Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most vital spaces in any home, blending functionality with aesthetics.
Verve spoke to leading designers, Toni Roberts and Natalie du Bois, for insights into the latest trends and timeless principles in these essential spaces.
Whether you’re looking to create a timeless kitchen that balances efficiency and elegance, or a bathroom that serves as a personal retreat, our experts provide the inspiration and practical advice needed to achieve your dream spaces.
Toni Roberts
Kitchen Architecture
Toni Roberts is an award-winning kitchen designer with over 30 years’ experience. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture and is a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKDNZ). Toni’s designs are known for their durability, style, and functionality, reflecting her indepth knowledge of materials and her architectural expertise. She has received multiple awards, including from the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) and Trends International Design Awards (TIDA).
What are your key considerations when planning a kitchen layout?
I believe the layout is the most important as the kitchen is the most occupied and enjoyed room of a home.
When I begin designing a homeowner’s kitchen, I consider all discussions and observations from the initial diagnosis meeting. I start with big picture aspects such as the flow of nearby spaces, clearances for walkways, connections to outdoor areas, sight lines, optimising sunlight, natural light, and airflow, and working within existing site constraints or envisioning potential reconfigurations.
On a finer scale, I consider the client’s desire for functionality – whether they’re big entertainers or prefer quiet home life – required appliances, kitchen storage needs, buildability, futureproofing for changing life stages, and the home’s architecture, among other factors.
Several years ago, I identified patterns in how to achieve a logical and optimal flow of various elements in kitchens. This led to the development of the Activity Zoning™ tool, which ensures seamless functionality in clients’ spaces, creating a place for everything and keeping everything in its place.
When is the best stage to contact a kitchen designer?
We are a bit different from most designers. With my architectural training and spatial flow skills, we can often help direct a renovation and catch mistakes before the project is too far along. By working alongside other professionals, we ensure the kitchen and related spaces are configured to best suit various considerations for optimal use of space and living efficiency.
For new builds or major renovations, we recommend scheduling a feasibility session soon after the concept designs are on track. For small or mid-range renovations, the process can begin with us and then develop in collaboration with other professionals. This collaborative approach is both fun and rewarding for everyone involved.
What is currently trending in kitchen design?
We are fortunate in New Zealand to have the flexibility and adaptability to create unique custom designs with a wealth of exciting materials at our fingertips. Our one-off, bespoke designs often make a significant impact on the world stage. The latest Trends International Designer Awards New Zealand (TIDA), announced in early May, highlight two prominent design features: softened curved islands, often with battening; and the use of exotic stones to create a strong focal point that inspires the rest of the design.
Our project, which won the TIDA Designer Kitchen of the Year award, exemplifies the latter trend. Inspired by our clients’ confidence with rich colour and love of luxurious designer pieces, we selected a jade-green quartzite as the inspiration for the island feature. According to the judges, the resulting kitchen is “a cohesive and opulent design perfectly in tune with the owners’ tastes”. To me, this is the essence of a well-designed, transformational kitchen – one that delights, performs, and endures for years beyond fleeting trends.
What is your favourite material to use for cabinetry?
We tend to select and recommend materials that, in our experience, look fabulous, are easy to maintain, and have timeless endurance. Knowing the fabricators and cabinetmakers who can deliver these qualities is also critical in imparting confidence to our clients. Natural timber veneers and custom polyurethane lacquers are our mainstays; however, we sometimes incorporate various glass designs and shape the surfaces if I believe the aesthetic calls for it. kitchenarchitect.co.nz
Natalie du Bois
Du Bois Design
Natalie Du Bois is a celebrated designer specialising in kitchens, bathrooms, and interiors. She founded Du Bois Design in 2007 and has over 20 years of experience. Her work, known for its aesthetic appeal and functionality, has earned her more than 37 awards, including the NKBA’s Supreme Kitchen, Supreme Bathroom, and Designer of the Year titles.
What are the key considerations you take into account when planning a bathroom layout?
Bathrooms are tricky little spaces filled with fixtures and fittings that need to be designed safely and fit for purpose. There are many ways things can go wrong if not planned correctly. Here are a few key areas I focus on:
- Fixtures and fittings. These need to be planned to provide a comfortable environment. I consider the person or people using the bathroom to determine the best solutions for them while ensuring usability for others. For instance, I might suggest an over-height toilet for an older person, but not if children are also using the bathroom.
- Lighting. This needs careful consideration to create both mood and task lighting, ensuring the space doesn’t look purely utilitarian. Ambient lighting is not always IP rated for bathrooms due to the amount of water/moisture, so making sure the location is positioned correctly and choosing appropriate fittings is extremely important.
- Toilet location. This is one of the most important aspects. I always try to position the toilet out of view from the doorway for a more aesthetically pleasing layout.
- Shower space. I aim to design the largest shower space that fits the room. There’s nothing worse than a super cramped shower.
What trends are you currently loving when it comes to bathrooms?
I’m loving the textural elements in bathrooms at the moment. More layers and tactile finishes are becoming evident, with rough edging and cabinetry featuring detailed framed doors or fluted panels. There’s also a noticeable increase in the use of colour, creating more interesting interiors. During a recent trip to Milan Design Week, I observed that colour mixed with timber was everywhere.
There is a big trend toward including more open shelving in bathrooms. Additionally, shower cubicles are being designed as enclosed tiled spaces instead of glass, providing a more intimate and enclosed feeling. Colourful tapware was another prominent trend at the Milan show, with both matte and glossy finishes being popular. Personally, I’m a fan of matte finishes, but glossy is definitely making a comeback.
Another interesting trend is the use of porcelain fronts for bathroom – and kitchen – doors, creating a seamless look for cabinetry tops and sides. There is a significant shift towards more classic traditional and retro styles rather than ultramodern designs. We’re moving away from the “less is more” philosophy to a “more is more” approach, embracing richer and more layered interiors.
What colour schemes are trending this year for bathrooms?
Designers from around the world visit Milan in April for Design Week, and I was fortunate enough to be one of them. I always strive to stay ahead of the game and see what the international design world has planned for the future, so this trip was extremely beneficial.
This year, there was a significant emphasis on colour. Green continues to feature heavily, but there was also a notable introduction of burgundy and rusty reds. Additionally, tapware is becoming more colourful. Alongside the traditional metal tones, we saw bolder candy and retro revival tones making a statement.
What are your current favourite materials to use in a bathroom?
I’m a fan of natural materials like stone, metal, and timber, as they always offer a timeless quality to a home. I prefer to specify products that are sustainable in my designs, selecting fixtures and fittings that are of high quality and will stand the test of time.
