Centre of attention
A substantial yet minimalist island with timber inlay and attached table
is the focus of this kitchen which is on show from all areas
These pages: With its large island a
feature, this kitchen offers a social
gathering point and a light-filled
workspace close to most areas of the
home extension it forms part of. A
generous but discreet butler’s pantry
is tucked behind the cabinetry at the
inner-end of the design to help keep
the on-show spaces clutter free. The
kitchen is in an extension to an old
home, with the existing interiors
ending at the wall beside the stairs.
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To stand out or quietly blend in, that’s often
the design conundrum when a new kitchen sits
in a through space. For this modern kitchen – part
of a light-filled addition to a classic cottage by
designer Nathalie Scipioni – it was a little of both.
“The kitchen is positioned at the point whe re
the original interior ends and the contemporary
extension begins,” says Scipioni. “The owners
wanted the island to be a focus of the new space
– both visually and in terms of offering a social
hub for the open-plan environment. Hence its
generous size with space for stools beneath and
the attached wood table with further seating.”
Achieving a modern aesthetic, the island has
a negative detail in matching wood to the table
under its slender benchtop. The same inlay lines
the recessed pulls on the inner side of the island.
“As a social gathering point, the owners
didn’t want a prep sink or other utilities to
clutter the look of the island. However, long
drawers on the innermost side and cupboards
on the public side both offer storage,” she says.
“While we wanted the kitchen to be a focus,
we didn’t want the mechanics of it to draw the
eye. For this reason much of the business side of
things is relegated to a discreet butler’s pantry,