Minimalist, Easy To Clean Kitchen by Toni Roberts

A semi-industrial palette of wood, concrete, and steel gives this kitchen a strong presence and also connects it to the wider surroundings.

Achieving a sense of material cohesion with its wider surroundings is a plus for any kitchen, and this edgy workspace by respected designer Toni Roberts at Kitchen Architecture provides an excellent case in point.

"The brief for the kitchen was to extend the home’s use of industrial and natural materials – namely the concrete floor and concrete block wall, along with the use of cedar and blackened, rolled steel features," says Roberts.

“The homeowners wanted a contemporary kitchen, designed with rawness and honesty. Other requests were to keep the rear concrete block wall partly exposed while allowing for easy maintenance and cleaning; a dedicated baking area; an easy flow to outdoors and a welcoming space for family connection.”

The generous island also features a rugged, leathered granite bench, chosen for its tactile feel and nod-to-nature characteristics.

To protect the concrete rear wall day to day, a retractable steel sheet splashback was also conceived. A mark of a great design, this looks simple enough in nature, while in reality being underpinned by a complex configuration. The splashback gently lowers to meet a stainless steel ledge, making for an easy-to-clean cooking zone.

Meeting another of the owners’ requests, the dedicated baking pantry includes cabinet doors that slide to the sides and pocket back, keeping the rear of the kitchen flowing and accessible. Toni has used Häfele's Grass NovaPro full extension soft-closing silver runners and Hawa Concepta doors. The doors tuck neatly away into the recess to allow full access to the work-zone, and close to conceal the clutter when not in use.

In fact, ease of use runs right through the kitchen. This includes strategically positioned zones for prepping, cooking, breakfast, drinks, baking, clean-up, and school lunches. Plus, the drawers feature dedicated storage systems, while the dining side of the island conveniently houses drinks and homework resources.

Designer's Details: https://www.kitchenarchitect.co.nz/

Story by: New Zealand TIDA Kitchens