As featured in... All Ireland Kitchen Guide Autumn/Winter 2009

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

It took Sarah five months to find the kitchen she wanted. "I had a very specific idea in my head of what I was looking for," she explains. "While I loved what I saw on offer from other more expensive brands, I just couldn't justify the price, so I was thrilled when I discovered the Gatto Cucine range at J Crowe Kitchen Design."

"Ironically I found what I was looking for in the one showroom I thought I wouldn't. I have worked with John Crowe from J Crowe Kitchen Design on my last three kitchens, but he mostly works in wood and this wasn't what I wanted. However, during the months I spent searching for the ideal design, John had taken on the Gatto Cucine brand, so you could say it was fate that we ended up back together for a fourth time!"

Collier Kitchen Supplies Ltd are the main distributor of the Gatto Cucine range in Ireland, and their decision to carry the range was based on the brand's focus on design excellence, attention to detail and product quality.

"I was so surprised that John was able to show me the contemporary, handleless design I was searching for. I haven't had to compromise on what I wanted at all. My main aim was a handleless kitchen, which offered a clean, sculptural aesthetic and this is what I have got."

Sarah has gone for the black glass finish and the island is an ebony high-gloss timber known as Samal. "There are 20 to 30 coats of lacquer on the rounded island. To me it is a piece of sculpture in the house. It is a real work of art."

While she has had wooden kitchens in the past, Sarah's preference for modern design was indulged in this new home. Working alongside John and her architect, she has achieved her ideal kitchen.

"I come down in the morning, look at it and smile. There are wonderful shapes and colours. We extended downwards, to create a fourth floor in the house, and our architect has brought great light into this space. I was conscious of having to look at the back wall of the kitchen area, which is 4.7 metres long, for some time to come, and I love the finished result of the black glass and Samal framing."

Perfectly situated, thanks to careful planning from John, the three metre island unit is not too close to the back wall that the kitchen feels cramped, nor too far away to eat into space in the adjoining living area, ensuring that all the family aren't bumping into one another when they spend time in this space.

"I wanted the kitchen to face into the rest of the room, so that I can communicate with everyone else while I am cooking at the island. I didn't want to have my back to everyone just to look out of the window."

"The architect and John reckon I must have the biggest slab of granite in Dublin on this island unit," laughs Sarah. Trying to find a granite supplier to fit this piece of granite without a join was a challenge, but John didn't let Sarah down, and the end result is stunning.

Sarah chose Nero Star Galaxy granite, which is black with a bronze fleck that picks up the colour of the island units. The sink unit located on the island has two taps, one with a handle and light, which Sarah describes as, "brilliant to work with" and the other is an InSinkErator filtered hot water tap. There are also pop-up electrical sockets and an induction hob.

"I wanted great storage, so as to have as few things as possible on the counter-top. John made provisions for concealing the toaster, bread bin and my bread maker, so they are all out of sight when not in use."

"I went for a separate fridge and freezer. I have two side-by-side ovens, and love the symmetry of these and the warming drawer and adjoining drawer unit under them. I didn't opt for a wine cooler in the kitchen because we are lucky enough to have a large basement space and we keep our wine down there. I chose an in-ceiling, external extractor fan, which I sourced myself from Drumms, I love the modern design."

"John is very thorough, and puts a lot of thought into both the overall look of the kitchen, but more importantly its functionality, ensuring that my time spent cooking here is as enjoyable as looking at the overall finished result - even my waste bin is perfectly positioned in between my hob and sink. Ideas are always ticking over in his head and he is very particular that you get a kitchen you will be happy with, and I must say once again he hasn't disappointed me. I know I will be loving this kitchen for years to come."