Bay of Plenty Designer, Chelsey Mathieson of Vekart, has won the NKBA Excellence in Design SUPREME Kitchen Design Award.
The owners brief for the space was for a calm, luxurious and relaxed vibe with natural materials and texture.
“The kitchen is for a small family that have a love of entertaining, a strong passion for interior design and a vision for the overall outcome. The coastal inspiration was pulled from the Tauranga surroundings of warmth and texture, looking out across the beach with a view of Toi Toi, grasses, wood and water. The clients have lived in Sydney and so a strong influence came from interiors and themes often seen in Australian homes,” said Chelsey.
The kitchen, located in an architectural new home with a prime beach front location, was praised by the judging panel for its restricted pallet, coastal vernacular and structured elegance.
“A clever, aesthetically beautiful and complex kitchen that has been completed to the absolute highest of standards. The marble shelf and marble detailing running through the cabinetry is both subtle and thoughtful and a lovely addition. The project is refined simplicity at its best. The space is open and welcoming and the lighting responds beautifully to its environment,” said the judges.
The Tauranga kitchen received five awards at the awards ceremony held on Friday 18 September. It won the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Supreme Kitchen Design Award, the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Kitchen Distinction Award $60k – $80k Award, the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Lighting Design Award and the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Bay of Plenty Chapter Kitchen Recognition Award. The 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Supreme Kitchen Manufacturer Award went to Vekart.
Matarazzo marble was selected as the centrepiece of the project, fulfilling the vision of the kitchen being a piece of art in the home. With heavy sunlight streaming into the space, a decision was made to use planked urban oak Melteca by Laminex Melamine instead of veneer for the wood look cabinetry. For the work surface, Caesar Stone ‘Cloudburst Concrete’ was selected for durability and texture which was in-keeping with the overall vision for the space. To ensure Matarazzo was still the star of the show, Chelsey decided to clad the entire face of the island in the marble, showcasing the beautiful vein.
In addition to Chelsey’s kitchen design taking out top honours, her bathroom design in the same home received the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Bay of Plenty Chapter Bathroom Recognition Award.