Wellington-based designers Bonnifait + Geisen are the team behind this colourful kitchen, mixing provocative cerulean blue Resene Allports and fuchsia pink Resene Smitten with an otherwise predominantly natural look.

The skilled designers have achieved a wonderful sense of balance to this kitchen, not letting the colours overwhelm while still making you go ‘wow’ when you first lay your eyes on it. And the simple palette of pine plywood is made even more beautiful with a finish of Resene Colorwood Whitewash.

The house sits within a Hawkes Bay vineyard with distant sea views, reflected in the ocean blues in the kitchen.

Bonnifait + Giesen have counterbalanced the strength of Resene Allports and Resene Smitten in the kitchen with a strong linear aesthetic: the cabinets have no protruding handles, a simple open shelf extends across the back wall and the overhead cupboards above the island bench are suspended on robust steel rods.

With a home that already had an Italianate style, designer Shane George of Kitchens By Design decided to embrace the look when it came to renewing his client’s large kitchen.

The walls are painted in Resene Spanish White, a classic antique cream with hand painted cabinets in Resene Pearl Lusta and Resene Sambuca.

Shane introduced honed granite and porcelain benchtops, aged bronze tapware, wrought iron detailing, oak shelving and the bold use of multiple Edison-style pendant lights.

Don’t be fooled by the kitchen’s relaxed, welcoming feel – Shane superbly orchestrated a rich and varied palette of materials to bring this family kitchen its current beautiful state.

A major ingredient is hand-finished cabinets, painted in Resene Pearl Lusta, then over-brushed with Resene Sambuca. The effect is aged and mellow – the very antithesis of the glossy cabinets found in most kitchens today.