Samford – New Kitchen

PROJECT FEATURES

• Consideration of natural light and the aspect of the space
• Capture views from all angles of the bushland setting
• Steel supported cantilever Flyover to the range hood section with Smeg Range hoods positioned to provide a focal point to the roomppliances positioned side by side in midway towers for ease of use
• 3x Planned separate work zones / Triangles
• Dedicated appliance pantry
• Dedicated breakfast zone
• Sliding doors to pantry and breakfast zone for easy access
• Planned LED Energy efficient lighting to provide appropriate task and general and accent lighting
• Outdoor separate table/ Island Extension with flexibility to move for various functions
• Highest Quality European black Intivo Softclose Drawer System with glass drawer sides by Blum
• 12 thick Staron Solid Surface quasar white drawerfronts
• 40mm thick mitred Staron Soild Surface Back Wall Benchtops
• 80mm thick mitred Staron Soild Surface Back Wall Benchtops
• Integrated Staron Soild Surface sink Bowls
• 2x Beverage centre fridges below appliance towers with integrated doors to provide line continuity
• Textured and Patterned Matched laminated Window surround finished with furniture wax
• Kitchen flows to the outdoor BBQ alfresco
• Designer Coloured Carcass and draw bottoms to match Blum Black Intivo Drawers
• Integrated Dishwashers and Bar Fridges Appliances with L & U channel handles incorparated to doors to maintain line
• L and U channel continue around all end panels and Dishwasher Doors to maintain line
• Use of inner drawers to maintain strong line continuity
• Kitchen keeps in theme with home
• Outdoor table on steel frame and castors for use as a separate table or island benchtop extension when bi fold doors open
• Shadow line detail to all Pantry Benchtops

STYLE OF HOME

• 5 Bedroom Contemporary Home with a rural outlook
• Minimal environmental impact
• Matrix Cladding to the exterior
• Aluminium Frame Windows and Doors
• Colourbond roof

PROJECT CHALLENGES

• Light – The kitchen space is situated on the south eastern side of the home with the home opening to the west to capture the rural views. Therefore, a space this size would traditionally be dark if it only had opens to the south. To overcome this Kim designed a fixed window to act as the splashback for the rear wall of the kitchen. Light then would be captured in the morning, rising in the east to ensure the space has natural light at all times during the day.
•  Aspect – The clients wanted to enjoy the rural views from their home, at every angle, so the fixed window at the rear of the kitchen and the bi folds to the side mean that the trees and mountains can be seeing at every point in the space.
• Ventilation – With the client requiring good extraction and by positioning the cooktop at the rear of the kitchen it meant that Kim needed to come up with something that would not obstruct the light created by the fixed rear window. Therefore the counter levered fly over was designed to hold the rangehoods while creating a connection to the midway linear style Smeg Appliance bank. The fly over also frames the view and provides a focal to the room.
• Different bench depths – The home was already under construction when Sublime Luxury Kitchen & Bathrooms was engaged to create the kitchen design. The pantry space did not provide as much depth as the main kitchen but Kim felt it was necessary to maintain uniformity in the depth of the benchtop that moved between the pantry, main kitchen and outdoor kitchen. So a 200mm up stand was created at the rear of the main kitchen benchtop to help transition from a 350mm in the pantry to 800mm back kitchen depth

CLIENT BRIEF

• Showcase the natural exterior elements that surround the home
• Features that compliment the modern exterior of the home and the linear features throughout the interior of the home
• Create a strong connection between all key living areas – Kitchen, Lounge, Dinning and Outdoor kitchen/verandahs
• Seamlessly integrate the inside of the home with the outdoor spaces
• Create designated spaces for all kitchen appliances, cutlery, glassware and cookware
• Sleek, clean and fresh materials to be used throughout with a focus on using solid surface products to marry in with the use of this in other parts of the home
• Incorporate a designated breakfast station into the design
• Ensure the space can have multiple users preparing and presentation of food at the one time
• Use features that contain the kitchen when the small family are home but come alive during times of family gatherings or entertaining

Capturing the view of the valley, surrounding bush and natural light were the main priorities for the owners of this home. With the kitchen being one of the key spaces, the use and positioning of glass was decided early in the project to act as the canvass to bring the outside in.The home is located in a rural hamlet that is still well connected to the city. The clients are natural home bodies that encourage their family and friends to visit regularly. However, day to day they are a small family of 3 or 4 so the space needed to provide the practicalities of breakfast, lunch and dinner while having the sophistication to
be the entertainer’s kitchen on weekends.

It was decided quickly to use a fixed window as the splashback in the rear wall to showcase the natural elements and to catch the morning sun. The flyover, housing the rangehoods, then frames the view while providing a seamless connection and focal point for the room. The fixed glass continues over the side by side midway appliances so that the kitchen user or their guest can continue to remain connected to the beautiful flora and fauna exhibited outside the home. A simple colour scheme of “Quasar White” Staron was chosen for all surfaces to ensure the space remained timeless and would not compete with the featured surrounds. Textured wood grain laminate in “Blacken Ash” was used to highlight and frame the views. The simplicity keeps the elements of the kitchen, both inside and out,connected and seamless. This connection remains strong with the use of the aluminium channelling throughout the cabinets and on the door panels. This channel provides a strong linear line that draws the eye in and around the kitchen and out to the cabinets on the deck.

Aluminium framed glass sliding doors have been used between the kitchen and appliance pantry and breakfast hub. The aluminium frame was chosen to connect with the aluminium channelling used throughout the kitchen and the glass was used to reflect the light within the space. There are many zones within this space. The workflows happen between the back sink, the main refrigerator and cooktop and the second is between the front sink, cooktop and the smaller refrigerator. The other zones within this space are the dedicated breakfast hub, appliance pantry, and outdoor cooking, preparation and clean up zone. The clients wanted to enable multiple users in the space and this has been easily created with the multiple work flows and mini task driven zones. The chef, cook and server always remains connected to their guests and the adjoining living spaces. For easy access to utensils, cutlery, plates and other kitchen item Blum black Intivo soft close drawers with glass drawer sides and Aventos lift system doors to cupboards above appliances, were used throughout the space. This feature brings the kitchen to the user and helps maximise space and increases the overall ergonomics of the kitchen.

One of the key features of this kitchen is the use of solid surfaces. Various thickness of this product have been used. 12 mm thick Staron in “Quasar White” have been used on the drawer fronts and doors then mitred 80mm thick for the front island. The solid surface is mitred 40mm thick on the back section benchtop which also houses a fully integrated solid surface sink. This surface continues out to the outdoor kitchen and table so once the bi‐fold doors are open, the table becomes an extension of the island which again blurs the line between inside and out. When separated, the table creates a more casual, day to day, dining experience.

The appliances have been placed strategically throughout the space to minimise the distance travelled by the user and for convenience and flow. The Smeg Induction cooktop and matching circular Island rangehoods have centre place on the back wall of the kitchen. The location of the cooktop was selected to maximise the space and provide the user with a view of the surrounding bush setting. The Smeg cooking appliances have been “banked” together to help retain and encourage the overall linear feel and flow of the space. Integrated fridges have been placed just inside the rear bi‐fold doors. These have been strategically placed to be of use both inside and out. Again enhancing the clients need for the blur between spaces.

Lighting has been applied extensively throughout the indoor/outdoor space giving it a luminescent appeal. It all starts with the LED lights running above the laminate flyover, followed by LED downlights housed under the flyover providing task lighting for the user. The LED lights then continue, accenting the underside of the island bench. LED lights are also used to create sufficient task lighting in the appliance pantry and breakfast hub. Glass pendants are used over the island bench to create adequate lighting for all duties performed in this section.

Thinking outside the box is the hallmark of contemporary design, and it is very clearly reflected in the design of this new space. In this kitchen, meal preparation is much more of a special event with guests and hosts enjoying the social interaction and its beautiful backdrop. So, whether the clients are serving a family lunch, or hosting a grand party, this kitchen is ready for any occasion.