Interiors

Stylist Megan Morton Reveals Her Hidden Kitchen Design!

Megan Morton needs little introduction, as the self-proclaimed ‘house whisperer’ is internationally celebrated for her interior styling genius.

The stylist and founder of The School lives in Double Bay with her husband Giles and their three children, after falling in love ‘at first sight’ with this heritage apartment – and today, we take a peek into her ‘conceal and reveal’ kitchen design.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supports The Design Files

Instyle banquette with Verona leather in ‘Mimosa’ colourway.  Agostino and Brown custom made dining table. Fronzoni dining chairs by Cappellini from Cult Design. Floral Murano light (left of banquette) by Nicholas and Alistair. Lights (right of banquette) Apparatus Lighting NYC from Criteria Collection. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Instyle banquette with Verona leather in ‘Mimosa’ colourway. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

‘I wanted a bench seat that looked like an Amish carpenter dreamed it up, then topped it with super beautiful Verona leather seat to withstand the high traffic of the bench. I am a challenged cook, but I love to have as many people around my table as possible!’ tells Megan. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Instyle banquette with Verona leather in ‘Mimosa’ colourway.  Agostino and Brown custom made dining table. Fronzoni dining chairs by Cappellini from Cult Design. Corner shelving unit by Ben Blakebourough. Grey Elba marble bench from Artedomus. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Fisher & Paykel French Door Slide-in Fridge. Grey Elba marble bench from Artedomus. French serpentine doors from Elements I Love. Cabinetry by Bober Joinery Interiors. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Corner shelving unit by Ben Blakebourough. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Megan’s fresh, glorious kitchen! Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Fisher & Paykel Induction Cooktop. Fisher & Paykel Built-In Oven. ‘I really relate to the intuitive nature of the cooktop. It’s fuss-free, gimmick-less and does a solid job’ Megan says.  Photo – Pablo Veiga.

‘I appreciate how in a world where every appliance brand is trying to “badge” up and push brand front and centre on our beloved cooking appliances, Fisher & Paykel are designed largely to be invisible and dutiful. Being able to truly integrate all the obvious signs of kitchen was pivotal to this project’, tells Megan. Cabinetry by Bober Joinery Interiors. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Grey Elba marble bench from Artedomus. Simple Studio larder curtain. Fisher & Paykel Induction Cooktop. Fisher & Paykel French Door Slide-in Fridge. Apparatus Lighting NYC from Criteria Collection. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

‘Everything to do with breakfast lives behind these Serpentine doors! It keeps the kitchen mostly clean during the day. And yes. I hate cereal packets and debag them all!’ admits Megan! Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Internal joinery by Bober Joinery Interiors. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Megan collects water pots from trips to India every time she visits. ‘Many smash, some don’t!’ Apparatus Lighting NYC from Criteria Collection. Photo – Pablo Veiga.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
13th of August 2019

Stylist Megan Morton purchased this home directly from a friend who is a ‘respected interiors specialist with fantastic taste’ – so there was a strong base upon which to add Megan’s own flair! She describes her house a ‘flawed, charming, slightly dark and broody, ever-moving place’ that has provided a home, hospital, holiday and retreat for the Morton family for the past five years.

As the heart of the home, Megan designed the kitchen to reflect the atmosphere of a bistro, with the comfort and ease of a family home. What is most notable about this space is the absence of clutter, and concealed services. Megan explains that when developing the concept for the kitchen, she wanted to style a space that would ‘pretty much always present tidy. Not “neat” or “clean” but tidy!’

This was achieved through hiding away the traditional elements of a kitchen space, including the Fisher & Paykel oven and stovetop, ‘so it didn’t feel appliance heavy.’ The surfaces balance hard, smooth, light and heavy textures to create intrigue, and a layered feel.  An olive leather banquette from InStyle sits against Simple Studios linen curtains ‘that puddle deliberately on the floor.’ Elba marble from Artedomus, and a biscuit coloured sink provide a base for the custom hot water Vola tap.

Soft grey cupboard doors seamlessly conceal the Fisher & Paykel fridge, playing perfectly off the old French doors that hideaway a breakfast cupboard. Megan explains ‘the toasts, hot water, porridge and coffee making and all associated accouterments are kept there so the kitchen never gets totally trashed!.’

The space is one of elegance but also liveability and function. She describes ‘I’ve treated the space like a lounge room, adding softness where possible, trying to put things together intuitively.’ The kitchen balances easy access to everything, with hidden appliances to create a family-friendly, yet refined and classically ‘Megan Morton’ aesthetic.

Fisher & Paykel, New Zealand’s award-winning appliance brand, has become a global force not just in product design, but also in kitchen design. The company is committed to research, development and collaboration and works closely with architects and designers to seamlessly integrate their appliances into kitchens in innovative ways. Visit, www.fisherpaykel.com to find out more.

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