'Humble' kitchen takes out supreme award

  • Breaking
  • 16/10/2014

The NZ House and Garden's Interior of the Year awards were held in Auckland last night, and if you thought winning required a big budget, then think again.

A 20 square metre kitchen by homeowner and architect Felicity Brenchly which cost just $12,000 took out the supreme award.

"I was surprised to even become a finalist really, because it is quite, I consider, quite a humble kitchen."

Her most creative piece was built from an old barbeque.

"In terms of functionality, definitely the island bench, which is movable. Basically it's an old barbecue trolley that we've repurposed.

And it was the barbecue island bench that won over the judges.

"It's amazing how you know a good space when you see it," says judge Sally Duggan. "You read the family background and how they use it, and you can just tell a really functional and beautiful space."

Ms Brenchly built the kitchen with the help of her husband and extended family. She cut costs by making her own cabinetry.

"She's used ply and white laminate which are both cheap materials," says Ms Duggan, "but she's put them together in such a stylish way that it looks a million dollars."

She managed to transform her old maroon kitchen into an award-winning space.

This stylish and functional kitchen hub was created inside a state house. Ms Brenchly has some great advice for people who want to design something similar.

"Start with a material palette, you know, a few key features. The title splashback wasn't cheap, but it's a small area and it has a big impact, and the rest keep it kind of simple."

The judges also have a few tips.

"They need to show  us they have a sense of style and a really cohesive and well thought-out sense of style," says Ms Duggan.

"So not a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but like this space, it just works - it all hangs together and it's very consistent."

And this winning kitchen shows that you don't need a big budget, or a large space, to take out the supreme award.

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source: newshub archive