Smooth operator (PROFILE Central North Island 2024)

Kitchen and interior designer Annika Rowson turns the focus on quality and composition.

Annika Rowson (pictured), has built a reputation for crafting spaces that ooze elegance and modernity.

It was 2009, the Global Financial Crisis was still raging, and Annika and Brad Rowson had a three-year-old and newborn in tow. That’s when the New Plymouth couple decided to launch their own business. “Friends said we were mad, but we had a clear goal and thought the time was right,” says Annika.

It was. Rowson Kitchens, a boutique, in-house design, manufacture and installation company, took off and never looked back. From renovating their first bungalow together, Annika, a self-taught designer, and Brad, a qualified joiner, knew they were a good team. They both believe in the quality-overquantity mantra and, while Annika likes to change things up, she’s not a slave to trends. “I studied photography in my late teens which taught me the value of composition, along with an appreciation of light – both aspects I use in my role daily.”

Her kitchens have a sense of elegance, proportion and modernity that keeps the clients rolling in and while she has one eye on what’s hot and new out there, durability and timelessness is her aim. Sadly, you can’t achieve that with low-end materials. “You get what you pay for,” she says. “My advice is to invest in the best you can, particularly with benchtops as it’s the surface that takes the most wear and tear and sets the tone for the entire space.”

Darker woods such as walnut veneers are popular right now – a look that brings richness and warmth to the room. And while warmer whites and creams have been top of the pops for a few years, and soft, earthy, mossy greens have stepped in as a neutral, Annika sees burgundy tones as an emerging option for those who want to push the colour boat out. Beautifully striated marbles such as Calacatta Violaor Rosso Levanto make an incredible focal point of the island. “The slabs vary from purple to burgundy and peach. They have a lovely drama.”

Annika, whose role stretches beyond the kitchen, might repeat the marble on the vanity, or pick up the tones in an upholstery fabric in the living room. Cohesion is queen of the sophisticated interior. “I like spaces that have natural flow but aren’t too matchy-matchy,” she says.

Her number one tip when building new would be to involve the kitchen and interior designer from the concept stage. “That way you can be sure you’ve allocated adequate space to fit in everything you would like. Doing it later can be costly,” she says. And, by knowing the direction you are heading with your material palette early on, you won’t be called upon to make any snap-fire decisions. “It takes the pressure off,” she explains. Annika also likes to integrate appliances since, by hiding all that stainless steel, you can make a kitchen look more like a beautiful piece of furniture in the room.

Finally, while fashions come and go, try to decipher what need these are fulfilling. For example, texture is very important in design as it’s a way to bring depth and dimension. Reeded glass is one way to fulfil this – and it’s timeless.

rowsonkitchens.co.nz

ON MY RADAR...

In New Plymouth you will find me at Reva Yoga where I do reformer pilates three times per week. I quit caffeine at the start of the year and Bleached Coffee do a great decaf with coconut milk. Snug Lounge is always a fave for tasty tapas.

Quantum Body by Dr Deepak Chopra. I’ve just started reading this and find it quite fitting as I started a health journey at the beginning of the year and feel it’s important to nourish and care for our bodies as best we can.

Breaking Beige with Lucie Wolfe – A Story of True Love & True Loss is a podcast about Lucie losing her beloved husband Brooke and is utterly heartbreaking; her courage and strength are admirable.

Quality over quantity is my mantra. I believe in doing the best you can, within budget/ reason and it works well with my less-is-more philosophy, too. We really don’t need a lot to be happy at the end of the day, but what you do have should have meaning and bring joy.