Description:

We were engaged by Homestyle magazine and Fisher & Paykel for their Led by Design series which showcased F&P products being used across four bespoke kitchens, each crafted by a different local designer - Material Creative, Juliette Wanty, Gezellig Interiors and Seear Budd-Ross.

It was agreed that the designers would provide us a basic 3D model; annotated elevations of their design; reference for materials, furniture and homeware; and feedback on the drafts. We would produce a ‘hero’ render of each kitchen - and two supporting detail shots that celebrated the F&P appliances’ sleek design and integration – to fit with the planned three-page layout.

As each designer was looking to create something fresh and thought-provoking, our challenge was to capture the essence of their vision in how we crafted each image. If you look at the four kitchens, each has a distinct flavour which is enhanced by our selection of camera, lighting, grading and furniture.

The Material Creative kitchen (Boards 1&2) revels in retro colours and eccentric textures. A tighter camera plays to the busy design while the soft lighting from the skylight ensures that shadows don’t compete with the textural palette. The thin black legs on the dining chairs echo the black pin stripes of the adjacent fabric while the black and white artwork picks up on the checker in the bar.

Julliette’s kitchen (Boards 3&4) pairs minimalist, curved cabinetry with unique textural elements: an incredible stone island; sculptural, fluted splashback; and rustic brick floor. This was a scene that needed a bit of room to breathe, so we used a wider lens in the hero render and left the adjacent living space free of furniture. The straight on camera plays to the crisp, architectural lines of the cabinetry while also juxtaposing the uneven brick floor. The thick black legs on the stools provide a visual balance to the all-black oven, while a soft wash of light from the side ensures an overall calmness to the render.

In the Gezellig Interiors kitchen (Boards 5&6), there is a subtle Japanese style in the cobbled stone floor, geometric screens and fluid connection with the outside. A wide-angle lens enhances the curves of the island while strong directional sunlight gives additional depth and movement to these curves. The choice of two slender tripod stools provides a pleasing contrast to the massive island with their simple, humble design.

The rammed earth walls of Seear Budd Ross’ design (Boards 7&8) create an imposing shell for this rugged kitchen. The choice of a wild west-coast beach background and overcast lighting (except for a hopeful ray of sun in the bottom left) plays to an already atmospheric design. The foreground has been deliberately left bare of furniture to enhance the feeling of expansiveness, which is further compounded through muted grading and sparse decorating.

The craft in this render series is combining photorealistic rendering with an artist’s eye to be able to communicate the designer’s unique concept in just a few images.