This Entertainer's Dream Arclinea kitchen offers an elegant play of wood, veined white engineered stone, and stainless steel accents. Designed by Alan Bertenshaw for Matisse featuring the exclusive and prestigious Italian Kitchen brand Arclinea. Designed by Antonio Citterio, this Convivium Kitchen has a natural touch seamless oak veneer on the perimeter cabinetry which offsets the Lignum et Lapis design, featuring wooden staves of varying widths, on the front of the island. The result, a welcoming combination of warm timber with a luxurious twist, exquisite stone details, and a layout perfect for entertaining guests.

Alan Bertenshaw said that “Right from our initial meeting, it was clear the owners had a love of entertaining and timber, so we chose to combine Arclinea’s collections Convivium and Lignum et Lapis for both their layout and materials.’’ To suit the clients’ requirements, Convivium offers a recessed linear handle for a clean, crisp, open look combined with Lignum et Lapis’ textured finish highlighting the oak used throughout the kitchen design.

The stainless steel of the semi industrial pulls on the front-of-island Lignum et Lapis drawers is repeated in the toe-kicks and the bank of stainless steel wall appliances to the rear. To keep things looking tidy while entertaining, as well as offering floor to ceiling cabinetry, the kitchen includes a walk-in scullery, accessed by a concealed cabinetry door.

Another asset for entertaining is the clear glass pop-up downdraft extractor set into the hob in the island thereby enabling simultaneous cooking and conversation. An added bonus for the clients was the casual breakfast table next to the island – making excellent use of an area that has turned out to be ideal for everyday family meals and continuing the focus of the kitchen as an all-purpose social hub.