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The minimalist kitchen opens up to the living room. Open shelving on the kitchen island create a sense of spaciousness.

Without increasing the size of the kitchen, we reworked the space to create a family friendly design. This was accomplished by moving the range to the island, adding counter seating and increasing storage with full height cabinetry. Natural lighting in the kitchen was improved by adding low counter height windows.

Access into the garden is through the side of the kitchen and not the rear. This means the rear is protected for wildlife and the family do not have to go through the garden to access the BBQ and hard landscaping.

The kitchen window frames views of old-growth olive trees and massive boulders.

Rather than covering the ceiling completely with a sheet or board, Szczerbicki tucked the insulation above the rafters and sealed it in so that the ceiling’s structure was still visible. Painted in white, it becomes a sculptural element that highlights the volume of the space.

The architects created built-in storage to show off Frank and Amy’s extensive LEGO collection. A glimpse of the couple’s collection can be seen on the left.

The backsplash in the kitchen is a frameless sliding window that offers natural cross ventilation. It currently frames the ti-tree fencing, but as the landscaping grows greenery will be visible.

A mirrored backsplash reflects the garden. Spotted Gum cabinetry meets floors of the same material for uninterrupted flow. The counters are stainless steel.

The kitchen features Ikea cabinets, soapstone countertops, and steel backsplash. The oak panel doors conceal additional storage and mechanicals.

The kitchen, with a window "backsplash" over the sink and cooktop, anchors the great room. It features Japanese and Shaker-inspired cabinetry by New Antiquity, and imperial danby marble countertops from Vermont Quarries.

The award for best New House under 200 m2 went to Naranga Avenue House by James Russel Architect

with light-beige walls, pinewood floors and repurposed original wooden beams,

A family of architects teamed up to bring sunshine to every corner of their 650-square-foot flat in Madrid.

In order to maximize light, even the upper section of the bathroom walls are transparent, meaning anyone taking a shower can be seen from the living room, but only from the neck up.

"We contrasted the linearity of the etched granite by curving the island edges and introducing fridge panels with hand-carved pulls,

Also in the foyer, beside a wall of glass that brings light into the living/dining area, is storagefor coats, bags and shoes.

The new kitchen features green kit kat tiles, a terrazzo-effect rubber floor, white cabinetry, and cherry wood veneered cabinets. The client originally wanted teak cabinets, but 4 S Architecture recommended using cherry wood instead as it is more sustainable but has the same warm tones as teak. “We couldn’t get behind teak as a product so we used FSC certified European cherry that has less air miles than American cherry,” explains architect Julia Hamson. “The client was really pleased with the result.”

“I’m a huge fan of yellow,