Stickybeak of the Week: A Parisian-Style Kitchen With Hideaway Elegance
This ethereal kitchen is the epitome of sophistication, and is designed to feel like furniture rather than an assemblage of appliances
This exquisite kitchen in a home in Woollahra, Sydney, is a perfect fusion of aesthetics and functionality, satisfying the needs of a modern family that doesn’t cook a lot at home. Aesthetically, it has all the charm and elegance of old-world Paris, while functionally it seamlessly transitions between practical kitchen and additional living space for dining, studying and socialising.
“The kitchen is now central to the living rooms and stairs, as well as the dining room, lounge and deck out to the yard,” says Minosa interior designer Darren Genner. “This was achieved by closing off an opening created sometime in the ’80s and adding a new entry through a beautiful archway, which mirrors and complements the existing period features.”
Woollahra has a rich and diverse history, with representative architecture that ranges from Victorian and Federation homes to inter-war and post-1950s buildings. Because this house is situated within the Woollahra Heritage Conservation Area, Minosa created a design that was sympathetic to the exterior of the home and the streetscape as a whole.
“We decided that if we touched the walls, then they had to look old, so we added the ornate trim details and wall panelling that runs around the kitchen to give it a sense of history,” says Genner. “But anything that sits within the room, such as the kitchen island and other loose items, had to be modern to give it the feeling of ‘now’.”
Armando Vicario tap with pull-out spout: Abey
Armando Vicario tap with pull-out spout: Abey
Transition and flow also proved to be very important in the planning and design of the room. “The kitchen is central to the family’s busy life, so we wanted to create a space that would flow easily to all the essential areas of the home,” says Genner. This meant careful consideration had to be given to the location of appliances: there was attention to good set-down space near each appliance and an assurance that this wouldn’t clash when appliance doors were open.
Caboche Grande Suspension Lamp: Space Furniture
Caboche Grande Suspension Lamp: Space Furniture
Consideration was also given to how to make the kitchen appliances – and really the kitchen itself – disappear when not in use. Minosa installed joinery that concealed nearly all the kitchen utilities and utensils, effectively closing the kitchen down when not needed.
Now you see it …
Undermount rangehood: Schweigen; built-in gas cooktop: Barazza
Now you see it …
Undermount rangehood: Schweigen; built-in gas cooktop: Barazza
When it comes to the style of the kitchen, Genner says, “the clients wanted a beautiful Parisian-style one that had all the old-world charm, but with a modern twist.” Using a combination of white and wood to evoke this style drove the colour and material palette: white joinery and walls, stained-oak herringbone floors, a bar top in stained oak timber and a Calacatta marble island.
The existing architectural mouldings, such as the fireplace, architraves and ceiling rose, also contributed to the sense of old-world sophistication, and Minosa renovated the whole apartment in the same vein.
This hide-and-seek kitchen, whether revealed or concealed, has subtlety and nuance, which makes it a true visual delight. Voilà, c’est tout. Trés beau.
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What do you think of this tasteful kitchen? Let us know in the comments section.
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Read about more delightful kitchen styles
TELL US
What do you think of this tasteful kitchen? Let us know in the comments section.
MORE
Read about more delightful kitchen styles
Who lives here: A couple and their teenage daughter
Location: Woollahra, Sydney, NSW
Size: 12.8 square metres
Design: Minosa
During the renovation of this home, the kitchen was marked for its original position in the rear corner of the property. But making a late and drastic change to the floor plan, Minosa repositioned it in a more central part of the home. Now it is parallel to the base of the stairs and adjacent to the formal lounge and front entry.