World Class Kitchens & Bathrooms

Last Updated: 09 Jun 2014
Claire Watkins

Kitchens and bathrooms that have made an impact on the global design scene.

Designers up the ante to create functional yet visually striking kitchens, while bathrooms use distinctive materials to make a statement in this round up of international spaces.

SWEEPING STATEMENT

Ultimately, a kitchen should offer a series of systems for every stage of the food process – from preparation to cooking to storage. For this reason, designers continue to strive for the utmost in functionality, while maintaining brand integrity with cutting-edge designs that are also aesthetically pleasing. A distinctive element of a Pedini kitchen is its sweeping curved islands and peninsulas, as seen here in the Integra. Adaptability and efficiency in this kitchen are what sets it apart, while materials such as white oak in the peninsula, quartzite gris anthracite in the curved countertop, and a grey oak table provide the perfect sleek finish. www.pedini.it.

LUXE RETREAT

Gardens and greenery have the instant effect of bringing calm to a space, which is why it's not uncommon to find these elements in luxury hotels and resorts around the world. In this bathroom, Aamer Architects took advantage of Singapore's tropical climate by inviting its typical lush flora and fauna elements into the scene. The vanity and shower floor and wall in Jet Black by Caesarstone enhance the vibrancy of the greenery outside, while shower cladding in natural split-surface tiger stones adds warmth to the space. After climbing a hill of landscape granite rocks with the clients in order to select the perfect piece, the large stone they chose ended up being used as a bench in the shower. The final stone finishes selection is credited to Terra Design. www.aamertaher.com.

TAILORED TO SUIT

Marking 25 years of collaboration, Snaidero and Pininfarina have played a leading role in Italian industrial design history, and are celebrating with a limited edition release of an iconic kitchen model – OLA25. Best described as classic, unprecedented and audacious, OLA25 is an expression of experimentation and innovation in terms of colour, material and design. The contrast between the champagne-coloured micalised lacquer-finished island and the black carbon fibreglass worktop is used to stunning effect. It is a design for those who enjoy a tailored style for their kitchen and who seek out the truly unique. www.snaidero.it.

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE

Forever on the quest for elite design, function-oriented product innovations, new programs tailored to market and customer requirements, and an extension of colour ranges, LEICHT impresses with the Synthia-C | Ceres-C. The knots and cracks displayed in the new Antique Oak decor of the tall units add an earthy element to the kitchen space, and visually connect with the freestanding island bar top. Asymmetrically divided into two, the island features two contrasting colours, with the sink area in Arctic White and the cooking and bar area in Alpine Grey. The handleless features of the Synthia-C further cement it as a streamlined, fuss-free space that's a pleasure to cook and entertain in. www.leicht.com.

TACT-TILE

Modern bathrooms call for more than the functional basics: given all the time we spend in them, it's worth making them spaces to enjoy. Unique tiling offers the opportunity to make the bathroom reflect your personality with lively colours and patterns. Hermitage, by internationally acclaimed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, is a beautiful addition to the Bisazza Decorations Collection, and features an exuberant blend of black-, grey- and yellow-coloured glass and gold leaf mosaic. In this design, a weave of flowers peeks through thin white lines and softens the effect of the darker accents in the vanity and mirror.
www.bisazza-australia.com.au.

SHIFT TO NEUTRAL

The journey to create the ultimate intimate space for everyday body care and relaxation lies in finding the perfect blend of form, texture and materials. The Pedini Bath Collection is a reflection of fifty years of experience, research and passion for achieving this combination. The neutral tones of this bathroom instantly encourage a feeling of relaxation, where wall units with open cabinets in matt Tuscany beige balance a thick brown Coffee countertop with a large undermount sink. The clean lines are enhanced by the allure of smooth surfaces, handleless wall units and Birmingham mirrors with flip-up opening and integrated lights. www.pedini.it.

MINIMAL FUSS

Poggenpohl's +SEGMENTO is a style that appeals to the purist, where sophisticated simplicity comes to life with thin worktops, handleless surfaces, and a place where the kitchen ends and living space begins. Vertical spacer profiles on tall base-, wall- and top-mounted units ensure cabinets are easy to open from above or from the side. The 12mm thick worktop gives the impression that it floats above the units beneath and further adds to the refined, elegant and distinctive look and feel of the space. While its minimalism may look effortless, there's no denying that it takes both craft and imagination to achieve a look so pure and fresh. www.poggenpohl.com.

PERSONAL SPACE

Each kitchen design should be a reflection of the home chef within it, complementing their individual approach to cooking. Exuding a bold personality of its own, the Cloe kitchen by Cesar features impressive volumes, minimalist lines, and finishes such as knotted oak, gloss rust lacquers, and laminates. The kitchen combines functionality and clean-cut design with grip-recess edges in all units, meaning the elimination of handles creates an extra touch of linearity and elegance. The design also keeps in line with modern trends that allow the kitchen to blend seamlessly with the living space. www.cesar.it.

CABIN FEVER

The use of wooden materials for boardwalks leading to the beachscape is common enough in the dunes of Eastern Long Island, but rarely extends to the interior of the home. Yet with the stunning and dramatic, cabin-like effect it has in this bathroom, we tend to think it should be featured more often. Bates Masi Architects lined the ceilings, walls and floor of this bathroom in smooth mahogany before incorporating a Stone Source Inca Black Stone countertop and Skatelite Pro cabinet faces, which match the exterior siding. A mirrored wall and glass-shaded pendants offer a sense of added space in the already generous room, while a freestanding bath sets the scene for a spa-like experience. www.batesmasi.com.

NEAT IDEA

Everything on hand, everything tidy in an instant. It's what every homeowner wants in a kitchen, and what Valcucine's new Logica System with Artematica Vitrum is based on. The original Logica System was established in 1996 with an 80cm depth and equipped back section, removable jumbo drawers, and wall units with Ala and Aerius lift-up doors. Now, a new equipped back section is being presented that provides kitchen users the luxury of containing and concealing all kitchen equipment when necessary, including the dish drainer, small appliances, power sockets, the tap, utensil hooks and even a range hood. The new worktop is also treated with nanotechnology to increase its scratch resistance. Available in a range of colours. www.valcucine.com; available through Rogerseller, www.rogerseller.com.au.

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