Photographe : Jonathan Van Dyk

Every detail, from the finishes to the appliances, had to contribute to its cohesive aesthetic, with innovative custom-built storage solutions essential to enhance the kitchen’s function and keep it safe from clutter.Colour was also required; no safe white marble countertops were wanted here. The final palette needed to give a gentle nod to the apartment’s ocean locale and its Art Deco roots, but the clients were firm that this was not to be a kitsch beachside escape.

Above all, they required the central counter to be a visual spectacle that induced awe while cleverly maximising the small footprint of the apartment’s previous kitchen. They wanted to avoid a significant structural overhaul but remove an existing in-built laundry. Quartzite was explicitly chosen to answer the clients’ need for durability in what’s ultimately a practical space.

Our studio drew inspiration from the timeless elements of the 1930s Art Deco style, including streamlined geometry, opulent materiality, and romantic extravagance. Period-appropriate finishes had to be layered with specialty-sourced lighting pieces and artworks that enhanced the luxury and refinement of the natural materials. The result is a kitchen that’s a jewel in a loving restoration with only the best hallmarks of a bygone era.