From the integrated appliances to the mechanical drop down drinks storage behind the cooktop, the glamorous kitchen in this inner-city luxury apartment is full of surprises. The use of concealed appliances and the beautiful combination of materials creates a space that not only incorporates the vast wraparound balcony with the home but creates a seamless space within this modern home.

As we were designing for a couple who were downsizing to a much smaller home, it was essential that we could design a kitchen that could accommodate not only their love for cooking but there extensive love for entertaining as well. Our clients wanted a kitchen that had a ‘wow’ factor with hidden features so that the kitchen could become focal of this apartment.

With a wraparound balcony, it was important for this kitchen to integrate the outdoor entertaining area with the indoor living areas of the home. Clever use of lighting and mirrored splash back reflecting the stunning views helps to incorporate the outside to the inside.

The biggest challenge for us when designing this kitchen was to design a kitchen that could accommodate their passion for entertaining whilst creating a space that could serve as a flexible working space. There is a hidden drinks storage that lowers down from the wall cabinets onto the bench top using electric linear actuators. This along with the mirrored splash back and LED strip lighting under the wall cabinets and ceiling, transforms the everyday kitchen into a feature bar space perfect for entertaining.

Whilst the kitchen was not large, it was important to utilise the high ceilings and incorporate a sense of warmth in the materials used. To accentuate the three metre high ceilings, we included tall cabinetry to the ceiling to create as much storage as we could. We also created an indented ceiling with coloured LED lighting which creates interest and draws your eye towards the ceiling.

The clever use of the dark Navtext Sardona veneer along the kitchen walls and the feature island with Crema Bianco Marble benchtops and Dulux Vivid White cabinetry creates not only interest but an illusion of a larger space. With the large bi-fold doors opening to the left of the island bench, the kitchen seamlessly ties the indoor and outdoor entertaining areas together. The integrated fridge and the use of bi-folding pocket doors to conceal the small appliance zone creates a seamless wall of cabinetry which wraps around the feature island. Blum Servo Drives have also been used throughout the kitchen to make the cabinetry easily accessible.