With a view to extending his portfolio from purely commercial joinery to include high end residential, my client (Inspace) specified a show stopping interior. The area needed to exhibit the range of his expertise, so we planned a layout which would have the look and feel of a deluxe apartment. With the ability to walk through room by room, each zone is designed to exhibit the joinery aspect, but in a setting which allows InSpace clients to visualise the result. Thus, all the joinery is in context – from the two kitchens, scullery, walk-in wardrobe, living zone, dining, bathroom, study nooks – it’s as though you are travelling through a home. The effect is dramatic- I wanted to create scope, which I did by featuring two kitchens - the dark sophistication of one contrasted with the warm, relaxed beach vibe of the other.

The finish and medium used throughout reflects the level of craftsmanship involved; the lacquer is detailed, and kitchen mechanisms are state-of-the-art. Stone and natural materials have been cleverly put to play – the front island in the dark kitchen features a stunning piece of porcelain, from which the timber is canter levered to extend the bench top. It was an exercise in being mindful about the transition between the materials. We incorporated the latest technology porcelain - it looks like stone but comes in a range of thin profiles, which opens a range of possibilities. I’m thrilled with the palette wall, which exhibits the materials working together – flooring, stone, cabinet detailing and panel profiles, tile, tapware, and handles. 

There was consideration to the fact that that this doubled as a workspace, so we set up storage for samples and other resources. We were also careful to install as much local and NZ sourced furniture as we could, the feature wall light in the back kitchen was made by a local ceramicist, and a real coup was being able to exhibit work by an internationally acclaimed, local artist. The idea was to leave potential clients with a taste of what InSpace can offer, in the most interactive way possible.