Grandeur in the Kitchen

We are owner-builders, who have been in the industry for 30 years. We specialise in delivering bespoke, one-of-a-kind, high-end homes – not volume. For our own home we designed a traditional yet modern, two-storey, four-bedroom home, filled with top-quality fittings and specifications to accommodate ourselves and our two daughters.

The kitchen is the hub of our home. It is located centrally in the house and flows out onto a covered outdoor living area. The kitchen is expansive, with a four-metre long island, which is ideal for our family to gather around and large enough for guests to gravitate to when entertaining.

How did you come across Mastercraft Kitchens, and why did you choose them to design your new kitchen?

We have worked with Mastercraft Kitchens Christchurch in the past – they manufactured all the joinery for two homes we built. We chose them for their ability to deliver the quality we required on time.

What was your brief to the designer, and how did it evolve?

To create a high-end kitchen and practical scullery with quality hardware that fitted in the allocated space. It not only had to look good, but it also had to be extremely functional and connect smoothly to the rest of the home. We found through experience that handles can look heavy and snag clothing, so we requested a seamless look with no handles on any of the drawers or cupboards, or on the integrated fridge and freezer.

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How did the designer translate your brief – and was it what you expected?

We were really happy with Fleur’s initial design. In fact, we didn’t change much at all – apart from the benchtop colour. It was a great collaboration. She also sourced all the electronic hardware required to enable the seamless, no-handle look we desired.

The use of full sheets of ‘stone’ on the walls is the most striking feature in this kitchen. How did that come about, and what were some of the challenges – especially using them as doors?

We had seen the large-format Neolith (manufactured stone) used on the exterior of another home, in a matte finish, and decided we would like to use it in our new home, as feature walls and on the splashbacks. Fleur was immediately on board with the idea, and we chose a gloss finish to create a feeling of opulence and grandeur.

The ‘secret’ door takes you through to the laundry. Being builders, we designed it ourselves using a steel frame, to not only take the weight of the stone, but also to stop it from warping. Many hours went in to the installation to get a perfect seamless finish in the wall.

What were some of the most enjoyable and memorable moments of the process?

Building a home can be a very stressful process, and Mastercraft took the stress out of one of the most important areas of the home. We needed to move in ASAP, so Fleur’s attention to detail, along with Mastercraft’s exacting manufacture and install systems, enabled us to move into our new home just in time for Christmas, which was a huge relief.

What are your favourite parts of your new kitchen?

The ‘motorised’ overhead cupboards, rubbish bins and fridge doors are a luxury, and we love them. The scullery, which is compact and has everything at arm’s length, is hidden away, yet not disconnected from the rest of the kitchen – which is great, especially when Justine is preparing meals and entertaining at the same time.

What would be your advice to anyone who’s thinking of having a new kitchen designed?

Talk to a designer who understands a kitchen needs to be functional as well as look good, and who is backed by a company, like Mastercraft Kitchens, that has the firepower to deliver a quality product on time.