An invitation to nature, and friends

Kitchen ideas from Dish magazine

Creating a calm, open, and inviting social space to accommodate cooking and family time was crucial to Christian and Mark when they designed the kitchen of their new-build dream home.

A key part of realising that vision for the kitchen was the Resene colour palette they chose by working with Resene colour consultant Brenda Ngatai, which includes Resene Holly on the cabinetry and Resene Half Sea Fog on walls.

“The green with the wood and stone texture, along with the gorgeous jade tiles, all bring the outside in and create an earthy natural feel. It makes the kitchen and living area feel calm and connected to the outside,” Christian says.

“We love Resene Holly. It’s a gorgeous deep green, but still light enough to keep the room light and warm with some depth. Resene Half Sea Fog, which we’ve used throughout the open living and dining area, keeps the house crisp and clean, but, again, still warm and inviting. And we love the name ‘Sea Fog’ as our home looks out over the water. On cold mornings in winter there is often sea fog steaming up as the sun rises on the hills.”

The kitchen colour scheme is complemented by natural wood features and subtle, smart use of lighting under the benches and shelves. “It elevates the whole space and provides nice, dim lighting when you’re entertaining or in the kitchen at night. We love it,” Mark says.

The couple share a love of entertaining, which drove many of the kitchen’s design features, while still keeping it a functional family space for themselves and their two young children.

“We love to have people over so we wanted to ensure it was an open, social space where we can cook and chat, and still keep an eye on the kids while getting things done.

“It had to have a bench with seating to chat over a margarita with friends,” Christian says.

Mark said “We wanted a scullery to hide the mess and keep all the appliances hidden out of sight. I feel like a clear space and a clear bench brings peace and calm, while clutter feels like chaos, so that was important.

“We also wanted a seamless-looking, streamlined kitchen, so the fridge and freezer are integrated and there is a little bar niche with a hidden bar cupboard underneath it. Sneaky!”

Top tip: Prep kitchen cabinetry for painting with Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer or for varnished surfaces with Resene Waterborne Sureseal.

In Christian and Mark's words

How would you describe your cooking style?

Christian: Lazy! I leave most of the cooking to Mark as he is much more efficient in the kitchen than me, though I do love making Mediterranean food, like Greek salads and mezze platters, and other shared platters for guests. Mark loves to bake and makes amazing cakes. We love to eat our meals together and we eat the same thing [as the kids] so they try all different foods. Plus who has time to cook two different meals every night?

What is your favourite part of this kitchen?

Mark: I love the bench space for cooking and baking, while also providing plenty of room to sit and chat to the kids or friends.

Which recipe from this issue of dish would you like to cook and why?

Christian: Fish, Prawn and Leek Pie with Creamy Mash. As the darker days draw closer, it feels like we have gone from salads to more hearty meals like this. Something to fill our growing kids’ pukus, and who doesn't love a delicious pie with leftovers. Plus the kids love seafood and mash so this recipe is a huge win in our house. Yum!

Colours and products mentioned in this article...

Created and styled by Christian and Mark. Photography by Helen Bankers.