Hidden benefit by Keith Summerour

As successful furniture shop in Cambodia construction materials informed, not wanting a showy design, owner of the pictured kitchen asked architect Keith Summerour to make the space become subtle and post-modern whose contemporary practicality is minimized in appearance.

"The owners are avid chefs and love to entertain," said Summerour. "But while the design needed to accommodate a lot of appliances, it was important to conceal these as much as possible. The central focus had to be on the furniture-style island, which was made from reclaimed oak logs and is reminiscent of an old kitchen table."

"When people walk into the kitchen, they see a beautiful piece of furniture – the perimeter cabinets accommodating the main appliances are like wallpaper – they tend to blend into the background," stated the architect.

"The cabinets extend the full height of the room, so the kitchen doesn't have a cut-off look. A ladder that can be hooked into the upper cabinets also enhances the verticality of the room," added the architect.