Room of the Week: Dark Blue and Metallics Make a Striking Kitchen
'A modern chalet' was the brief for this dazzling dark blue and rose gold kitchen and butler's pantry
Vanessa Walker
17 August 2020
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Hcreations
Answers by Maria Cerne, interior designer, Studio Black Interiors
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Deakin, ACT
Room purpose and size: The kitchen is 18 square metres, the butler’s pantry is 7.2 square metres and both are located within an open-plan living and dining space.
Approximate budget: Kitchen $35,000 (excluding fixtures and appliances), butler’s pantry $8,800
Builder: Homes by Howe, ACT
Did you use Houzz for this project: Yes, to source inspiration materials and create a mood board of imagery for the project.
Answers by Maria Cerne, interior designer, Studio Black Interiors
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Deakin, ACT
Room purpose and size: The kitchen is 18 square metres, the butler’s pantry is 7.2 square metres and both are located within an open-plan living and dining space.
Approximate budget: Kitchen $35,000 (excluding fixtures and appliances), butler’s pantry $8,800
Builder: Homes by Howe, ACT
Did you use Houzz for this project: Yes, to source inspiration materials and create a mood board of imagery for the project.
Brief
The brief was to create a kitchen that would be the hub of the home, a place to entertain and socialise with family and friends and make an impactful statement as part of the open-plan dining and living area.
As avid entertainers and cooks, it was a priority that the kitchen had a large designated work zone for food preparation and cooking. The back wall was to include tall joinery (with no bench), with the island to be the dedicated functional work space, so the client could cook and prepare food while chatting with family and friends.
Considering a kitchen renovation? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
The brief was to create a kitchen that would be the hub of the home, a place to entertain and socialise with family and friends and make an impactful statement as part of the open-plan dining and living area.
As avid entertainers and cooks, it was a priority that the kitchen had a large designated work zone for food preparation and cooking. The back wall was to include tall joinery (with no bench), with the island to be the dedicated functional work space, so the client could cook and prepare food while chatting with family and friends.
Considering a kitchen renovation? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
The couple, having travelled extensively, wanted a designated area to display their collection of wine decanters. This feature was incorporated into the back wall of joinery.
A sleek and seamless look was important. The fridge, dishwasher drawer and dishwasher were integrated into the joinery. The butler’s pantry was hidden behind a set of joinery doors, so the entrance to the pantry blended seamlessly with the kitchen.
A sleek and seamless look was important. The fridge, dishwasher drawer and dishwasher were integrated into the joinery. The butler’s pantry was hidden behind a set of joinery doors, so the entrance to the pantry blended seamlessly with the kitchen.
Scope of works
Studio Black was responsible for the interior design of the entire home, including the kitchen design and the selection of finishes and fixtures.
Studio Black was responsible for the interior design of the entire home, including the kitchen design and the selection of finishes and fixtures.
Starting point
The concept for this home was ‘modern chalet’. The starting point for all the projects I work on is a mood board. A mood board is a great way to visually show how you want a space to look and feel. I use mood boards as a tool to help collate all my ideas and share these ideas with my clients. Houzz is great tool to gather home inspiration.
Browse more contemporary blue-and-white kitchens
The concept for this home was ‘modern chalet’. The starting point for all the projects I work on is a mood board. A mood board is a great way to visually show how you want a space to look and feel. I use mood boards as a tool to help collate all my ideas and share these ideas with my clients. Houzz is great tool to gather home inspiration.
Browse more contemporary blue-and-white kitchens
Key design aspects
Colour palette
Materials palette
Colour palette
- Deep inky navy, black, crisp white, and warm tones of timber and rose gold.
- Dulux Oolong in a satin finish was used on all the cabinetry.
- This was paired with natural timber, a light-coloured engineered-stone benchtop and a pop of rose gold for a touch of glamour.
Materials palette
Key pieces of furniture/fittings
- Zip Hydro Tap all-in-one in rose gold.
- Franke undermount sink in black.
- Bosch oven, microwave, warming drawer and gas cooktop.
- Fisher & Paykel dish drawer.
- Ariston integrated fridge and freezer.
- Ilve cylindrical range hoods.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
At the heart of the kitchen design is a 4.6-metre island bench, providing a solid foundation on which the rest of the kitchen comes to life. A cantilevered benchtop, strategically located outside the wine room, is perfect for additional casual seating as well as being a functional preparation zone.
At the heart of the kitchen design is a 4.6-metre island bench, providing a solid foundation on which the rest of the kitchen comes to life. A cantilevered benchtop, strategically located outside the wine room, is perfect for additional casual seating as well as being a functional preparation zone.
The butler’s pantry
Challenges you worked around
With the ceiling being 3.2 metres high, the challenge was addressing how the range-hood system would work over the island with the gas cook top. A timber bulkhead was used to zone the space and provide the depth required to add the cylindrical range hoods so they could sit at a height that would work for the cooktop.
Challenges you worked around
With the ceiling being 3.2 metres high, the challenge was addressing how the range-hood system would work over the island with the gas cook top. A timber bulkhead was used to zone the space and provide the depth required to add the cylindrical range hoods so they could sit at a height that would work for the cooktop.
The butler’s pantry
Why do you think this room works?
This kitchen has a nice balance of being functional but with loads of personality. I love the strong navy-blue joinery paired with the timber detailing.
The smaller finer details – including the integrated timber feature handles, steel island legs and hidden LED lighting in the decanter display – show refinement and work together to create visual interest in this modern home.
The kitchen also has great flow to the alfresco area. The design is practical but stylish.
Your turn
Which idea would you steal from this space? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more kitchen design inspiration? Take a look at this Room of the Week: A Black & Dramatic Kitchen with a Joinery Wall
Why do you think this room works?
This kitchen has a nice balance of being functional but with loads of personality. I love the strong navy-blue joinery paired with the timber detailing.
The smaller finer details – including the integrated timber feature handles, steel island legs and hidden LED lighting in the decanter display – show refinement and work together to create visual interest in this modern home.
The kitchen also has great flow to the alfresco area. The design is practical but stylish.
Your turn
Which idea would you steal from this space? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more kitchen design inspiration? Take a look at this Room of the Week: A Black & Dramatic Kitchen with a Joinery Wall
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A beautiful kitchen. If it was me, I'd probably have swapped the locations of the cooktop and the sink. I'd just feel safer not having the cooktop at the sitting end.
If you visit my profile page on Houzz, and look under the Projects tab under "
Deakin Residence" I have added an image with the bulkhead for you. Thanks. Maria
I love it all except the cook top itself. The gas trivets have and always will be a bone of contention with me as they look ugly. A induction/ceramic cooktop would just have given it that clean fine line it needs. And so much easier to keep it nice and clean and smart looking. 😁