“GREAT DESIGN MEETS FABULOUS FUNCTIONALITY IS ALWAYS AT THE HEART OF OUR THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN WE’RE CREATING A KITCHEN,” SAYS BBA CREATIVE DIRECTOR TALIAH LOWRY. “ACTUALLY IT’S AN ETHOS THAT PERVADES EVERY ELEMENT OF OUR BUILD PHILOSOPHY BUT NEVER IS IT MORE IMPORTANT THAN IN THE KITCHEN WHICH IS THE SOCIAL HUB OF THE ANY HOME.”
The kitchen is no longer a place just to cook. It’s about creating spaces that invite people in to reconnect with the joy of making food, sharing a glass of wine and chat, and if an island bench is part of the design, it could well be the space where that food is consumed too. In a kitchen I’m designing for our own family, I always have an island bench with bench seats. As a family with three boys we hardly ever use our dining table – the island bench is where they always end up, interacting with me while I cook.
The kitchen is the centrepiece of a home and I try to keep them simple – a perfectly created blank canvas so I can change and refresh the look over time just with tweaks to styling and what’s on display. I am a huge fan of vintage kitchen utensils and often just display them in a ceramic container in a delightful mix of old and new, a combo which is a staple in the Byron Beach Abodes design ethos. What’s not to love about a marriage of contemporary stone, aged and rustic timber and handmade tiles like the beautiful handmade gold tiles with their rich lustre that you’ll find in The Chapel.
“The materials you choose are so important too, and for me, even if a kitchen is all white, I still prefer to use natural elements such as solid hand painted timber drawers and cupboards rather than factory made materials. I don’t think about what’s on-trend but rather keep focused on our own signature BBA style. That’s my primary driver. I love sourcing one-off pieces such as a light fitting or wall sconces and unearthing rustic lengths of timber to use as open shelving to showcase beautiful pieces of vintage art, handmade ceramics or bunches of freshly picked blooms or just one stately branch.
“A BBA kitchen is always about quality finishes too such as beautiful statement tapware from brands such as Sussex and English Tapware Company (Hot Tip: include a pull out spray nozzle to let you clean the sink with ease.). And don’t be afraid to make a bold statement like we’ve done with the all-black cabinetry in The Cabin, softened with aged hardwood panelling.
“Lighting is super important in the kitchen too, just as it is everywhere else in the home. In the kitchen, soft lighting needs to be combined with bright overheads for practicality when cooking and prepping, and if they’re all on dimmers you can adjust to create atmosphere. We recently added subtle strip lighting to the underside of the wall shelving in The Lodge kitchen and butler’s pantry to give a sultry, soft glow to the space. It’s quite sexy if you ask me!
And these are just a few things I always have in a kitchen:
- a knife rack to display my Japanese and vintage knife collections
- a selection of vintage chopping boards, ceramics
- a pull out fridge for all the things that my kids access often as milk, yogurt, drinks etc
- a Zip tap with instant sparkling, boiling and chilled filter water – it’s changed my life! To be honest, it’s a massive investment but it’s the most used item in the entire kitchen.
- A hidden pantry to conceal all the mess if space permits
Then just add greenery – of course!”
Taliah x
