like a fine wine

From Habitat magazine - issue 13

Rich red cabinets and a strikingly lit island bench make this a sophisticated and elegant kitchen.

In a major renovation that opened up a Wellington house to its stunning harbour views, this dramatic red kitchen is an eye-catching centrepiece.

Designed by Pauline Stockwell, the kitchen was transformed from its small pokey space to be part of the large open-plan living area.

The homeowners love the colour red so Pauline chose Resene Pohutukawa to be used not as a lacquer on the cabinetry, but back-painted onto toughened glass. This gives the kitchen a wonderful luminosity and is further enhanced by the striking treatment used for the front of the island bench. Here, Kings Fourth Generation timber specialists pieced together strips of timber and acrylic resin in a product called Laser Grain to form a panel. This is then backlit with red LED lights for a dramatic neon-style effect. Black enamel pendant lights with a quirky red flex from ECC run the length of the island bench for task lighting.

Says Pauline: “Opening up the existing kitchen and incorporating the hallway left a long, narrow space – the perfect setting for a large 4m x 1m island.”

The island extends into a lower table, in wenge timber, to provide not only a casual eating area but a place for children to do their homework. Wenge is also used on the full-height cabinetry at the end of the kitchen which includes an appliance cupboard and pantry, and to frame the ends of the long island bench. The rich, deep tones of the timber echoes the owners’ collection of retro black leather furniture.

The walls in the area were painted Resene Half Tea for a calming, neutral background to the otherwise bold colours.

The island bench acts as a central point when the owners entertain – it has a wine cabinet underneath and a second, smaller sink with a tap that delivers chilled and boiling water. Double ovens were also included in the kitchen design.

A combination of benchtop materials is used, with an engineered stone on the island bench, and a textured stainless steel used around the cooking hob and main sink. The recessed handles on the cabinetry are a fuss-free solution while the coloured cork tile floors pick up on the deep tones of the timber cabinetry.

“Overall, the kitchen renovation has made the space lighter and more modern, and allowed occupants of the kitchen to appreciate the views,” says Pauline. “We even realigned the height of the windows in the living area to sit level with the benchtops in the new kitchen.”

Accessories: Wenge veneer, from CHH Wood Products. Floor: Cortica cork tiles in Resene Black Pepper, from Cork Supplies. Ovens, from Bosch. Extractor, from Smeg. Laser Grain panel, from Kings Fourth Generation. Benchtops: textured stainless steel and Quarella engineered stone, from Tile Warehouse. Lights: Caravaggio pendants, from ECC. Designer: Pauline Stockwell, Pauline Stockwell Design.

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

• Specifiers:

  • Earn CPD points reading this magazine – If you're a specifier, earn ADNZ or NZRAB CPD points by reading habitat magazine. Once you've read an issue request your CPD points via the CPD portal for ADNZ (for NZ architectural designers) or NZRAB (for NZ architects).  Join our specifier and trade database...

If you have an idea, project or story that you think would suit habitat, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us an email with your details and include photos if submitting a project.

Sign up for a DIY card and Save! Australia | New Zealand