My Space: Inside architect David Hillam’s kitchen, which won at the Hart & Co. Kitchen & Laundry Design Awards

While this apartment in Floreat is a striking design, it’s the kitchen that’s turning heads. “The builders had 97 other apartments to build, and the design was bespoke, but they did a fantastic job,” architect David Hillam says. “Overall, the development focused on more raw materials and is more of a statement than predictable apartments, where you need to be more conservative with tone and colour.” Hillam won both the designer of the year and the kitchen design excellence (over $60,000) category at the recent Hart & Co. Kitchen & Laundry Design Awards. The winning design is a nod to the natural surrounds of Bold Park, taking inspiration from the bushland and landscape, with walnut for timber and black reminiscent of fires, which regenerate the bushland. “I wanted it to feel like a sanctuary, so I can come home and escape work and relax,” he says. “I moved into the apartment 18 months ago. Edge Visionary Living developed Eden Floreat and we (Hillam Architects) designed it, and I decided to buy one for a change of scenery.” A seamless integration of the open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces divides the master suite from the additional bedrooms. The heart of this design is the kitchen — a central hub furnished with an island bench providing seating, complemented by a generous dining area. An open bookcase adorns one end of the island, while seating is at the opposite end. “I enjoy having people over and it’s nice to have a large bench to have conversations around. The fact that you can be in the kitchen and be in the centre of the space and entertaining guests is great,” Hillam explains. Suspended over the island bench is a custom-designed pendant light, which plays on the twisted form of timber. “We (Hillam and architect Jemaya Thompson) designed the prototype of the pendant and worked with Nathan Day, who created it,” he says. Fully integrated appliances add to the overall dark and moody aesthetic of the kitchen, while the rangehood is subtly covered in metal cladding. The chic bars at each end of the kitchen feature discreet pull-out cabinets for bottle storage. “I love the bar elements which bookend the island bench,” he says. “There are wine bottles on display, but then additional storage with the hidden pull-out cabinets.” Having a scullery space where the appliances are separate from the main kitchen was key to the functional design. “There’s a larger sink in the scullery, whereas the island bench only has a single bowl. This means I can hide all the mess in the scullery and keep the island clutter-free,” Hillam explains. David Hillam won the Designer of the Year award and the Kitchen Design Excellence (over $60,000) award at the Hart & Co. Kitchen & Laundry Design Awards.