Natural Radiance

This kitchen was meticulously crafted to cater to the needs of our valued clients, who recently returned to Nelson after 14 years on the West Coast, longing for the region’s abundant sunshine. This bustling family of five entrusted us with the task of designing a kitchen that would not only meet their current needs but also stand the test of time.

Drawing upon her background in graphic design, our client had attention to detail. Her vision was to create a kitchen that exuded brightness and charm, forged from natural materials, while introducing a touch of contrast with striking black accents. Her wish list included a spacious island, discreet sink storage, ample cabinetry for organization, and materials robust enough to withstand their lifestyle. She held an admiration for clean lines and the organic allure of exposed plywood, complemented by stainless steel elements to harmonize with her polished concrete floors.

Throughout the design process, we remained attuned to our client’s budget, but this didn’t stop our pursuit of intricate design elements. Through resourceful choices, such as employing alternative Melteca and Blum entry-level runners, we achieved a cost-effective design without compromising on style. Our initial idea of hiding the sink behind an open display unit on the back of the island proved to be a strong barrier, so we had to think creatively.

We had fun playing with the shelving, creating different sized boxes that exposed the beautiful ply and added rhythm to the kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of black Melteca for the backboard introduced depth and contrast to the space. While I proposed elevating the panels and revealing toe kicks on all sides to create a floating effect, our client ultimately favoured panels that extended to the floor.
The concrete took on a darker hue than anticipated. To brighten the space with, we changed the colour of the benchtops to a stunning 20mm Caesarstone ‘Snow’.

Our finger pull door style accentuated the kitchen’s robust horizontal lines, complemented by black negative detailing on the bulkhead, horizontal bi-fold lift doors, black negative detail under the benchtop, and black toe kicks. We even created a practical touch by incorporating a small black negative detail around the open shelving. To complete the look, we floated the benchtop using the top finger pull rail in a black accent.

The outcome? A delighted client who now has a stunning kitchen to enjoy for years to come.