Nature with bling

Nature and sustainability drive this kitchen and design - with a little added flair

When it came to designing the kitchen in her own Waimea Home, architect Jo Monaghan of Wellbeing by Design, wanted it to look more like an installation rather than a built-in kitchen.

“The kitchen needed to be a standalone design statement as the raked Southland cherry beech ceiling is high in this area,” Jo says. “And to keep in line with the sustainability drivers of the project, the kitchen is modular, so it can be easily dismantled and removed, allowing for re-use elsewhere.”

The kitchen is part of Jo and husband Maurice’s new-build home, Waraki House, which she designed to be a serene, sustainable retreat that blends beautifully with its natural surroundings thanks to the use of materials like wood and stone aggregate and nature-inspired colours in Resene Eco-Choice paints.

 “The colour palette of more intimate spaces like bedrooms is inspired by the surrounding landscape in deep tones of green and blue, but in the main living spaces we have a neutral palette of Resene Black Haze on the walls with the timber ceiling and concrete floors. It works a bit like an art gallery, not competing with the artworks, which in this case are the views out to the surrounding nature.”

When it comes to choosing a kitchen colour scheme Jo’s advice is to consider the look and feel of your whole home rather than its separate spaces. “You may want each space to feel different. Calm versus vibrant, for example. Let that inform your colour, material and design choices, but keep an eye on the big picture.

“In terms of sustainability, think about durability and longevity of design, as well as natural, healthy materials. The design should reflect you, rather than be an homage to current trends.”

Jo says choosing a stark black for kitchen cabinetry contrasted well with the grey-white Black Haze walls and cherry beech ceiling. “To avoid a monochromatic look, and to link with the feature brass dining table pendant light and the brass tap, we chose Resene Bling Bling as the splashback colour. It’s fun and the metallic gold reflects light, giving it depth. It also works with the retro style of the house.”

That brass tap, which is designed to take on a patina over time, was one of the kitchen must-haves for Jo, for its surprisingly organic appearance and the way it pulls the space together.

Another feature of the kitchen is the slimline porcelain benchtop for the island, though getting it onsite and installed was one of the biggest challenges of the completed kitchen. It has become central to how well the whole space functions. “It’s easy to have two people cooking together without crowding each other and it's social. Friends can hang out at the island bench while we cook.”

In Jo’s words

How would you describe your cooking style?
Relaxed! I look at a recipe but then quite often go rogue, adding my own ingredients. I love seeing what’s in the fridge and cupboards and rustling something up. My Mum was a cookery teacher, so I learnt to cook by watching her as I grew up. She passed away recently, so I'm very happy to have her handwritten recipe cards and cook books.

 What is your favourite part of this kitchen?
Its simplicity; it is understated but stylish, and the flow works well.

Which recipe from this issue of dish would you like to cook and why?
The salmon crudo with rice paper crackers. It's simple, fresh and I eat a lot of crudo dishes when I go out to eat but have never done one at home. It’s time I tried!

RESENE.CO.NZ
Architect: Jo Monaghan

Top Tip:Resene has the most extensive range of environmentally friendly Eco Choice approved paints, stains and coatings that have been independently verified. These include products with no added VOCs or low VOCs. Find out more at www.resene.com