A contemporary kitchen entertaining area

Jam-packed with features, this brand-new seaside kitchen by designer Dave Grech of DGS Kitchens is perfect for kitchen entertaining and blends a dreamy beachfront lifestyle with a chef's eye for design.

If sea air really does make you hungry, the owner of this waterfront home in Stockton Beach won't have any trouble whipping up a feast. DGS Kitchens is the company behind this stunning kitchen, which was part of a completely new home. 

"Peter was after something modern that would complement the ocean views and beach lifestyle," says designer Dave Grech. "He's also a keen cook and entertainer, so the kitchen had to fulfil many functions."

Exuding the breezy style that you would expect from a beachfront home, the open-plan kitchen and living area is drenched in natural light. The kitchen also offers wondrous water views and boasts kitchen colours to match.

"The colours are probably my favourite feature," says Dave. "The blue works perfectly with the white surrounds, including the back-lit white glass splashback." A blue mosaic tile feature and stack-stoned wall behind the sink are lovely accompaniments to the seascape. 

Blue recurs in the island bench in the form of a brightly coloured bar back. Complete with a stylish waterfall edge, the bench is a perfect perch for guests, with chairs chosen for comfort. 

The kitchen itself is packed with features for kitchen entertaining. There's a barbeque cooktop for quick grilling, two ovens, an instant hot and cold water tap in the island bench and a deep industrial-type sink. 

With so many appliances vying for space, storage in this contemporary kitchen was a significant part of the design. Dave incorporated stainless steel soft-close drawers and a glass-fronted aluminium pantry and cupboards for storage that was not only functional but stylish too.

And Peter couldn't be happier with the result. "With the two ovens, coffee machine, big benchtop, barbeque and three-burner cooktop, the biggest challenge was fitting everything in," he says. 

"Complete with an in-built stone chopping board and digital scales, the kitchen has everything I could want."

Dave Grech, from DGS Kitchens

How did you choose the colour scheme?

The colours were chosen by Peter and me to complement the landscape and beach lifestyle. Blue and white was an excellent choice.

Were there any challenges in the design process?

No. It was very straightforward, as we had an empty space to begin with.

What's your favourite feature of the kitchen?

The colours. The blue works perfectly with the white surrounds.

Are you happy with the final result?

Very. It's a very bright and open kitchen that fits in beautifully with the rest of the house and the surrounding environment.

Peter, the Homeowner

What was the brief?

I wanted a modern kitchen to suit the brand-new home. I'm a keen cook and entertainer, so the kitchen had to suit both food preparation and entertaining in the kitchen. Dave came and mapped everything out and I visited many suppliers to help with decisions on appliances.

Were there any challenges in the design/construction process?

Fitting everything into the area was the biggest challenge. We were also restricted by the portals we put up because it was an open area.

What's your favourite feature of the kitchen?

It's a good, workable kitchen. It has a great industrial-type deep sink, instant hot and cold filtered water in the island and the set-up allows for close proximity to guests from the work areas. I can actually talk to people while I'm cooking!

Are you happy with the final result?

Yes, very. The overall look fits my initial vision, and there were no problems along the way, with nothing needing to be changed or fixed. I would like a few more power points in the island bench though.

Featured Kitchen Products

• Drawers - Stainless steel soft-close
• Splashback - White glass
• Cabinetry - DGS Kitchens
• Flooring - Timber
• Lighting - Skylights and downlights
• Cooktop - Smeg three-burner

For a light and breezy kitchen renovation, contact a designer in your area: