Best of the Week: 30 Kitchens That are Ahead of the Curve
If you're craving an unforgettable kitchen, don't underestimate the humble curve
Julia Fairley
19 April 2019
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
Once prohibitively expensive, savvy architects and designers are constantly finding creative and cost-effective ways to work curves into kitchens. Plus, contours can be ideal for hiding unsightly plumbing and wiring, fitting everything you need into an awkwardly shaped space, and distinguishing designs with a memorable point of difference.
1. Location: Sydney, NSW
Features: Curves in all the right places.
Features: Curves in all the right places.
2. Location: Killara, NSW
Features: This curved kitchen island accounts for legroom with the bar stools.
Features: This curved kitchen island accounts for legroom with the bar stools.
3. Location: Sydney, NSW
Features: Kitchens don’t need to be generously sized to be curvaceous.
Features: Kitchens don’t need to be generously sized to be curvaceous.
4. Location: Dover Heights, NSW
Features: Sweeping lines from floor to ceiling.
Features: Sweeping lines from floor to ceiling.
5. Location: Tamarama, NSW
Features: In this curved concrete beach house, asymmetrical lines are king, and the kitchen is no exception.
Features: In this curved concrete beach house, asymmetrical lines are king, and the kitchen is no exception.
…Here’s another angle showing how the curves in the kitchen echo those in the freestanding fireplace.
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features: At first glance, the arc of this bench is almost imperceptible; at closer inspection one can barely tear one’s gaze from it.
Features: At first glance, the arc of this bench is almost imperceptible; at closer inspection one can barely tear one’s gaze from it.
7. Location: London, UK
Features: A gentle take on the traditional right-angle.
Features: A gentle take on the traditional right-angle.
8. Location: Richmond, Victoria
Features: Natural materials meet organic shapes.
Features: Natural materials meet organic shapes.
9. Location: Geelong, Victoria
Features: A balanced composition between right-angles and semi-circles.
Features: A balanced composition between right-angles and semi-circles.
10. Location: West Beach, SA
Features: This mid-century inspired kitchen favours a pale palette and clean lines.
Features: This mid-century inspired kitchen favours a pale palette and clean lines.
11. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features: The curved ceiling, the sweep of worktop, and its cladded finish amount to kitchen perfection.
Features: The curved ceiling, the sweep of worktop, and its cladded finish amount to kitchen perfection.
12. Location: London, UK
Features: No toekicks necessary in a kitchen with 3D contours.
Features: No toekicks necessary in a kitchen with 3D contours.
…And here’s another image of the impressive detailing in the joinery of the drawers.
13. Location: Oxford, UK
Features: Curved corners – they’re much kinder to those who bump into them.
Features: Curved corners – they’re much kinder to those who bump into them.
14. Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Features: Here, the curves take on the home’s architectural form.
Features: Here, the curves take on the home’s architectural form.
15. Location: Manly, NSW
Features: Curves make some of the best entrances.
Features: Curves make some of the best entrances.
16. Location: Randwick, NSW
Features: Beauty is in the bendy details here – look closely at the junctures between the light and dark timbers in this island.
Features: Beauty is in the bendy details here – look closely at the junctures between the light and dark timbers in this island.
17. Location: Sydney, NSW
Features: Who says kitchen ceilings can’t be curved too?
Features: Who says kitchen ceilings can’t be curved too?
18. Location: London, UK
Features: Sci-fi meets monochrome.
Features: Sci-fi meets monochrome.
19. Location: Florence, Italy
Features: Organic shapes take centre stage in this kitchen, from the bar stools to the Calacatta worktop to those curvaceous gold pendants.
Features: Organic shapes take centre stage in this kitchen, from the bar stools to the Calacatta worktop to those curvaceous gold pendants.
21. Location: Adelaide, SA
Features: The lowered height of this curved timber worktop creates a comfortable place for a bite to eat.
Features: The lowered height of this curved timber worktop creates a comfortable place for a bite to eat.
22. Location: Gloucestershire, UK
Features: Every nook and cranny of this storage shelf is easily accessible, thanks to its radius.
Features: Every nook and cranny of this storage shelf is easily accessible, thanks to its radius.
23. Location: West Midlands, UK
Features: Precision detailing on these contoured cupboards earns this kitchen extra brownie points.
Features: Precision detailing on these contoured cupboards earns this kitchen extra brownie points.
24. Location: Toomebridge, UK
Features: The curved joinery and island detailing harks back to the archway and round table in this eat-in kitchen.
Features: The curved joinery and island detailing harks back to the archway and round table in this eat-in kitchen.
25. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features: The supportive leg of this island isn’t the only curve – look closely at the cooker hood and backsplash.
Features: The supportive leg of this island isn’t the only curve – look closely at the cooker hood and backsplash.
26. Location: Dover Heights, NSW
Features: Curved timber cladding and butter-cream cabinetry soften the cool concrete finish in this kitchen.
Features: Curved timber cladding and butter-cream cabinetry soften the cool concrete finish in this kitchen.
27. Location: London, UK
Features: The soft colours and gentle curves of this worktop are balanced by the strong black room divider and its geometric linearity.
Features: The soft colours and gentle curves of this worktop are balanced by the strong black room divider and its geometric linearity.
28. Location: Charlotte, USA
Features: With the exception of the hot-pink bar stools, subtlety is the hero of this kitchen, from the gentle arc of the cooker hood and island to the round, hand-blown glass pendants.
Features: With the exception of the hot-pink bar stools, subtlety is the hero of this kitchen, from the gentle arc of the cooker hood and island to the round, hand-blown glass pendants.
29. Location: Surrey, UK
Features: This traditional kitchen proves that not all curves have a futuristic bent.
Features: This traditional kitchen proves that not all curves have a futuristic bent.
30. Location: Miami, USA
Features: A softness of shape and colour is on the menu in this kitchen.
Tell us
Which of these kitchens do you like the best? Tell us your faves in the Comments, save the images, like this story and join the conversation.
Features: A softness of shape and colour is on the menu in this kitchen.
Tell us
Which of these kitchens do you like the best? Tell us your faves in the Comments, save the images, like this story and join the conversation.
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No.30 is ideal
My retro inspired beach house kitchen. Curved end suits the tight space walking around it and the curved shelves below are perfect for my dogs bowls. Large gas lift window as splash back for my induction cook top and recessed range hood enlarge the space as it has a lowered ceiling, and are a joy to work in. The Smeg fridge was customised. It is unique!
Many gorgeou, high end kitchens. Probably not achievable for most, but definitely inspiring