Designer Darach Breathnach on how he created a dream kitchen for a Kerry family

The kitchen in the Co Kerry home by designer Darach Breathnach, Kube. Pictures: Ted Murphy Photography, www.tedmurphy.ie

IT SOUNDS like a riddle but it’s a tasty recipe for design success.

A Kerry homeowner seeks a sleek German kitchen. The solution?

A journey to Cork to meet a Waterford designer.

Darach Breathnach, from An Rinn, Co Waterford, devised a plan to transform the heart of this home in the Killarney area.

Darach Breathnach, senior consultant, Kube.

A senior consultant at the Kube Interiors showroom in Cork, he first met the client in late 2022 when her house and kitchen were being updated.

“We went through the homeowner’s ideas and her wishlist,” says Darach.

“The house was first built by the owners 20 years ago. They decided to knock the conservatory and modernise the kitchen.”

That day, the owner and Darach spent the initial meeting drawing up a dream plan.

“The homeowners were looking for a quality kitchen and loved the contemporary style of a Kube German kitchen, so they were happy to travel to Cork. We get a lot of
customers from Kerry as it is not too far from our showrooms.”

How did this space appear pre-makeover?

“The kitchen was dark and they wanted to make it brighter and more usable for their growing family,” says Darach.

The entire project — home and kitchen — was completed in September 2023.

The light bounces off the white-matte units and the steel-grey island provides a contrast.

“The handless LED track lighting creates a lovely warm atmosphere in the evening. Quartz statuario worktops give a luxurious feel and are super durable,” says Darach.

Storage is impressive. There is a pocket-door pantry where the toaster and coffee machine are hidden from view but easily accessible when required. This pantry also includes shelving and drawers.

A window seat makes the most of the view and is equally practical with storage underneath.

The slide-up tambour unit offers storage and display potential and items can be hidden away when it’s closed, or slide it up to reveal a gorgeous crockery collection.

There’s also a utility room with a sink, eye-level appliances, and a handy seated area for taking off shoes.

So what was on the original wish list? “The client wanted a bright, contemporary kitchen which functioned well for all the family, had lots of storage and made the most of the stunning views,” says the designer.

As with most family kitchens, this space would need to work hard and play hard while looking fabulous, as it would be the go-to haven for two adults, four children, a dog and three cats.

The initial meeting included a walkthrough to show examples of styles. “After this meeting, we arranged a second one where we presented initial drawings for the kitchen,” says Darach. “Our fitter then measured up the space and we took it from there. There were then additional meetings to update the design and make final decisions.

The finished product met his and the family’s expectations as “contemporary, stylish, streamlined and bright” living quarters.

“It’s an ideal family kitchen with heaps of storage including a pantry and utility room,” says Darach. “The island and window seat are great focal points and the kitchen is a much more social space.”

The concept

The original concept was to create a contemporary room with functionality at its core.

The client sought a bright room with a “minimal look” but also wanted warmth, says the designer.

“The owner wanted a kitchen that would work for the next stage of family life. Social spaces were important along with additional storage and a way of capitalising on the view and aspect,” says Darach.

Function

And now it’s been put to work, how does the family find it? “The owner is delighted, she says it works brilliantly for their family! There is now room for everyone and there is a place for everything, it feels like a much nicer place to spend time in.”

Favourite spot

As an interior design pro, what is Darach’s “red dot” zone in this Kerry kitchen?

“As the kitchen designer I’d have to say I love the window seat — it’s a comfy spot for reading and admiring the view and also includes additional drawer storage underneath,” he says.

“I also love the pocket door pantry, it’s such a convenient location for the toaster and coffee machine and everything can be hidden from view when necessary. The LED track lighting around the island is a great feature as it creates a lovely atmosphere in the evening.”

As for the client?

“The owner loves the island and the window seat as it makes members of the family spend more time there. She also loves that the appliances — washing machine, dryer and dishwasher — are all elevated to eye level as it’s really practical and convenient.”

Advice

What is Darach’s top kitchen design advice?

“Give yourself four months to plan your kitchen,” he says.

“The initial meetings are so important for ascertaining what the client wants and creating the design. Focus on the layout of the kitchen first before picking colours and finishes. Certain appliances such as an American fridge or a range cooker have a big impact on the layout so they need to be factored in from the beginning. Finishes and colours can be confirmed at a later stage, layout is crucial.”

Storage

Storage solutions must function well, adds Darach. “Drawers are great as they can be pulled right out and allow ease of access,” he says.

“Pocket door pantries and tambour units enable you to store items out of sight and keep worktops clutter-free. Ceiling-height cabinets are great for providing extra storage for items that are not accessed regularly.”

Trends

Thinking in terms of the latest must-have? “The Scandinavian look is on-trend — wood and white together,” says Darach.

“Handles are also making a comeback and ceiling-height units are being introduced more as they provide so much storage.

“There is a move towards warmer tones – bronze/gold/black. Lighting plays a great role in enhancing the kitchen and creating a nice atmosphere in the evening.

“Handle-track lighting, under-cabinet lighting, open shelving lighting and pantry lighting are all popular.

“The height and width of integrated cabinets for fridges has increased so XXL fridges can now be integrated and are becoming a more popular option than American ones.”

See www.kubeinteriors.comtarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">, @kubekitchens