Description:

A classic villa with views across beautiful Lake Pupuke in Milford has been transformed by a central island that seems to float above its surroundings. For this project, the challenge was an existing kitchen that was small and confined. A structural wall limited how much we could open the space.

Kitchen use was limited, and there was no room for entertaining. Our solution was to extend the kitchen along the entire length of the dining and living rooms to maximise lake views and create connected social space. A beautiful double-sided fireplace was also installed to enhance both dining and living areas. The remaining wall not only separates the spaces but serves to divide the kitchen using colour and functionality. On the right-hand side is a cooking and preparation area, The left-hand side is all about relaxing.

Light grey open shelves and Miele appliances combine to provide a calm, understated interior. A diagonal seating area around the central island and beside a built-in wine cooler gives people a space to enjoy the view of beautiful Lake Pupuke.

This large, boat-shaped island bench is the main feature of the kitchen. It connects the expansive view with all the elements of the house. The shelf below the fireplace is designed to resemble a landing dock for the boat. A mirror toe-kick and LED lighting give the impression that this island is floating over the calm surface of the lake. Utilising a Corian solid surface, we designed to connect all details with a seamless finish. White finishes make it feel open and spacious, with sliding doors allowing the entire space to merge with the tranquil surface of the lake, the perfect place for people to relax and enjoy.

The design team at Aurora Australis Interior is passionately dedicated to the meticulous details that breathe life into their creations. Our disdain for the traditional use of joints and glue in our projects is notable, as we believe these methods often compromise the aesthetic and functional integrity of our designs. Instead, we have found Corian to be an impeccable solution for realizing our vision. This versatile material allows us to create incredibly lengthy, uniquely designed benchtops that seamlessly blend innovation with functionality.