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Room of the Week: A Semi-Rural Kitchen of Colour and Texture
Creating a space for cuppas with friends was key to this light-filled space that tips its hat to mid-century design
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Brief
When we first met with our client they were living in a Federation-style house next door to where their new home was to be built.
The brief was to take inspiration from mid-century modern design, with light-filled spaces, clean lines and joyful use of colour. We also wanted to open up the house to the surrounding landscape with views to the bush, farmland and mountain ranges to the east.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
When we first met with our client they were living in a Federation-style house next door to where their new home was to be built.
The brief was to take inspiration from mid-century modern design, with light-filled spaces, clean lines and joyful use of colour. We also wanted to open up the house to the surrounding landscape with views to the bush, farmland and mountain ranges to the east.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Starting point
The starting point for the kitchen centred on the owners’ love for cuppas with friends around their kitchen island.
The starting point for the kitchen centred on the owners’ love for cuppas with friends around their kitchen island.
At our first meeting in our client’s old home, I sat on the opposite side of the kitchen island, while they had their knees jammed up against the cupboards on the kitchen side. From that point on we knew that the kitchen island needed to be more like a large table, with open sides all around for numerous cuppas!
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Browse more beautiful kitchen designs with green accents
Colour palette:
- Green
- White
- Grey
- Beige.
Browse more beautiful kitchen designs with green accents
Materials palette:
- Terrazzo-tile splashback
- Natural oak
- Laminate cupboards
- Nikpol oak island bench
- Two-pack polyurethane joinery
- Stone-look floor tiles
- Stainless-steel benchtop.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- Bar stools from GlobeWest
- Titan Stainless Steel Sink Mixer from Caroma
- Blanco white double-bowl sink
- AEG 90-centimetre induction cooktop
- Westinghouse French Door fridge
- Fisher & Paykel self-cleaning oven
- Electrolux comfort lift dishwasher
- Made Measure black matt pull handles.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures:
The kitchen is quite simple in its planning; the fridge allows for easy access to everyone without people getting on top of each other during family get-togethers.
The kitchen is quite simple in its planning; the fridge allows for easy access to everyone without people getting on top of each other during family get-togethers.
One of the things we like to do in many of our projects is put the ‘feature’ material – generally stone – as the splashback to the cooking area and have more functional stainless steel on the work surface. This allows our clients to put heavy pots or trays straight on the bench.
It also means they don’t have to worry so much about stains or burn marks and can enjoy the beautiful stone from multiple aspects of the room.
Challenges you worked around
Funnily enough, Laminex discontinued its Peat Green laminate halfway through construction and there was not enough stock left in the country to finish the kitchen. At one point we considered changing the Peat Green to Midnight blue Laminex, which would have still been beautiful. Nevertheless, the joiner was able to use two-pack polyurethane in the same Peat Green colour, which is what we ended up doing.
Funnily enough, Laminex discontinued its Peat Green laminate halfway through construction and there was not enough stock left in the country to finish the kitchen. At one point we considered changing the Peat Green to Midnight blue Laminex, which would have still been beautiful. Nevertheless, the joiner was able to use two-pack polyurethane in the same Peat Green colour, which is what we ended up doing.
Why do you think this room works?
We think this kitchen works so well because of its simplicity – it does what our clients needed it to do.
Your turn
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great kitchen inspiration? Take a look at this Room of the Week: A Simple Kitchen With the Latest Looks
We think this kitchen works so well because of its simplicity – it does what our clients needed it to do.
Your turn
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great kitchen inspiration? Take a look at this Room of the Week: A Simple Kitchen With the Latest Looks
Answers by Phillip Nielsen, design director, Regional Design Service
Who lives here: A couple who wanted plenty of room for adult children and grandchildren to visit
Location: Wahgunyah, Victoria. This was a new build on a semi-rural block.
Rooms that were worked on: The kitchen, dining and living areas
Budget: The cost was $600,000 for the entire house and construction was completed in 2019.
Builder: Walshe’s Alternative Living
Joinery: Hargreaves Joinery