Perfect Pairings for Kitchens: 5 Combos NZ Design Experts Love
Deciding on colours, shapes and finishes for your new kitchen? Here, five design experts share their go-to combinations
Georgia Madden
19 March 2022
With so many options available, choosing the right materials, colours and shapes for your new kitchen can be an overwhelming business. We’re here to help: we’ve asked five NZ architects and design experts to share their all-time favourite material, colour and shape pairings for your dream kitchen.
1. Kathrine McDonald, principal at Kathrine McDonald Design
Perfect pairing: Natural or engineered stone and timber.
I love this combo because it creates the ultimate textural contrast. I love the variation of materials, their hues and the fact that no two slabs of natural stone or two pieces of timber are exactly the same. Plus, it suits all kitchen styles.
How would you use this combo?
Stone can be used for the island, benchtops, shelving, sinks, splashbacks, outdoor kitchens, drawers and cupboard panels. Drawers and cupboards can be clad in sintered stone materials as these finishes are now produced in very thin profiles.
Timber brings in a warmth and adds another layer of texture. Timber accents act as a supporting role with the beautiful stone elements.
Perfect pairing: Natural or engineered stone and timber.
I love this combo because it creates the ultimate textural contrast. I love the variation of materials, their hues and the fact that no two slabs of natural stone or two pieces of timber are exactly the same. Plus, it suits all kitchen styles.
How would you use this combo?
Stone can be used for the island, benchtops, shelving, sinks, splashbacks, outdoor kitchens, drawers and cupboard panels. Drawers and cupboards can be clad in sintered stone materials as these finishes are now produced in very thin profiles.
Timber brings in a warmth and adds another layer of texture. Timber accents act as a supporting role with the beautiful stone elements.
What’s good to know?
Stone, especially natural stone, such as marble and granite, does require slightly more care than engineered stone.
Natural stone is porous and can absorb liquids, so it needs to be sealed periodically to prevent liquids from penetrating.
Engineered stone is a lot more low-maintenance and doesn’t require sealing.
Is this the year of your new kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
Stone, especially natural stone, such as marble and granite, does require slightly more care than engineered stone.
Natural stone is porous and can absorb liquids, so it needs to be sealed periodically to prevent liquids from penetrating.
Engineered stone is a lot more low-maintenance and doesn’t require sealing.
Is this the year of your new kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
2. Frances Fraser, designer and director, at Honour Creative
Perfect pairing: Straight and rounded.
For practical reasons, there are many straight lines in kitchen cabinetry. The kitchens we design are often part of a home and our clients want these spaces to be warm and welcoming. A great way to soften the overall impression is to incorporate curves, circles and arcs.
There are few straight lines in the natural world and curves and circles are inherently pleasing to the eye.
Perfect pairing: Straight and rounded.
For practical reasons, there are many straight lines in kitchen cabinetry. The kitchens we design are often part of a home and our clients want these spaces to be warm and welcoming. A great way to soften the overall impression is to incorporate curves, circles and arcs.
There are few straight lines in the natural world and curves and circles are inherently pleasing to the eye.
A new kitchen is sometimes mostly appealing for its newness, but the bare bones of a kitchen can be very plain. A rich and interesting space is created through layers of interest, highlights, features, interesting materials and variety in form. A way to add depth and interest to a kitchen, while also ticking off functional requirements and keeping a space fresh and uncomplicated, is to incorporate elements that make it feel comfortable.
Where would you add curves?
In tiles, taps, light fittings, furniture and handles.
Where would you add curves?
In tiles, taps, light fittings, furniture and handles.
Image: Simon Devitt.
3. Hamish Muir, architect and director at Mason & Wales Architects
Perfect pairing: Oak veneer and arabescato corchia honed marble.
Timber and stone add organic warmth and texture to a kitchen and are relatively low-maintenance and practical.
How would you use this combo?
Stone on benchtops and splashbacks with timber cabinetry and panelling.
3. Hamish Muir, architect and director at Mason & Wales Architects
Perfect pairing: Oak veneer and arabescato corchia honed marble.
Timber and stone add organic warmth and texture to a kitchen and are relatively low-maintenance and practical.
How would you use this combo?
Stone on benchtops and splashbacks with timber cabinetry and panelling.
Image: Simon Devitt.
What’s good to know?
The organic grains of the timber and stone cleverly conceal marks and crumbs, however as natural products they require some care and attention, but it is worth it for the beautiful, warm outcome.
Browse more images of beautiful kitchens on Houzz
What’s good to know?
The organic grains of the timber and stone cleverly conceal marks and crumbs, however as natural products they require some care and attention, but it is worth it for the beautiful, warm outcome.
Browse more images of beautiful kitchens on Houzz
4. Ruth Whiunui, West Auckland colour consultant at Resene
Perfect pairing: Natural timber finishes and warmer neutrals such as Resene Eighth Akaroa, Resene Half Truffle or Resene Half Ecru White.
I love that this combination allows you to have a clean, fresh look while also introducing warmth and comfort into the kitchen. It’s also a great foundation upon which to build the rest of your design elements.
This combination suits most styles, but looks particularly good in country/villa-style homes with a rustic, natural vibe.
Perfect pairing: Natural timber finishes and warmer neutrals such as Resene Eighth Akaroa, Resene Half Truffle or Resene Half Ecru White.
I love that this combination allows you to have a clean, fresh look while also introducing warmth and comfort into the kitchen. It’s also a great foundation upon which to build the rest of your design elements.
This combination suits most styles, but looks particularly good in country/villa-style homes with a rustic, natural vibe.
How would you use this combo?
There are many ways you could use these elements in a kitchen, however I personally love a beautiful rich timber on the benchtop, flooring and open shelving with warm, neutral cabinetry and walls. Try Resene Colorwood Whitewash tinted to Breathe Easy (CB03) on timber cabinetry to achieve a similar effect without covering up the grain.
What’s good to know?
Timbers that have been sealed or varnished will need maintenance over time. Applying an extra coat in high-wear areas will help with durability and longevity.
There are many ways you could use these elements in a kitchen, however I personally love a beautiful rich timber on the benchtop, flooring and open shelving with warm, neutral cabinetry and walls. Try Resene Colorwood Whitewash tinted to Breathe Easy (CB03) on timber cabinetry to achieve a similar effect without covering up the grain.
What’s good to know?
Timbers that have been sealed or varnished will need maintenance over time. Applying an extra coat in high-wear areas will help with durability and longevity.
5. Jamie Durrant, principal at Durrant Design
Perfect pairing: A white-on-white kitchen paired with touches of timber in cabinetry or shelves. One of my favourite combinations is cabinetry finished in a mix of Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and maple laminate, with creamy-white stone benchtops.
The white-on-white is fresh and timeless and the timber adds warmth. It’s a combo that suits everything from traditional Shaker-style kitchens to seamless, contemporary cooking spaces.
How would you use this combo?
Try white on your lower cabinets, stone on your benchtops and timber on upper cabinets or floating shelves.
Perfect pairing: A white-on-white kitchen paired with touches of timber in cabinetry or shelves. One of my favourite combinations is cabinetry finished in a mix of Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and maple laminate, with creamy-white stone benchtops.
The white-on-white is fresh and timeless and the timber adds warmth. It’s a combo that suits everything from traditional Shaker-style kitchens to seamless, contemporary cooking spaces.
How would you use this combo?
Try white on your lower cabinets, stone on your benchtops and timber on upper cabinets or floating shelves.
What’s good to know?
If you cook with lots of spices or occasionally leave a bottle of red wine on the bench, be sure to pick an engineered stone rather than a natural stone – it will require less cleaning and maintenance.
Your turn
What’s your favourite pairing for a kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more kitchen ideas? Don’t miss this Best of the Week: 27 Clever Kitchen Set-Ups
If you cook with lots of spices or occasionally leave a bottle of red wine on the bench, be sure to pick an engineered stone rather than a natural stone – it will require less cleaning and maintenance.
Your turn
What’s your favourite pairing for a kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more kitchen ideas? Don’t miss this Best of the Week: 27 Clever Kitchen Set-Ups
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