The perfect contemporary kitchen needs to contain a few crucial elements: ample bench space, high-performing appliances and surfaces, room to move, and plenty of storage. This Wellington kitchen had none of the above — until designer Damian Hannah reimagined it.

“The owners had no idea of what they really wanted, as the kitchen was in a completely different location and they could not figure out what to do,” explains Hannah, lead designer at German Kitchens. “They sat on it for a while and, after much deliberation, decided a professional was required. They needed more of everything: bench space, storage, functionality, refinement, and aesthetics.”

Hannah began by moving the kitchen to the other side of the room and redeveloping the space to maximise indoor-outdoor flow. The bench space issue was solved by the selection of Dekton, Aura for a large kitchen island. The island became the family home’s informal dining area, with enough room for six to sit and dine. Its scale, and the pattern and personality it infuses into the open-plan room, created a new, luxe aesthetic and a clear design direction. To add a polished, seamless effect, kickboards, and cabinet door fronts were specified in Aura too. A mix of thicknesses was specified: 20mm on the mitred benchtop, and 8mm on the vertical panels and waterfall sides.

Parallel to the island, an extra-long benchtop was fabricated in Aura, which is carbon neutral for its entire life cycle, as were splashbacks and an overhead open cabinet. Grey Oak veneer was paired with the Dekton colour to enhance the refined, contemporary vibe.

“Dekton offered an Italian marble look without the porosity of the metamorphic rock,” says Hannah, when asked about functionality. “Dekton being acid resistant and impervious to heat and impact allowed the unique aesthetic of marble without the fragility.”

“I have always been a natural stone fan,” Hannah told Stuff recently when interviewed about the beautiful kitchen. “I love working with quartzite, granite, and Carrara, but Dekton is a beautiful product and clients love the longevity, especially people who are hard on their kitchens. You don’t have to worry about scratching and putting hot pots on it.”

In the living room, a matching bar area where the kitchen once was, features an Aura benchtop and splashback. It can also be found in the home’s laundry.

Explore the full range of colours across Dekton®, Silestone® and Sensa® here.