About the project.
Set within a beautifully renovated Mt Albert villa, this kitchen formed part of a substantial renovation and extension to a much-loved family home.
Our clients had owned the property for many years and approached the renovation with a clear respect for its original character. While the wider home retained many of the architectural features that give a traditional villa its charm, the new kitchen needed to take a very different direction.
Having previously worked with two designers, the clients felt they still hadn’t achieved the level of luxury, individuality and impact they were looking for. When Mal Corboy Design was brought into the project, the brief was clear: create a kitchen that was bold, modern and timeless, with clean architectural lines, a strong sense of luxury and, importantly, genuine wow factor.
It was also important that the kitchen worked exceptionally well for everyday family life and entertaining.
The design brief
The generous scale of the room gave us the opportunity to create a kitchen with a number of distinct functional zones rather than concentrating everything around one central workspace.
There were several non-negotiables within the clients’ brief: two sinks, two ovens, substantial integrated refrigeration, a dedicated breakfast area for tea and coffee, a window seat, illuminated glass cabinetry for displaying special pieces, and a separate bar area.
One of the existing architectural features the clients were particularly keen to retain was the curved ceiling. Rather than allowing this to dictate or restrict the new kitchen, we incorporated it into the overall design and used it as part of the transition between the original villa and the contemporary extension.
Above the island, we introduced a large recessed light well. This brings additional light into the centre of the kitchen while creating a greater sense of height and volume. It also gives the island its own architectural presence within such a substantial room.
Materiality and contrast
The material palette was critical to achieving the balance between contemporary sophistication and timelessness.
XTONE porcelain was selected for the benchtops and splashbacks, with its expressive veining providing movement and contrast against the darker cabinetry. Rather than limiting the porcelain to a single surface, we used it throughout the kitchen to create a strong visual connection between the island and the surrounding cabinetry.
The warmth comes through in the espresso oak veneer, which is paired with Resene Diesel lacquer. Together, the finishes create depth without making the kitchen feel overly heavy. The natural grain of the veneer softens the darker lacquer, while the porcelain introduces the lighter tones needed to balance the overall composition.
Lighting was considered as another material within the design rather than simply a practical requirement. Integrated LED lighting highlights the porcelain, timber and display areas, adding warmth and dimension to the kitchen in the evening.
Display cabinetry and architectural detailing
Glass display cabinetry was incorporated at either end of the kitchen, providing a place for glassware, ceramics and objects collected by the clients.
Internal LED lighting turns these cabinets into illuminated features and creates beautiful reflections against the adjoining hand-crafted steel and glass cavity sliders. These doors add another layer of texture and detailing while reinforcing the strong black architectural lines used throughout the kitchen.
The display units also allow the kitchen to move beyond being purely functional cabinetry. They give the room personality and provide an opportunity for the clients to change what is displayed over time.
Designed around how the family lives
The size of the kitchen allowed us to establish clearly defined zones, each with its own purpose.
At one end, the breakfast nook incorporates the window seat and a dedicated tea and coffee area, complete with its own integrated under-bench refrigerator. It creates a relaxed place for the quieter moments of the day without interrupting the main working area of the kitchen.
At the opposite end is the bar, positioned adjacent to the whisky lounge so it functions naturally when the clients are entertaining.
Between these areas sits the main kitchen, anchored by the large island and supported by two sinks, two ovens and generous storage. Integrated Fisher & Paykel fridge and freezer towers maintain the clean cabinetry lines, with handleless knock-to-open operation keeping the elevations visually uninterrupted.
The overhead cabinetry is fitted with Blum AVENTOS Servo-Drive, allowing easy access while maintaining the streamlined, handleless appearance the design called for.
Every zone has a purpose, but they remain visually connected. This was particularly important in a room of this scale. Rather than creating a kitchen that simply filled the available space, we wanted each element to feel deliberately positioned and proportioned.
The finished kitchen
The completed kitchen has the presence the clients were looking for while still sitting comfortably within their renovated villa.
The darker cabinetry gives the room strength and definition, while the veined XTONE porcelain, warm timber veneer, glass and carefully integrated lighting prevent it from feeling austere. The retained curved ceiling and new light well add architectural interest overhead, while the long sightlines through the kitchen allow the different materials and illuminated features to reveal themselves gradually.
Most importantly, the kitchen works.
There are dedicated places for cooking, preparation, breakfast, coffee, entertaining and display, with the appliances and storage integrated into the architecture of the room. Despite its size and level of detailing, the finished space feels cohesive and considered rather than complicated.
For us, this project demonstrates what can be achieved when the planning, materials, lighting and cabinetry are developed together from the outset. The result is a kitchen with a strong identity — contemporary enough to make an impact, but considered carefully enough to remain relevant for many years to come.
From the clients
“Our kitchen by Mal Corboy has fulfilled every desire possible. From functionality to pure wow factor we are extremely satisfied. The strong attention to detail, the chosen materials and cabinetry, the design flair, lighting and consideration for functionality and appliances, you can see why Mal’s the best.
Our kitchen is beautiful, unique, has ambience, flair, plus personality and functionality. We love how our kitchen looks and feels — we are delighted!”
Jim & Nikki Gray