Family oriented, carefully considered.
Following closely in the footsteps of her mother — the multi-award winning designer, Sue Gillbanks — Michelle Gillbanks is quickly making a name for herself designing beautiful kitchens at Kitchens By Design.
A great example of the designs Michelle has worked on lately is this large, contemporary kitchen she has just completed for a busy family, as part of an extensive renovation of their classic-style home. She says that one of her client’s primary requirements was for a multi-zoned space where individual members of the family could work independently, or come together as a group for entertaining or events.
“As well as the normal kitchen functions, a breakfast/snack station for the teenagers, a coffee-prep area for the husband, an integrated laundry/wet area, and an entertainment area for the grown-ups were all asked for,” she says.
“And it all had to have excellent flow, from the internal access garaging, through to the open-plan living area.”
Accommodating all these needs required some intricate space planning and lateral thinking – not least was the design of the large kitchen island that cleverly steps down into the lounge, extending the bench space and creating a ‘leaner’ area which contains a drinks fridge and storage for glasses.
Adjacent to the other end of the island is the teenagers’ snack area, concealed behind full-height bi-fold cabinetry. And around the corner is the walk-in scullery that contains the coffee-making centre, laundry and access to the garage.
“Budget was also important to my clients,” says Michelle. “Keeping to it, with such a large space, required careful and selective material choice. As such, only areas directly on show were given the more expensive finishes — the splashback and island front in a marbled porcelain, the overhead cabinetry in stained oak veneer, and island benchtop in Corian.”
This is just one of the many styles of kitchen Michelle has designed for her clients; each tailored to their specific needs and budget.
If you are wanting to transform your kitchen, get in touch and make an appointment with one of our designers.