Our client was renovating an older style apartment in one of Sydney’s upper Eastern suburbs. Renovations were to the entire unit including the bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchen area. The client was repairing floors, ceilings and updating the main spaces of the apartment. His brief was to make the apartment modern and contemporary, yet using different materials and finishes from the norm. Critical to the renovation was to capture natural light and to take advantage of the apartments’ outlook. Impala’s role in this renovation was to design and build the kitchen.
The client brief was for a modern design, yet a little different and definitely the “WOW” factor. The kitchen space was to be the focal point in the living area and to allow for entertaining whilst also servicing the two occupants living there.
With this in mind, Impala designed a contemporary kitchen where the selection of finishes was paramount. Smoked mirror was used on the splashback and mirrored cabinets were mounted over these, giving an opulent, yet contemporary feel. Gloss polyurethane cabinets in a charcoal hue were used to define the kitchen space and to work with the Calcutta marble bench top. Appliances were concealed to hide the “working” side of the kitchen, the fridge is in the cabinet to the left of the island. The pantry is accessed through the white door to the right of the island.
Lighting was also important to the client to add ambience and interest. Impala installed an LED light strip to the underside of the island bench. The island bench itself is an unusual design, overhanging at one end and concealing the side at the over. The gorgeous marble can be seen from both sides at the island ends.
The island unit sits on plush carpet, where guests can sit and feel comfortable. The floor on the other side of the island is commercial grade vinyl, allowing for practicality where food is prepared.
The large island provides functional working space and allows the chef to face into the room and converse with guests or enjoy the outlook while cooking. The rangehood is a striking yet simple design mounted above the island. It’s cylindrical shape softens and balances the square edges in the kitchen design. Critical to the modern, sleek design was that the kitchen had minimum handles. Two handles were used on the larger doors for the fridge and pantry, these are at equal heights and at either end, balancing the space.
With careful consideration to the clients’ brief, Impala has designed and built a stunning contemporary kitchen suitable to the apartment’s unique style.
