Smith & Smith Kitchens Project 56

This sun-soaked, beachy haven is a triumph in creating a space that marries up with the beauty of its surrounding environment. The client, possessing a small apartment by the beachside, desired a vibrant space that was worthy of such a prized position. The original kitchen was white, mass-produced and evoked no sense of place or any connection to the client. To correct this, the brief entailed the need for colour and geometry to reflect the lively blues of the ocean and the creases and curves of the coastal landscape.

To evoke the specific hue of the ocean, the cabinetry presents in a vibrant blue green, making use of Styleite ‘Oceanic’ Acrylic doors. The back panel masterfully replicates the rolling beach floor, utilising American Oak demi round textures to emulate the shade and settlement of sand. To add brightness and a sense of pristine, the benchtops feature Lithostone Alba White stone and the doors and drawers are Dulux Vivid White with a two-pack finish.

The aesthetics and environmental factors were not the only elements of central consideration. Functionality and storage were equally as important to the client, who wanted to experience the kitchen as a more open and spacious area. To manage this, a new segue was added to the dining area. This created a seamless flow without having to carve out specifically allocated room for dining. The space also benefited from a more individualised touch with the addition of a display cabinet. Here, the client can display objects of personal significance, transforming the kitchen into a distinctive, irreplaceable space.

Storage was of the utmost importance to the client, and this design delivered even amongst constraints. In a small apartment, the available space needed to be used to its complete capacity. Although the storage solutions follow the same footprint of the original kitchen, the deeper drawers provide copious amounts of space. This vibrant beachside kitchen seamlessly blends colour, texture and smart design to create a highly functional, deeply personal space that reflects both the coastal surroundings and the client’s individuality