Illuminating design

Being given the challenge of revitalising a kitchen, Cooper Webley Joinery have done more than just that. Craig Hooper and his team have designed and renovated a space that has won both national and regional awards – “Best Use of Creative Lighting” award and “Best Region Award Nelson/Marlborough from the 2024 National Master Joiner Awards, and an award for “Best Lighting at the 2024 Nelson Joinery and Design Awards (JADA).  

The task was to build a statement piece within the existing footprint, using new flooring as the base. Craig Hooper, from Cooper Webley Joinery, designed this kitchen and said that the clients wanted something that echoed their dynamic lifestyle. “Embarking on a transformative journey, we crafted a kitchen that defied dullness and embraced vibrancy.” The island is undeniably the centrepiece of the kitchen, anchoring the room with its distinctive presence. In order to create the statement that it does, Backlit Patagonia Stone was chosen to create a vibrant and free-flowing feel, as well as to also balance against the angular space. “Adapting to unforeseen challenges with stone size supply, we selected alternative top materials, ensuring a seamless integration,” says Craig. The surfaces were embellished with stone tops from ABG Stone to enhance the style, and thoughtful LED backlighting turned them into an eye-catching display. A smart reconfiguration of the back wall was made, and “in essence, we forged a kitchen that not only met but exceeded our client’s expectations, embodying functionality and aesthetic allure.” Craig says that while the key requirement for our clients was to create a kitchen that made a statement while also fitting into the existing footprint, the rest was up to the Designer. Regarding challenges, Craig says it was around the island size. “Moving to a stone product meant that there was a need to join the top, but this wasn’t ideal, so a design solution was needed to overcome this.”

The back wall, in particular, needed to be addressed as Craig says it didn’t suit the client’s needs, and “they wanted something bold and exciting – like lighting.” The specification of Brazilian Patagonia Quartzite and a more neutral Primestone that was mitred to a thickness of roughly 50mm was the key design element, which granted the designer the ability to overcome the challenge of the joins in the island top. What makes the Patagonia Stone used so special is that the feature is translucent, and Craig says when used correctly with backlighting, “it can look amazing.” The end of the island was designed as an angled solid block of stone, and “a lot of work went into designing the joinery” to allow space for aspects such as all the lighting. As well as the island, the splashback on the hob wall was also specified with Patagonia stone to allow for cohesiveness with the feature.

During the process, AGB Stone received the final designs for quoting and manufacturing. Up until this point, not a lot of backlit stone had been done before in New Zealand, so the team at Cooper Webley Joinery met with ABG Stone on-site at the time of templating to make sure the process from design to manufacture was smooth and precise. Craig adds that the “production team also made up some mock-ups here in the factory with some sample stone to ensure correct clearances from light panels to stone was made to achieve the desired result.” When it came to installing, Cooper Webley Joinery used Award Movers, who they know and trust to move their joinery around locally, “they have not damaged any of our joinery and are always prompt and happy to fit into our busy schedule for dispatching.”  As well as working with AGB Stone and Award Movers, Craig and the team were also involved with Anthony Shearers, who supplied the board for the panels. “They are a key supplier of ours, and, as a designer, have a range of products that allow me to be collaborative with my clients.” Leaving the clients with not only an award-winning kitchen but one that has surpassed all expectations. This masterwork is proof that unrivalled brilliance can be achieved by perseverance, creativity, and a strong vision.

Contact details:

Cooper Webley Joinery
03 547 0010
joinery@cooperwebley.co.nz
www.cooperwebley.co.nz