Resene Spanish White Resene Pearl Lusta Resene Sambuca When designer Shane George was faced with the renewal of a large kitchen in a home in rural south Auckland, he fully embraced the existing Italianate style of the house. His rich and varied palette of materials is highly complex and the kitchen is large. Yet Shane’s superb orchestration of those finishes gives the kitchen a relaxed, welcoming feel – perfect for both day-to-day family life but also for large scale entertaining. Hand-finished cabinets are a major ingredient in this mouth-watering creation, painted in Resene Pearl Lusta, then over-brushed with Resene Sambuca. The effect is aged and mellow – the very antithesis of the glossy cabinets found in most kitchens today. Says Shane: “My client was keen on a more hand- finished look, but that would still be durable. I had worked with this sort of finish before but in that case, it was even more rustic.” As well as the cabinets, Shane introduced honed granite and porcelain benchtops, aged bronze tapware, wrought iron detailing, oak shelving and the bold use of multiple Edison-style pendant lights. Exacting attention to detail stretches beyond the hand- painted cabinets of Resene Pearl Lusta over-brushed with Resene Sambuca, to include intricate shelf brackets, a mix of bench finishes and a shallow shelf beneath the island bench. The walls are painted in Resene Spanish White, a classic antique cream. At the end of a large rectangular open-plan living room, the award-winning kitchen mostly functions as a family kitchen. The owners regularly entertain large groups of family and friends, however, so the kitchen had to accommodate a number of cooks at one time, have excellent work flow, multiple appliances and abundant storage. An over-sized pantry is located on one side of the room, discreetly hidden behind large frosted sliding glass doors. Says Shane: “The Italianate aesthetic had a major influence on my vision for renewing the kitchen. It’s a large and complex space but I’m pleased with the way it now has a warm café feel. It’s a hard-working kitchen that can now fulfil multiple functions.” designer Shane George, Kitchens By Design, Auckland, www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz mellow masterpiece Above and left: Hand-finished cabinets in Resene Pearl Lusta, over-brushed with Resene Sambuca, are a cornerstone of the new kitchen. The walls are in Resene Spanish White. Right: An over-sized pantry sits behind frosted glass doors. kitchens 55