Installed as part of a new-build, the winner of Your Home & Garden’s Kitchen Awards, in association with Blum, was the judges’ favourite for its warm feel and clever use of materials
Meet + greet
Katie Harris, 29 (hand therapist and Optic Build’s administrator), Daniel Harris, 30 (builder and owner of Optic Build), and Olive, 3 months, plus dogs Chief and Lucy.
Key trades/suppliers
Project manager and builder Optic Build
Tiler Euro Tiling
Cabinetry IQ Kitchens
Benchtop AGB Stone
Total spend
$21,000
Judges’ favourite feature
“We just loved the powder-blue grooved cabinets. Katie’s use of colour and texture felt fresh and modern”
What was the inspiration for your kitchen?
Katie: The style of our new house is a modern bungalow so we wanted a kitchen that tied into this style, with modern features and plenty of bench space. I really wanted to add some colour and texture to the kitchen as I was concerned the space was in danger of looking a little sterile.
What materials did you choose and why?
We chose white acrylic cabinetry under the bench as it is hard-wearing and easy to clean, and inset handles add a modern touch. The top cabinets are tongue-and-groove painted in Resene Karen Walker ‘Quarter Powder Blue’. The tongue-and-groove ties into the rest of the house’s modern bungalow style as our internal doors and soffit linings are also grooved.
We chose a subway tile with a ripple effect and slightly irregular edges from Tile Warehouse for the splashback as we love how it complements the grooved cabinetry without making a big statement. The bench is engineered stone with marble-style veins running through it and, combined with the brass tap from Plumbing World, it was a great way to add interesting detail.
I also really wanted to bring another tone or colour to the kitchen, which we achieved with the blush-coloured pendants made for us by Monmouth Glass Studio. I love how these lights look against the backdrop of the blue cabinetry. The whole kitchen has Blum soft-closing hardware and the floors are engineered European oak with a bevelled edge and a layer of natural polyurethane, laid by Optic Build.
Where did you shop for furnishings and accessories?
Citta, Freedom, Country Road, Stevens and Endemic World.
What do you love most about your new kitchen?
The layout and functionality of the kitchen – especially the wide peninsular benchtop. I also love the colours – the powder blue of the grooved cabinetry with the blush pendants.
The Harris family have won a prize package worth over $6000, which includes: a Breville Bakery Boss mixer, a Breville Toast Select Luxe toaster, a Breville Soft Top Luxe kettle, a $1000 Mood Store voucher, an A&C Homestore linen package, a two-month My Food Bag subscription, a Me & My Trend ottoman and $1000 to spend at Blum.
Words by: Sally Conor. Photography by: Vanessa Lewis.
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