Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 32 No 4 New Zealand | Page 85

Creating a discreet kitchen in an open-plan
living space is about more than sympathetic
cabinetry finishes. Everything from tight space
planning to handle choices can play a part.
The brief to architect Darren Jessop for this
kitchen was to replace the existing kitchen in the
same position with a streamlined version better
suited to entertaining. This was part of Jessop’s
renovation of the whole villa, which grew the
house from two storeys to three.
“The existing, rather tired kitchen had white
Melteca cabinetry set into an all white-painted
volume – so it was bland as well as outdated.”

Other client requests were to use contrasting
materials and provide maximum storage.
“The key to the design of this fresh kitchen
within the context of the renovated villa is that
all the things you don’t want to see, you don’t
see,” says Jessop. “Everything sits behind the
wall of built-in, floor-to-ceiling wood cabinets
that’s designed to look like a large piece of furniture as well as crisply contrast the white room.
“For example, the pulls for the drawers and
cupboards have been custom milled into the
wood, adding to the furniture-like appeal and
also bringing a Scandinavian feel to the space.”

Above left: White to the left, wood
to the right – this kitchen, part of
a major whole-villa renovation by
Jessop Architects, plays off adjacent
wall surfaces to elegant effect. The
perimeter wall of custom-stained
oak also connects with the restored
and stained oak floorboards seen
throughout the home.
Following pages: A cantilevered
countertop end with four stools
tucked underneath ensures the
island is a social gathering point.

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