Tom Mark Henry’s layered interiors build slowly and surely, demonstrating an uncanny ability to produce spaces that feel both familiar and welcoming, while pushing contemporary design in wonderfully fresh ways. Full of character with disparate, yet complementary elements, Tom Mark Henry’s homes are harmonious residences, and perfect examples of a modern aesthetic.
Priding themselves on the human connection each new project brings, Tom Mark Henry (TMH) lets their clients tell their story, expanding on their personality and tastes to develop homes that truly respond to their environment, history and the particular sensitivities of their current custodians.
This coastal inspired kitchen, designed to accommodate a busy and active family with teenage children, provides the flexibility of entertaining and gathering, while appealing to more pragmatic needs, such as homework and quiet family moments. Tom Mark Henry leant into the Australian landscape for inspiration using Laminex Victorian Ash TrueScale and Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale, both in AbsoluteGrain® finish, for unmatched textural authenticity and a space filled with their characteristic, considered detail.
TMH Founders, Cushla McFadden and Jade Nottage, have been creating considered and captivating spaces since 2014. Their philosophy and approach looks ‘to champion an authentic and inspired culture and boutique service.’ With that in mind, Tom Mark Henry sought to use Laminex Next Generation Woodgrains on almost all surfaces of their Family Kitchen, utilising the distinct qualities of Australian Natives and the unparalleled consistency of colour, grain and tone the Next Generation Woodgrains range brings.
Looking to Brett Whiteley landscapes — often synonymous with his outsized ultramarine canvases - the prominent Australian artist produced a series of paintings that explore the beauty and idiosyncrasies of Australia west of the Great Dividing Range. More than browns and beiges, Whiteley’s paintings are pop and energy, rhythmic and moving. They curve and swirl across the canvas and inspired the organic shapes and expressive forms of the kitchen — seen in full effect on the island and rangehood.
“We found a Whiteley painting that had these beautiful organic shapes in it,” says McFadden, “and we continued to develop it, looking at the different textures of the woodgrains as something to play with. We then added the metallic finishes to make it pop a little more as we thought it would be an interesting way to use them in a new context; seeing the metallic finishes applied on a curved form. Hopefully that’s something people do in the future.”
Like any project of the studio, there’s more to it than meets the eye. High-end materiality has been used with a typically casual approach. Small, square marble tiles as a splashback are a perfect case in point, working perfectly with the warmth of the palette and the Laminex Brushed Stainless Steel of the rangehood, bar cabinet and table legs. Hidden behind the overhead bar cabinet doors, Tom Mark Henry have quietly explored the possibilities of Laminex Woodgrains. The shelves, striped in the décors of the kitchen, have been immaculately finished with a flawless mitred edge. Requiring an exact touch, the grains have been placed in different directions, highlighting both clever design and precise joinery. It’s a rewarding feature, that demands a second look, but ultimately lets the craftsmanship take centre stage.
“The curved rangehood and island really showcase the capabilities of Laminex,” says McFadden. “It’s not just for a bench or a flat cupboard, you can do really interesting profiles and curves with it and the finished results look really elevated.”
Inlay and panelling on the island—featuring some very neat, trick joinery—is what the team are referring to. A perfect border of Laminex Outback Clay runs the length of the island’s kidney bean-like shape, accompanying the main body of Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale AbsoluteGrain® in an ode to Whiteley’s palette.
Elevating the island even further, in both a literal and figurative sense, are several pronounced panels that are curved and cut to precisely interlock with each other. These additions send the grain of Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale AbsoluteGrain® off in opposing directions, and add a subtle yet sophisticated feature to the joinery. All sides are finished with ABS edging — the seams between echoing the same shadowline seen on the multi-panelled kitchen doors—and where the island meets the right-angle return, a mitred corner maintains a consistency of finish, design and construction.
Along the galley side and bar wall, alternating grains and subtle shadow lines on the large, triple panelled doors express the value of using Laminex TrueScale®, seen here in Laminex Victorian Ash, in the AbsoluteGrain® finish. At 3600mm long, each panel is an accurate representation of nature, with the durability of Laminex and realistic tactility of AbsoluteGrain®. Using these in this context demonstrates the authentic detail of TrueScale’s advantage—the opportunity to use genuine, no-repeat designs.
“We loved the contrast of these two finishes and were drawn to the textural and realistic grain of the finish,” remembers McFadden. “Longevity is always at the forefront of any project, just as functionality is, and this kitchen is designed as the home’s central hub, so durable, robust finishes are even more important.”
On the multipaneled pantry doors, the team worked with the cabinetmaker to create oversized, surfboard-shaped handles, in a contrasting Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale AbsoluteGrain®. The facing and return of the handles were mitred seamlessly and grain-matched into a wonderfully considered kitchen detail.
Being able to produce such realistic results reveals a core benefit of Laminex’s Australian Natives Collection – providing a durable, realistic alternative to timber veneer, which works to reduce the need to remove timber from Australian Native forests.
“When presented with an option like Laminex Next Generation Woodgrains, that give the warmth and effect of real timber, we feel confident in using this material to meet the look and feel we’re after.” Able to utilise all the traits of Native Australian flora in large formats while maintaining a dedication to the environment, craftsmanship and textural inclusions of nature, is what makes Laminex Next Generation Woodgrains so groundbreaking and exciting to work with.
With The Family Kitchen, Tom Mark Henry have applied the studio’s distinctive layered approach, with finesse and detail, defining what it is to work with Laminex and the possibilities that can be imagined, leaving us to ask the question: what else is possible?
The Family Kitchen Palette
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Contributors:
Campaign: Laminex
Design: Tom Mark Henry
Photographer: Lillie Thomson
Video: SIRAP
Stylist: Natalie James
Art Direction & Production: Ortolan
Joinery: Evolve Interiors
Floor Tiles: Eco Outdoor
Splashback & Wall Tiles: Artedomus
Appliances: Fisher & Paykel
Tapware & Sink: Oliveri
Wall Sconces: We Ponder
Barstools: Daniel Boddam
Dining Chairs: Tom Fereday
Featured Products:
Cabinetry:
Laminex Victorian Ash TrueScale™ AbsoluteGrain® Finish (Doors & Drawers)
Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale™ AbsoluteGrain® Finish (Benchtop & Custom Pantry Handles)
Laminex Bluestone (Internal Cabinetry)
Laminex Brushed Stainless Steel (Upper Cabinetry, Rangehood & Base Cabinetry)
Island Bench:
Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale™ AbsoluteGrain® Finish
Laminex Outback Clay
Table:
Laminex Outback Clay
Laminex Brushed Stainless Steel
Other:
Artedomus Elba Marble Mosaic Tile (Splashback & Walls)
Fisher & Paykel (Appliances)
Oliveri (Tap & Sink)
Eco Outdoor Sarelle Tile in Grey, Lightly Distressed (Flooring)
Featuring Laminex Blackbutt TrueScale™ AbsoluteGrain® (island base, benchtops and custom handles), Laminex Victorian Ash TrueScale™ AbsoluteGrain® (cabinetry), Laminex Outback Clay (island top and table), and Laminex Brushed Stainless Steel (range hood and table base). Designed by Tom Mark Henry, photographed by Lillie Thompson, styling by Natalie James, art direction by Ortolan and joinery by Evolve Interiors.