Hillsideloft
A self-designed cosy abode for our daily retreat
Our Kitchen: A Fusion of Muji Concept & European Shaker-Style Cabinets
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Welcome to the heart of our home! The blend of Muji simplicity with the classic elegance of European Shaker style gives our kitchen a unique yet timeless appeal. The warm wood tones and light oak flooring, combined with the fluted panels around the island, add a touch of sophistication and warmth. We have always been drawn to a shaker style kitchen for its classic and timeless design. Shaker style cabinets offer a clean and elegant look that can complement any style of decor. Being muji lovers and to not deviate from the overall warm wood tones of our house, this brought about our decision to have a fusion of muji concept with European shaker-style cabinets. We couldn’t resist incorporating an arch in the kitchen too 😆 The arch shelves and curved island helps to soften the overall look of our kitchen. We chose an open concept so our kitchen appears more spacious. We also opted for herringbone vinyl to have a continuity throughout our home and not restrict our kitchen to a defined space. 
Positioning the dining table next to our fluted island creates a cohesive and functional space, making it easy to serve meals and maintain a flow between cooking and dining areas. It also enhances the open concept feel, blending the different areas seamlessly. 
The blend of light wood and white tones creates tranquility, complemented by the sophistication of Bertazzoni’s rose gold heritage oven. 
The in-built washer and dryer are a practical addition, especially without a service yard. Additionally, the in-built microwave oven complements our Bertazzoni heritage oven perfectly. 
A close-up of our Bertazzoni Heritage Oven reveals Hokkaido scallops with mozzarella cheese sizzling inside! 
Sitting below our Heritage oven is a pull-out drawer filled with an array of beverages from the various countries we've visited. One of our favorites is Bacha coffee! 
Here’s an overview of the storage compartments on the side of our kitchen where the bulk of our electronic appliances are located. Our Samsung 4-door fridge fits seamlessly with our built-in electronic appliances. To address the problems of grease, smoke and odour especially with an open concept kitchen, we have installed air vents at the top of our kitchen cabinets. In order to maintain a clean and sleek look, we have spray painted our air vents such that it blends in seamlessly with our white upper cabinets. 
We love how Shiok lighting’s ashwood tracklights beautifully illuminates various spots of our kitchen, highlighting the features of each corner. We chose a herringbone marble backsplash to create a beautiful flow and continuity with our herringbone vinyl flooring. The tracklights further enhance the herringbone pattern of both the marble backsplash and the vinyl flooring, tying the design together beautifully. 
Opening our cabinet will reveal Higold’s pulldown dish rack. With its functionality and sleek design, it not only keeps our kitchen organized and makes dishwashing easier, but also complements the overall aesthetic of our kitchen space. 
By simply bringing down the handlebar, tableware is easily within reach. Regardless of one’s height, accessing tableware is no longer a challenge, allowing kitchen tasks to be carried out more efficiently. 
Our next highlight will be our hot and cold companion- Wish series water purifier from Hydroflux! This versatile purifier offers water in 5 temperatures and 3 quantity levels, making it adaptable to any need. What sets it apart is its intelligent design featuring 16 built-in “Brain Music” tunes. These healing sounds are crafted to aid brain recovery and enhance relaxation during your hydration moments. With its combination of purification, smart features, and sleek design, the Wish series is the perfect addition to any space. 
Next up, we have Higold's customized drawers. These are designed to keep our kitchenware neatly organized and easily accessible. With tailored solutions, they ensure everything has its place, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics in our kitchen. 
What draws us to these Higold drawers is their stunning rose gold base. It adds a touch of elegance and sophistication, elevating the overall look of your kitchen while offering practical organization. 
Just like our top drawer, the bottom drawer features a hint of rose gold. This drawer is perfect for storing bowls of various sizes, blending functionality with a stylish touch. Zooming in on our kitchen drawer handles, we love their stylish gold finish, which complements our warm wood and white cabinets beautifully. These handles were sourced from Taobao at a relatively affordable price, adding both elegance and value to our kitchen design. 
Here is the side profile of our Higold drawers, showcasing their sleek design and craftsmanship. The profile highlights the high-quality finish, seamlessly integrating with the overall kitchen aesthetic. 
In the other corner of our kitchen, we have our Bertazzoni hood and hob. The hood is cleverly integrated into the cabinetry, maintaining a sleek and seamless look while providing excellent ventilation. Nicely blending with our bottom cabinets, we have our favorite dishwasher! It’s a standout appliance, combining efficiency and convenience to keep our dishes sparkling clean with minimal effort. 
Our dishwasher is a true lifesaver for tidying up after hosting guests. It’s an added bonus that we use dishwasher-safe kitchenware, including our charming ladles from Ototo, a variety of pieces from Table Matters, Mayer pots and pans, and even our adorable scrub sponge. 
Zooming in on our kitchen top, you'll find some fun and functional pieces from Ototo. We have a cute sponge holder shaped like a bed and a ninja-themed cutting board and knife set, adding both whimsy and practicality to our kitchen. In the top right-hand corner, you'll notice the switches that are discreetly tucked away beneath our top cabinet. This design keeps them out of sight while remaining easily accessible. 
Our venetian blinds not only provide privacy, but also contribute to a warm and cosy ambience. We have also installed a Vento Fino ceiling fan in our kitchen to enhance ventilation, especially during heavy cooking. We are thrilled with our find from Tampoi Lighting in JB, where we not only saved significantly but also got exclusive limited edition pieces with heart-shaped blades. Another addition we love is our smart bin from Taobao. It features a sensor that allows the lid to open automatically with a simple wave of the hand, which is especially convenient when our hands are dirty. 
Who doesn’t love a statement island? Adjacent to our dining table will be our curved fluted kitchen island. We love the natural beauty of the fluted oak wood slats and vulcan marble top which add depth and character to our dining space. Not only does it has a storage space, it also doubles up as a highly functional platform where we can prep our food and lay a sumptuous buffet spread for our guests! 
Tucked neatly inside our island is the seasoning pull-out condiment basket from Higold. It features a hint of rose gold at its base, just like our Higold drawers, adding a cohesive and stylish touch to our kitchen. 
Here’s the side profile of our condiment basket. Its pull-out function makes it incredibly convenient, keeping our condiments easily accessible and within reach. This pretty much sums up our kitchen. Stay tuned to our upcoming posts on other corners of our humble abode! 😊
22 August 2024
