Leigh Coast Kitchen, Laundry and Interiors
By Du Bois Design Ltd
Designer Natalie Du Bois’ clients had always dreamed of having a minimalist yet mid-century style kitchen for their coastal bach located in Leigh; a kitchen that instantly made them feel like they were on holiday.
The existing kitchen was dark and had a very low, sloped ceiling with an even lower structural beam, which Natalie raised and hid in the ceiling instead. She also opened up the tight, u-shaped layout into a user-friendly galley island configuration. This encourages more flow and, with an addition of large glass doors at the rear, allows light to flood into the space from the back deck – previously cut off by the laundry.
This home has beautiful sea views, which Natalie felt really needed to be celebrated, so she re-oriented the kitchen to allow the vistas to be enjoyed, plus have a better flow. For the mid-century look, she introduced a number of design elements, such as the curves to the corners of the stone-clad island and the textured, bead-blasted wood grain cabinetry, which ties in with other timber elements throughout this holiday home.
The slim black strip light above the island has a LED along its length and random cap details; the almost bird-wing shape echoing the beachy feel of this coastal home.
As the kitchen island is on show from all angles, Natalie included an additional working area within the cabinetry along the back wall that can be hidden behind bi-fold doors, but is designed to look good open or closed with its full internal wall clad in Neolith and timber shelving. The result is an easy-to-work-in, holiday-home kitchen that oozes the feeling of relaxation and good times.
NKBA Awards
2021 Supreme Kitchen – Runner up
2021 Creative Excellence
2021 Winner Outstanding Renovation
2021 Kitchen Distinction 80-100K
2021 Auckland Region Winning Kitchen design
Awards and
recognition
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Leigh Coast Kitchen, Laundry and Interiors
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About the
Professional
Multi award-winning designer, Natalie Du Bois, founded Du Bois Design in 2007. Her bespoke design practice is founded and focussed on creating kitchens, bathrooms and interiors that are completely ‘in tune’ with her clients. Each of her designs is unique – aesthetically, practically and ergonomically aligned to the individual and the space it occupies.
“My clients may not know what they want when they first meet me. My job is to ask questions and to understand exactly what they are asking for and what will make them happy. This is why I make every job different, created specifically for the individual.”
Qualifications & Experience
• Over 20 years work experience in kitchen, bathroom and interior design
• Qualified Interior Designer
• A member of the National Kitchens and Bathroom Association (NKBA), with five years volunteering on the Auckland committee
• A member of the Certified Designers Society (CDS)
• International design experience working for several leading interior and kitchen design companies in South Africa, England and New Zealand • A member of The Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ)
Recognition & Exposure
• Winner of over 25 kitchen, bathroom and interior design awards, both here in New Zealand and in Europe
• Front covers features on local and international interior design magazines
• Contributing writer for many magazines and news outlets, offering advice, tips and trends on kitchen and bathroom design
• Educational speaker at the NKBA Conference in New Zealand
• Specialist design tutor to Unitec interior design students on the fundamentals of kitchen design
Forefront of Design
• Active member of the local interior design Industry, with regular attendance of industry product launches and educational seminars
• International interior product supplier factory tours. Recent tours of hardware supplier Blum and Hafele showrooms in Austria
• International tradeshow visits. Recent visits to Eurocucina in Italy, DesignEX and InDesign in Australia, and The Ideal Home Show in the UK
• International supplier launches. Recent visit to the Gessi bathroom showroom opening and product launch in Singapore
• Educational visit to Apaiser and Gessi showroom launches in Singapore