8 luxury kitchens that transcend design trends (2024)

Design trends come and go but these kitchens are here to stay thanks to a winning combination of practicality and sophisticated style.

See how these top interior designers experiment with fresh ideas to create eight very individual, yet equally luxurious kitchens that function as the hub of these magnificent homes.

1. OPEN-PLAN ENTERTAINER

Interior design: Decus interiors | Architecture: Square Design

“We were brought on after building had begun so we needed to be agile in our design approach, in harmony with architect Square Design’s vision but helping evolve the project. The brief was to create a sophisticated and unconventional beach house while giving it a relaxed barefoot elegance.

We achieved this by incorporating rich, dark colours (dark timber and black steel panels) to balance the palette’s lighter elements, and specifying sophisticated lighting and fluted mirror glass. The clients are very social so maintaining a free-flowing space between the kitchen and dining and sitting areas was essential, but we needed to deploy little details to conceal the ‘behind the scenes’ elements of a party! The stone upstand, for instance, hides ample storage.”

What luxury item did you choose for this space regardless of budget?

“We chose items because they’re luxurious, elegant and add rich textural glamour to an ‘uncoastal’ beach house!”

2. TEXTURE AND TONE

Interior design: Justine Hugh-Jones | Architecture: Shaun Lockyer Architects

“This kitchen was a joint design collaboration between the interior designer and architect. The generous proportions of the kitchen were intentionally designed and balanced to silently disappear behind the seamless integrated dark-stained oak joinery allowing other stronger design elements to take centrestage, turning the focus of the kitchen to become more of a story of beautiful detail and texture.

The island in Arabescato Vagli marble and the pleated curves of the timber veneer pendant lights mediate beautifully between the grain of the timber ceiling and the polished terrazzo floors.”

3. TACTILE TIMBER

Interior design: Dylan Farrell Design

“Our goal was to create a crisp, clean urban living and entertaining space with a juxtaposition between severe industrial modernism and deconstructed rusticated material finishes. To do this we designed and built an entertaining feature kitchen in front with the purpose-built prep-and-cook kitchen tucked away towards the rear. To finish it off with a signature look and feel, we sourced materials that will degrade and age with panache and style to embellish the space over time.”

What luxury item did you choose for this space regardless of budget?

“The favourite pieces were the cooktop and decorative rangehood. We wanted to use these key pieces along with the kitchen island to create a really monumental showcase cooking area at the kitchen face.”

4. MODERN FRENCH PROVINCIAL

Interior design: Sarah Davison Interior Design

“The owners of this kitchen have Italian heritage. They love to entertain and host large family gatherings and asked us to design a kitchen that was both highly functional and beautiful. Our solution is a combination of a sleek commercial kitchen and an elegant European brasserie.”

What luxury item did you choose for this space regardless of budget?

“The beautiful Apparatus ‘Lariat’ wall sconces in tarnished silver and frosted glass give this kitchen elegance and panache. They finish this space the way jewellery finishes an outfit.”

5. NATURAL BEAUTY

Interior design: Hare + Klein | Architecture: Smith & Tzannes

“The brief was to design a kitchen as a showpiece for entertaining and to be a functional gathering space for a family with young children. The eat-in kitchen plays a pivotal role in bringing together family and friends and flows onto the balcony with a barbecue and pizza oven. Natural stones, timber veneers and a solid oak tabletop inject warmth, luxury and a connection to the exterior palette. Our client’s love of cooking and entertaining meant that quality appliances were a priority. The Wolf oven was a dream purchase along with the Italian pizza oven that was shipped in specially.”

What luxury item did you choose for this space regardless of budget?

“The Bronzea limestone used as a splashback and lining for the whole of the kitchen back elevation, adding a layer of richness and warmth.”

6. MONOCHROME MASTERPIECE

Interior design & architecture: [Williams Burton Leopardi](http://designbywbl.com.au/ |target=”_blank”|rel=”nofollow”)

“Our design process always begins with a conversation that uncovers how our client would like to live. Here, a balance of glamour and durability was the key driver. Classic elements such as marble and mirror have been combined with more subtly nuanced materials like concrete and matt-lacquered oak cabinetry to achieve this balance.”

“Concealed appliances such as the Miele fridge and the integrated doors into the butler’s pantry and laundry that meld into the surrounding joinery create a calm and ordered appearance. The rear concrete benches, supplied by Concrete House, provide a robust surface and leave enough visual space for the statement marble. The ‘Wireflow Lineal’ pendants from Vibia define the lowered eating area and provide the perfect delicate counter to the gem-like marble island.”

7. MODERN ART DECO

Interior design: Arent & Pyke | Architecture: Luke Moloney architecture

“Meditating on the subtle details of the art deco era, this monochromatic kitchen is contemporary yet timeless. It is the centrepiece of a grand home steeped in history, elegance and extravagance.”

“Its monolithic timber island bench and glass cabinet are embellished with intricate details of brass trims and custom handles. Black timber and brushed brass handles also add a subtle embellishment to the all-white rear cabinetry. The rigorously simple Archier ‘Highline’ pendant adds a contemporary task light over the subtle curves of the island.”

What luxury item did you choose for this space regardless of budget?

“The glass cabinet is a delightful folly that softens the impact of this kitchen displaying a growing collection of white ceramics. Here, the vibrant personality of the collector and the joy that objects bring to our functional spaces is celebrated with gusto.”

8. SHAKER CHIC

Interior design: Brownlow Interior Design

“A simple, Shaker-style detail was settled on for joinery throughout the house, firstly for its clean aesthetic but also to provide a subtle reference to the Federation-style decorative timber fretwork of the original part of the house. We decided against using handles or knobs for the kitchen drawers and cupboards to give a more contemporary feel which fits well with the modern rear extension.”

“The black steel frame supporting the Carrara marble island bench creates a synergy between the steel frame doors leading to the pool and deck areas, capturing the negative space below the bench but also cleverly allowing a large DeLonghi hydronic heating panel from DPP Hydronic Heating to effectively heat the room and warm up the cold marble in winter.”