The White House

The New Zealand home was beautiful. Sleek and stylish, with a grand piano, gracious patio area, and large walls of windows. However, the kitchen definitely struck a wrong note.

It was small, out of proportion to the rest of the home. Felt cramped, even claustrophobic, and seemed to have a split personality: the island was white, the rest of the kitchen brown. From a functional standpoint, it was not up to the client’s frequent cooking and entertaining needs.

Designer Morgan Cronin saw an opportunity to create something spectacular – right in step with the rest of the home. A kitchen that is elegantly white, a pleasure to cook and entertain in, and full of amenities that the clients will appreciate every day.

“I wanted to design a visually large kitchen that would suit the proportions of the home,” says Morgan, “but without making any major structural changes.” He did this by increasing the size of the island in depth, and in length from 10 feet to 16 feet. He also removed the nib walls that closed in the back area to allow the new cooking area to be in proportion with the new larger island.

Suddenly the whole kitchen area was opened up, with much better flow and exhilarating views to the patio and garden area. All the cabinetry, all the countertops are now white, for a smarter, more contemporary feel. Morgan created a new scullery area that is, if anything, even more breathtaking than the kitchen itself. The scullery is anchored by a Sub-Zero 36” refrigerator and freezer, with its stainless steel finish and iconic grill. In every respect, Morgan has accomplished a stunning kitchen transformation, and created a space that is, at long last, worthy of the home it belongs to. One final touch we love, and the one we may remember the longest, is the chandelier, a Herculean pendant by Moooi, with its fanciful, branching appearance: pure magic.

“The most satisfying thing for me as a designer is that the kitchen looks like it has always been there,” says Morgan. “It is perfectly fitted, and in proportion to the home.”

Months after completion of the installation, he is still getting messages from the client, telling him how much she appreciates her new kitchen: “I still pinch myself that it’s mine!”