‍Designed: John and Helle Olsen
Build: Collaroy Kitchen Centre
Location: Collaroy

A bold kitchen designed to draw attention, with walnut timber benchtops, matte black cabinetry and dark marble splashbacks.

FEATURE FOCUS

Accessories: Vipp Shelves
Benchtop: American walnut timber
Bins: Häfele
Bouquet: White House Flowers
Cabinetry: Laminex Absolute Matte
Dishwasher: Miele
Drawers and Hinges: Blum
Handles: Kethy and Buster + Punch
Lighting: LEDs
Power points: Zetr
Oven and Cooktop: Miele
Refrigerator: Mitsubishi
Sink: Blanco
Splashbacks: Marble
Taps: Vola

When the Designer Is Also the Client

Strikingly designed, this kitchen was built to catch eyes. Belonging to the designers themselves, it caters to the Olsen family of three and their dog in Collaroy. Modelled with continuity in mind, the kitchen is made to flow into the existing space. Though it achieves the vision effortlessly, the process wasn’t without its challenges. Dealing with four doorways and adjusting their expectations for the open floorplan they originally wanted, Helle and John managed to pull together a space that honoured what was already there.

Matte black cabinetry makes a bold statement. Up high, the lines created by a fluted surface lead the eye upward. Space has intentionally been left to give the ceiling breathing room, making the kitchen feel less dominating and more relaxing.

Meanwhile, quartz veins in the marble redistribute attention throughout the kitchen, exaggerating the sense of space. The marble guarantees elegance while providing an easy-clean splashback surface that is both elevated and efficient.

Bringing warmth to the otherwise high-contrast black and white palette is the American walnut benchtop, an unusual yet richly decadent inclusion. Tying it in are the timber internals revealed when opening the overhead storage. With upwards-opening doors and in-built lighting, the entire shelf becomes visible and accessible in one movement, eliminating the chance of bumping into doors left open.

A black Vola tap and Blanco sink meld into the overall design, while dark, rounded-edged power points remain almost invisible against the marble. Lacking visible handles, every drawer continues the theme of crisp, clean lines. Tea towels, cleaning products, bins, doggie treats and spices are all tucked away in dedicated spaces. A Miele induction cooktop ensures a continuously smooth surface, beautifully reflecting the marble above. The design ethos is sleek throughout, ensuring no unwanted detail snags attention.

Owner and designer Helle is a keen cook and loves to bake, so she ensured that everything was positioned to make sense. The sink behind the expansive window means washing up is always brightened by natural light. The extra depth to the window ledge provides a dedicated spot for a White House Flowers bouquet. The dishwasher beneath allows an easy flow from rinsing to stacking. The wall-mounted stepladder keeps everything within reach. Even the fridge sits right by the oven, so moving dough from resting to baking takes no more than a single step.

It is the kind of kitchen that makes you rethink your own. Getting kitchen envy? Collaroy Kitchen Centre can turn your dream space into a reality. Visit collaroykitchen.com.au.