Six of the best Kiwi cuisines in the global spotlight

For a small country, New Zealand punches above its weight in terms of design. Six of the 18 kitchen finalists for this year’s prestigious Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID) international design awards come from New Zealand.

New Zealand designers have featured in London-based awards before and even won Best Kitchen – Stefan Sonntag and Stuart Bateman of Masterwood Joinery, Cromwell in 2019, and Celia Visser of Celia Visser Design, Auckland in 2018.

Visser is a finalist again this year, along with Morgan Cronin of Cronin Kitchens, Auckland, Davinia Sutton of Detail by Davinia Sutton, Christchurch, Damian Hannah of German Kitchens, Wellington, Natalie Du Bois of Du Bois Design, Auckland, and Robin Caudwell of Conception CK , Hamilton. Several of these designers are among the Kiwis who have made the final in previous years.

Morgan Cronin’s kitchen, titled Te Kāuta (Cooking House), was designed for a person of Maori descent – ​​this is where the whānau congregate. The modern, minimalist kitchen was designed to be aesthetically compatible with the existing home. It includes seating for six on the island and natural stone worktops.

Davinia Sutton’s kitchen, which featured in our Kitchen of the Week series, reflects a mid-century aesthetic.

The cabinets include five-piece doors in dark and medium stained solid oak and doors lacquered in Resene Baltic Sea. The black-tinted display cases on the side incorporate an In Residence brass latticework with glass behind.

The kitchen has already won the 2021 NKBA Supreme Kitchen Design Highly Commended Award and the Manufacturing Craftsmanship Award.

Damian Hannah’s entry is the Monarch Kitchen in Palmerston North. Hannah worked alongside the architect to create a high-end kitchen with handpicked translucent Brazilian quartzite. Even the island drawer fronts and adjacent living room fireplace are clad in matching quartzite.

Other special features include black ovens that “disappear” into the dark cabinetry and an extra-large scullery to one side.

Natalie Du Bois, this year’s winner of all three NKBA Grand Awards last Saturday night, made the SBID final with a kitchen that was a finalist in last year’s NKBA Supreme Kitchen Design.

The project, named Coastal Holiday Bach, transformed a 1950s bach.

An old dark U-shaped kitchen has been replaced with a homey kitchen island configuration that celebrates the beautiful sea views. the mid-century vibe and visually harmonize with other wood elements throughout the bach.

Celia Visser’s project, titled Oriental Industrial, was designed for an expat couple returning to New Zealand for their retirement. The kitchen had to adapt to the existing architecture of their home and, as the couple are passionate about cooking, they wanted a larger space to work in.

Steel doors separate the hallway from the kitchen and living areas. Reclaimed matai flooring is also featured, while cabinets and shelving combine ‘blued’ steel with native wood, blending seamlessly with the home’s architectural industrial features. Marble countertops add to the organic feel of the home.

Designer Robin Caudwell of Design CK in Hamilton created the Horotiu Hill kitchen for a contemporary new construction in Hamilton. He says clients have large extended family and friends and receive regularly.

“It was essential to make the house elegant, welcoming and relaxing,” says Caudwell. “Using a mix of different textures and tones, with carefully placed standout pieces such as the Titanium Gold granite island top, the project achieved a remarkable result.”

The kitchen is perpendicular to a large terrace, allowing easy flow through large sliders to the outdoor dining area with a fireplace.

The winners of the SBID award will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 21, 2022.