Sensa Taj Mahal by Cosentino is the star of the show in a new luxury kitchen belonging to New Zealand interior designer and TV host Shelley Ferguson.

“I’m very inspired by natural landscapes and wanted lots of textured materials in my kitchen to avoid the light colour palette looking cold," says Shelley. "I’ve used a combination of Sensa Taj Mahal, oak, hand-silvered glass, brushed brass and white granite, and a crystal chandelier for a luxe touch.”

Shelley developed the entire colour and material palette of the kitchen around Sensa Taj Mahal. “The first time I saw a large slab of Taj Mahal it took my breath away," she says. "The natural stone features beautiful veining, graduating layers of white, gold and champagne colouring, and it was love at first sight.”

Shelley was so enamoured with the stone that she also used it to clad the kitchen island. Smaller slabs were cut, mitred and clad onto the cabinetry, wrapping it to achieve a solid stone effect from the benchtop to the floor. Each stone strip is separated by a brass strip to add a reflective touch to the kitchen.

A laundry off the kitchen was also redesigned into a scullery and features Sensa Taj Mahal on both the benchtop and splashback, adding a sophisticated aesthetic to this utility room. “I have two children and a busy household so I wanted to use a hard stone with surface protection that wouldn’t dent or stain. Quartzite is a very hard metamorphic rock that apart from the stunning visual appearance is also very practical. Cosentino treats it with Senguard NK stain and UV protection that allows the stone to be used in all the ways a hardworking kitchen demands, while still being able to preserve its natural colour and texture,” Shelley explains.