some traditional touches to give character to the flat: modern, warm luxury with a touch of tradition. Open up the kitchen and provide a more functional space, maximising storage space.”
A design opportunity
“The challenge was how to deal with the corners of the concrete walls, as these could not be modified,” says the designer. “By opening up the corners of the existing kitchen, we were able to maximise the circulation and storage space, the latter being hidden behind a tall unit in dark sheet metal. At the same time, everything flows seamlessly into the matching wall panels in the kitchen entrance. The corners proved to be an opportunity to create a unique design with character next to the dining area.”
“In addition, this unusual kitchen design gave us the opportunity to incorporate a traditional turned table leg and, by keeping the furniture aligned on the same plane, a perfect balance and flow was achieved. The high beams and use of a neutral colour palette resulted in a design that does not detract from the stunning views.”
Meanwhile, the tiles with bright veins and lighting used in the bathrooms give these spaces a luxurious look, while the laundry room, as the access route to the bathroom and therefore a busy passageway, had to make a statement in terms of design.
Materials that make a difference
Each space needed materials and finishes that perfectly matched the project’s objective. And for this, the studio found the best possible partner in Dekton. “For the kitchen we chose Dekton Aeris for its durability as well as its matt, neutral and warm finish, which was a perfect match for the paint used on the walls and the matt lacquered cabinets. The subtle pattern of Aeris also helped to reduce the visual impact of the wall corners and the numerous joints in the work table. Dekton Aeris is a colour that boasts light tones with cream-coloured details inspired by white limestone. A neutral and subtle shade that allows a great variety of combinations for different environments and architectural styles. We also created a neutral background for the stunning splashbacks and mitred shelving in Dekton Taga.”
Similarly, a neutral, hard-wearing surface was designed for the laundry room, creating a contrast with the other finishes through the use of colour blocks for the base units.
Last but not least, the surface chosen for the bathroom countertops was Dekton Domoos with a matt finish, not only a perfectly durable surface, but also the perfect complement to the space. Dekton Domoos is a graphite black shade that provides an elegant and refined look, a simple colour that is perfect for those who go for sobriety.