SMART & SEAMLESS

KITCHEN BLISS CAN BE YOURS WITH CLEVER JOINERY DETAILS THAT ARE BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL

- JESSICA BELLEF

Designing a kitchen involves a delicate balance of practicality and aesthetics, and choosing the right joinery is essential to achieving your dream kitchen. The built-in elements in a kitchen can maximise functionality and create a visually appealing space that makes your heart sing. “By customising your kitchen with joinery, you ultimately end up with a personalised, bespoke space that suits your day-to-day living requirements,” offers interior designer Alexandra Mason of Studio AEM. Talia Levine, one half of interior design studio Smith + Levine, agrees. “As kitchens are so integral to how we live and are such heavily utilised spaces, they should be designed as a living space, not just a functional space,” she says. Our insights into joinery will help you get the most from the heart of your home.

UNIQUELY YOURS

The ubiquitous white kitchen has been overshadowed by unique spaces that embrace individual preferences and lifestyles. “Materiality and detailing is a really strong theme in kitchens at the moment. We are seeing a lot more dynamic stone being used, as well as interesting colour,” says Alexandra. Unexpected hues and open shelves (opposite) displaying treasured collections – such as cookbooks or ceramics – allow the homeowner’s personality to shine through. Joinery designed to look like furniture adds to the character of a home. As Louise Smith, the other half of Smith + Levine, explains: “A kitchen island that looks like a bespoke furniture piece assists in integrating the kitchen with the adjacent furnished living spaces, providing a holistic design.”