Kitchen of the Week: Surprise Storage in Sydney
Hidden appliances and a secret scullery make for a kitchen so streamlined, you might not guess its true purpose
With quick pushes against nearly seamless cabinetry, this kitchen in Sydney, Australia, reveals a surprising amount of storage. "We wanted a hidden kitchen," says designer Darren Genner of Minosa. "When a function within the kitchen is required, that element of the space would reveal itself." The streamlined kitchen still needed to accommodate the clients' family of five and plenty of guests, so Genner fit 13 appliances, a scullery and a 12-person table (expandable by infrared remote) into this stylish space.
The space had already been stripped when Genner started working on the project, and the windows, doors and plumbing could not be changed or relocated. These existing fixtures ended up determining the primary layout, including the placement of the cooktop and sink.
A table extension (controlled by the same type of remote used for pop-up plasma TVs) allows the family to add two to four more seats for dinner parties. Genner's Carrara marble and walnut veneer design stays in line with the kitchen palette.
Dining chairs: Wishbone, Hans Wegner; floor tile: travertine
Dining chairs: Wishbone, Hans Wegner; floor tile: travertine
The apartment has a low ceiling supported by several structural posts that couldn't be removed, so Genner integrated them into the design. The main post is highlighted, in white, on the cooktop run. A new white horizontal beam above the hood now makes the post look like a purposeful part of the design.
Genner had the walls and glass backsplashes painted a single shade of white.
Range, hood (concealed): Miele; lighting: LED; refrigerator (integrated): Miele
Genner had the walls and glass backsplashes painted a single shade of white.
Range, hood (concealed): Miele; lighting: LED; refrigerator (integrated): Miele
Disguising the wall ovens and appliance cabinets became the primary objective for this kitchen's design. Genner created a 22-foot run of storage with a sliding-door system that can reveal or hide appliances. This cabinet contains the wall ovens, steamer and an appliance basket for smaller appliances.
Oven: Navitronic, Miele
Oven: Navitronic, Miele
A second appliance cabinet holds breakfast products and tea and coffee fixings, and hides the entrance to the scullery. The cabinets "solved a number of issues, as all can be easily opened when required and closed when visitors come over," says Genner.
The scullery is behind a sliding door in the hallway. A wall of white glass inside has become an organizing hub, thanks to whiteboard markers.
The scullery hides a second dishwasher, a smaller fridge and wine storage.
The kitchen opens up to an adjacent family room. Although the table extends out into the open space, it still allows for smooth traffic flow.
Countertop: Glacier White Corian; cabinetry: veneer walnut; sink: Mixa Massimo Corian