This new kitchen is a re-fit to our own house. Our first foray into designing and building for ourselves. We bought this lovely 70's house in Bellevue in 2012 which was designed by local architect Ken Richards in 1974. As far as kitchens go, this would have been quite the cutting edge in its day. Unfortunately, 40 years on, it's age is now showing, not in design, but merely in overall condition and it had to go.

Cutting back the block concrete wall and installing integrated dishwasher, see's the layout shuffle but not entirely change. Hand made handles add a touch of craftsmanship to again help accentuate the galley length on approach to the kitchen.

We really enjoyed working with local craftsmen The Kitchen Zone on this project. They brought a wealth of knowledge to the table.

Breakfast area with pullout drawers for cutlery. An overhead shelf for cookbooks and a built in light to the underside for working.

Our ideas for the re-fit looked first and foremost at retaining the feel of the 1970s house. Extensive use of timber by way of American oak veneer plywood drawer and cupboard fronts and re-introducing lime green laminate highlights as counterpoint for a nostalgic nod to the original.

We also wanted the kitchen to feel as though it had always been there. A contemporary reinterpretation of materials, shades and colours.

The screen works on a number of levels; both to act as containment to the kitchen as well as a device to hold up the bookshelf. Additionally it also related back to the original kitchen by the use of light boxes in lime green and white.

We like honesty in our materials. You know what it’s made of and this is evident in the plywood edging on the drawers. We also designed the handles out of ply to match.