Room of the Week: A Mustard-Yellow Banquette in a Crafted Kitchen
A narrow Victorian terrace kitchen with uneven walls has been transformed into a clever and well-crafted space
Vanessa Walker
29 October 2018
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Boston Parker
Answers by Chris Ruffé, director of Bondi Kitchens
Who lives here: A couple and their great dane-cross, Dexter
Location: Marrickville, NSW
Room purpose and size: Kitchen/dining area, situated at the back of a classic terrace house. The area is seven metres long and just three metres wide, with approximately four-metre-high pitched ceilings. Within the space sits a lightwell measuring 1.3-by-two metres wide
Answers by Chris Ruffé, director of Bondi Kitchens
Who lives here: A couple and their great dane-cross, Dexter
Location: Marrickville, NSW
Room purpose and size: Kitchen/dining area, situated at the back of a classic terrace house. The area is seven metres long and just three metres wide, with approximately four-metre-high pitched ceilings. Within the space sits a lightwell measuring 1.3-by-two metres wide
Brief
A refined industrial style – a nod to the house’s unique location in a semi-industrial area in inner-west Sydney. The focus was on a mixture of natural materials with texture, rather than trends. The clients wanted finishes that age gracefully and blend with the outdoor green spaces. It was also important to reach a balance between hidden and open storage to allow the narrow space to breathe yet function on a practical level, utilising every inch of space available.
A refined industrial style – a nod to the house’s unique location in a semi-industrial area in inner-west Sydney. The focus was on a mixture of natural materials with texture, rather than trends. The clients wanted finishes that age gracefully and blend with the outdoor green spaces. It was also important to reach a balance between hidden and open storage to allow the narrow space to breathe yet function on a practical level, utilising every inch of space available.
Starting point
To achieve an eat-in kitchen and dining area that would complement the charming imperfections and raw materials of the older parts of this Victorian terrace that has a simple, relaxed, quiet modesty.
To achieve an eat-in kitchen and dining area that would complement the charming imperfections and raw materials of the older parts of this Victorian terrace that has a simple, relaxed, quiet modesty.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: White, grey and black base with hints of warm accent colours. Aged-brass hardware created softness, and pops of neon white and mustard yellow added visual zest with the custom-made bench seat.
Colour palette: White, grey and black base with hints of warm accent colours. Aged-brass hardware created softness, and pops of neon white and mustard yellow added visual zest with the custom-made bench seat.
Materials palette: Spotted gum, stained black oak, bronze, aged brass, grey granite, powder-coated steel, and leather.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings: The built-in banquette was by Bondi Kitchens and KD upholstery. The dining table was from Lunantiques.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
The layout was dictated by the size and shape of the space; creating length with the placement of the kitchen against the wall, which features an angled detail at the fridge and pantry section – a visual trick to make the room seem bigger. The narrow, long space challenged us to be more creative.
The layout was dictated by the size and shape of the space; creating length with the placement of the kitchen against the wall, which features an angled detail at the fridge and pantry section – a visual trick to make the room seem bigger. The narrow, long space challenged us to be more creative.
Challenges you worked around
Uneven walls in a junction where old meets new. Angled cabinets! A deep kickboard for the illusion of floating cabinets to add lightness to the room.
Uneven walls in a junction where old meets new. Angled cabinets! A deep kickboard for the illusion of floating cabinets to add lightness to the room.
Why do you think this room works?
It works as a result of a great professional collaboration between two creatives, the client and maker! Keeping an open mind and using each other’s strengths was key to turn any challenge into a creative solution as a team.
The selection of finishes and the balance of colours work well to create personality, while maintaining a timelessness to the design.
It works as a result of a great professional collaboration between two creatives, the client and maker! Keeping an open mind and using each other’s strengths was key to turn any challenge into a creative solution as a team.
The selection of finishes and the balance of colours work well to create personality, while maintaining a timelessness to the design.
Tell us
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Want more great design? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Loft Kitchen in a Converted Chocolate Factory
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Want more great design? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Loft Kitchen in a Converted Chocolate Factory
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Love the dog. The kitchen is nice too!
I too, love banquettes, there should be more of them here. I struggled just getting the kitchen people to understand that I wanted all drawers below the benches, and no cupboards, lol. The looked at me in horror, but as I was the one with the money...
I think this kitchen is a great use of space - I grew up in Sydney, and those long skinny terraces have so many challenges when you want to modernise.
This was so well done as to layout - you can change the cosmetics easily to suit any taste - very well done indeed!