Combining rich colour and bold gestures with the soft tactile, visually gentle qualities of Laminex Absolute Matte laminate, the Studio Kitchen by Kennedy Nolan is a design whose small size belies its unexpected generosity and high degree of functionality.

With the kitchen becoming the social and practical heart of the contemporary home at a time when growing urban density means that apartment living is on the rise, Kennedy Nolan was naturally familiar with the challenge posed by the brief for a kitchen that fulfils its key role when space is at a premium. With characteristic enthusiasm, the studio focused on the positive characteristics of an ideal kitchen – considered details, integrated storage, easy to clean surfaces, tactile materiality, an element of surprise, and a sense of joy and sociability. These were then interpreted within the context of a small space, working within its constraints without allowing them to limit the final result.

Playing with scale, materiality, texture and colour, the Studio Kitchen creates a sense of spaciousness and generosity while also delivering a maximum of functionality within its small footprint. Simple yet effective design moves make the most of the available space. Without room for an island, the bench was made 200mm deeper than standard to offer provision for appliances and kitchen staples to be set to the back of the bench, leaving ample workspace to the front. And while there are no overhead cupboards, leaving a sense of openness at eye-level, there is plenty of storage in the floor-to-ceiling tower cabinetry and substantial pull-out pantry beneath the benchtop. 

But perhaps the most striking aspect of the design lies in how Kennedy Nolan has embraced unexpected form, colour and materiality to create a statement worthy of a far larger kitchen. To achieve this, Kennedy Nolan worked with the unique qualities of Laminex Absolute Matte laminate and panels. Both the products’ strong colours and softer tones are brought into play, with Laminex French Navy adding depth and Laminex Green Sage a gentle organic quality, while a splash of Laminex Pillarbox is discovered on opening the drawers, making the everyday use of the kitchen a delight. The ability to create curves is employed to form the distinctive rangehood cover, and the large sheet sizes available allowed the material to be drawn up the wall to create a sense of continuity.