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Kitchen Tours
Kitchen Tour: Black Cabinetry and Pale Marble Create a Luxe Look
Classic, opulent materials and a bold design have given this home’s buyers luxury and a generous space for entertaining
In a Q&A format, we talk to the owner of First Avenue Homes property development company, Jessica Karlovic, about the vision for this dramatic kitchen.
What was the brief?
This kitchen was part of a renovation and extension project designed and constructed as a property-flip home by First Avenue Homes. In this instance, the client was a prospective buyer.
Our brief was for a prestigious kitchen with ample storage and surface space for entertaining and meal preparation. The butler’s pantry needed to provide further practical and hidden storage.
It was important to incorporate striking modern finishes, such as marble and brass, and sleek appliances that would complement the contemporary aesthetic of the kitchen and the overall new extension of the home.
This kitchen was part of a renovation and extension project designed and constructed as a property-flip home by First Avenue Homes. In this instance, the client was a prospective buyer.
Our brief was for a prestigious kitchen with ample storage and surface space for entertaining and meal preparation. The butler’s pantry needed to provide further practical and hidden storage.
It was important to incorporate striking modern finishes, such as marble and brass, and sleek appliances that would complement the contemporary aesthetic of the kitchen and the overall new extension of the home.
What was your starting point?
The starting point of this kitchen design was the 4m-long island, the star feature of the large kitchen, dining and living room. We chose a striking marble for the surface.
We also wanted the island worktop to have a point of difference from other properties, so we looked to current design trends and decided to incorporate a curved edge.
The island and kitchen surfaces were constructed from Portsea Grey marble and accented with Polytec black timber battens to add some textural drama.
The starting point of this kitchen design was the 4m-long island, the star feature of the large kitchen, dining and living room. We chose a striking marble for the surface.
We also wanted the island worktop to have a point of difference from other properties, so we looked to current design trends and decided to incorporate a curved edge.
The island and kitchen surfaces were constructed from Portsea Grey marble and accented with Polytec black timber battens to add some textural drama.
For a seamless modern look, we also applied the Portsea Grey marble to all worktop surfaces and splashbacks. In lieu of traditional overhead cupboards, we decided to showcase the luxuriousness of the space and materials by creating feature open shelving in the same marble on either side of the battened cooker hood.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Colour palette:
- Black cabinetry.
- Grey stone.
- Brass accents in the hardware and tapware.
Materials palette:
- A 4m-long kitchen island with waterfall edges, constructed from Portsea Grey marble.
- Portsea Grey marble was also applied in a book-matched finish to all the kitchen worktops, splashbacks and shelving.
- Kitchen cabinetry constructed from V-groove panelling and finished with two-pack polyurethane in Dulux Black Ace.
- Feature half-moon timber-batten accents by Polytec in Black Woodmatt.
- Timber veneer cabinetry shelving in the pantry is by Polytec in Black Woodmatt.
- Husky 50-bottle dual-zone wine fridge.
- Integrated Ilve fridge and freezer.
- Pyrolytic oven, combi steam oven, warming drawer and induction hob in a matt black finish, all Asko.
- Fisher & Paykel integrated double drawer dishwasher.
- Abey Schock matt-black sink in the pantry.
- ABI Interiors brass sink in the island.
- Meir brass tapware.
- Brass pull-handles from Touch Handles.
- Semicircular handles on tall cupboards and integrated fridges from Index + Co in Sydney and electroplated in brass.
- 3m-long brass batten light custom-made by Lucretia Lighting.
Key pieces of furniture and fittings:
A blank white wall backing onto vacant understairs storage to the left of the main kitchen was repurposed as a statement wine bar. It was finished with custom-made steel-framed doors designed by Jessica Karlovic and manufactured by Urban X Steel.
The space was designed as an attractive modern nod to arches that feature throughout the original heritage cottage. The wine bar includes black timber veneer wine storage, a marble worktop and splashback with brass glass hangers, and overhead and LED lighting. The solid panel of the steel door conceals a handy dual-zone wine fridge for chilling and storage.
A blank white wall backing onto vacant understairs storage to the left of the main kitchen was repurposed as a statement wine bar. It was finished with custom-made steel-framed doors designed by Jessica Karlovic and manufactured by Urban X Steel.
The space was designed as an attractive modern nod to arches that feature throughout the original heritage cottage. The wine bar includes black timber veneer wine storage, a marble worktop and splashback with brass glass hangers, and overhead and LED lighting. The solid panel of the steel door conceals a handy dual-zone wine fridge for chilling and storage.
What was the thinking behind the arrangement of furniture and fixtures?
In a practical sense, the kitchen features ample storage cupboards that reach from floor to ceiling. One wall also houses all the integrated appliances. This brings into play the kitchen work-triangle design principle, where the sink, fridge and cooker are linked in proximity to each other for ease of use when cooking.
In a practical sense, the kitchen features ample storage cupboards that reach from floor to ceiling. One wall also houses all the integrated appliances. This brings into play the kitchen work-triangle design principle, where the sink, fridge and cooker are linked in proximity to each other for ease of use when cooking.
The pantry is seamlessly open yet hidden behind the main wall of the kitchen and is generous in size and storage space. It’s located next to the laundry, which allows direct access to grocery deliveries from the carport to the pantry.
Open storage space in the pantry was specified in a matt black Polytec timber veneer for a look that ties into the use of black timber accents throughout the home and kitchen surfaces and furnishings.
Open storage space in the pantry was specified in a matt black Polytec timber veneer for a look that ties into the use of black timber accents throughout the home and kitchen surfaces and furnishings.
Were there any challenges you worked around?
The challenges that presented over the short time period of such a big build include the time constraints that were made pertinent as the Covid pandemic took hold in 2020. As a personal project, it went on the backburner throughout Stage Four restrictions, as we prioritised our trades’ weekly site limitations to our other contracted projects.
It was all hands on deck to get this one over the line in February 2021, with one last snap construction lockdown in the final week before the sales campaign launched. This reminded us that we are still subject to the ebbs and flows of working with the pandemic restrictions in our industry and community.
The challenges that presented over the short time period of such a big build include the time constraints that were made pertinent as the Covid pandemic took hold in 2020. As a personal project, it went on the backburner throughout Stage Four restrictions, as we prioritised our trades’ weekly site limitations to our other contracted projects.
It was all hands on deck to get this one over the line in February 2021, with one last snap construction lockdown in the final week before the sales campaign launched. This reminded us that we are still subject to the ebbs and flows of working with the pandemic restrictions in our industry and community.
Other challenges that presented during construction were perfecting the curve in the marble worktop and applying curved LED lighting in a rebate to highlight the finish.
Ensuring the wine bar worked was another challenge, as it was an afterthought at frame stage. Appropriate cut-outs needed to be made to the understairs storage, and the cabinetry and doors were custom-made to suit the space and wine fridge.
Appliance delivery also caused delays to completion, as the pandemic resulted in significant stock shortages for imported appliances.
Ensuring the wine bar worked was another challenge, as it was an afterthought at frame stage. Appropriate cut-outs needed to be made to the understairs storage, and the cabinetry and doors were custom-made to suit the space and wine fridge.
Appliance delivery also caused delays to completion, as the pandemic resulted in significant stock shortages for imported appliances.
Why do you think this room works?
Overall, we hope the new owners love cooking, dining and entertaining in their new kitchen. Its open-plan design allows unobstructed views to the living and dining areas and out to the pool and outdoor entertainment zones through the use of large concealed stacking doors and windows.
This kitchen is bold, modern and a beautiful room to live, work and entertain in, and we couldn’t be more proud of our efforts across the design, implementation, construction and finishing of the space.
Overall, we hope the new owners love cooking, dining and entertaining in their new kitchen. Its open-plan design allows unobstructed views to the living and dining areas and out to the pool and outdoor entertainment zones through the use of large concealed stacking doors and windows.
This kitchen is bold, modern and a beautiful room to live, work and entertain in, and we couldn’t be more proud of our efforts across the design, implementation, construction and finishing of the space.
The area before works.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple with two children
Location Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Size Approximately 24 sq m
Budget AUS$110,000 (around £60,000) for the kitchen and pantry (including the wine bar, flooring, cabinetry, marble and appliances)
Completed March 2021
Design and build First Avenue Homes
Styling M+Co Property
Joinery Grand Cabinets
Questions answered by Jessica Karlovic, owner of First Avenue Homes
Photos by Mitch Lyons of Lyons Photography