A Stylish & Sensible Kitchen Revamp That Caters to Food Allergies
An alluring new design and colour palette, plus a clever tweak, means this kitchen helps manage coeliac disease
Vanessa Walker
14 June 2021
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 Rachel Winton Photography
Styling and answers by Tennille Burnup, senior interior designer at Tennille Joy Interiors
Who lives here: A couple with two children and two dogs
Location: Malvern, Victoria
Room purpose: A family kitchen
Approximate budget: $85,000 including the removal of two doors and insertion of a window
Styling and answers by Tennille Burnup, senior interior designer at Tennille Joy Interiors
Who lives here: A couple with two children and two dogs
Location: Malvern, Victoria
Room purpose: A family kitchen
Approximate budget: $85,000 including the removal of two doors and insertion of a window
Brief
We discussed the layout of the kitchen and came up with the following:
We discussed the layout of the kitchen and came up with the following:
- The sense of having the ovens under the cooktop.
- A sleek range hood with open shelving above the sink area.
- A smaller sink with more bench space for food preparation.
- Clever storage in the corner undermount.
- Storage for spices and oils.
- Food storage and an appliance cupboard.
- A workstation, ladder and storage for a Dyson vacuum cleaner in the triangle corner unit.
- A pocket door for the laundry. One small food-storage cabinet in the laundry.
The kitchen before works
- A longer bench space, potentially with a curve.
- Timber open shelving.
- Laminate as a finish for the benchtops.
- A shadow-line detail, depending on the selections and colours.
- Tiles as a splashback.
- Colours include inky blue, white, black and the warmth of timber details. However, when consulting with the husband, he preferred a softer colour than inky blue. We settled for a mid-green hue.
How does this kitchen design help the family manage coeliac disease?
A challenge was creating ample storage space to have gluten-free food and appliances stored in a separate area to help manage coeliac disease. The client wished for extra pantry space in the adjoining laundry (the entrance is to the left of this walkway) to cater for a special toaster and food storage.
A challenge was creating ample storage space to have gluten-free food and appliances stored in a separate area to help manage coeliac disease. The client wished for extra pantry space in the adjoining laundry (the entrance is to the left of this walkway) to cater for a special toaster and food storage.
We renovated the laundry to make it a multipurpose room. One side houses the laundry sink and white goods. The other side has floor-to-ceiling joinery to store food and laundry items. There’s a pocket door that separates these two areas when required.
Starting point
We started with the existing galley layout as inspiration as it already worked. We added functionality by turning the kitchen into a U-shape and curving the kitchen bench.
We started with the existing galley layout as inspiration as it already worked. We added functionality by turning the kitchen into a U-shape and curving the kitchen bench.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: When working through the discovery process, coloured cabinetry/mixed tones were a must – nothing too dark, yet something edgy.
Browse more beautiful kitchens by Australian designers
Colour palette: When working through the discovery process, coloured cabinetry/mixed tones were a must – nothing too dark, yet something edgy.
Browse more beautiful kitchens by Australian designers
Materials palette:
- We selected a seed green for the laminate with timber accents on the benchtop and floating box shelving.
- Another request was to have a benchtop that was inviting and warm. The children never sat at the old kitchen island bench as it was stone and a little too cold to lean on. This laminate is soft, warm and tactile for the whole family to enjoy.
- An Artedomus textured Japanese tile was selected for the splashback, adding texture and interest while blending in with the organic colour scheme.
- Special black handles tie in with the black handles in the older part of this Art Deco home. These are from Linear Standard.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- Cabinets in Laminex Seed Natural Finish to complement the benchtops in Laminex White AbsoluteMatte.
- Polytec Tuross Oak matt finish timber.
- Laminate is added in the benchtop edging and floating boxed shelving.
- The pendant light from Citta Design adds definition in the scheme.
- Barstools are from Tennille Joy Interiors.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
Honestly, this kitchen design was so much fun to work on. Our long-term client (now in their second home) needed to update their existing kitchen.
Extra pantry storage was required to store food in the multipurpose room behind the kitchen, which also houses the laundry. Another request was a breakfast station with retractable doors. One of our favourites!
Honestly, this kitchen design was so much fun to work on. Our long-term client (now in their second home) needed to update their existing kitchen.
Extra pantry storage was required to store food in the multipurpose room behind the kitchen, which also houses the laundry. Another request was a breakfast station with retractable doors. One of our favourites!
What challenges did you work around?
There wasn’t enough space in the existing layout for storage. A sliding door was at the end of a galley-style kitchen, enabling access to the rear deck. When tossing up priorities, the family needed more space in the kitchen, as opposed to outside access – especially when there is ample access to the rear from the open-plan living area. We boxed in the door to add more storage and a cooking area. The outlook when cooking now gives a sense of calm.
There wasn’t enough space in the existing layout for storage. A sliding door was at the end of a galley-style kitchen, enabling access to the rear deck. When tossing up priorities, the family needed more space in the kitchen, as opposed to outside access – especially when there is ample access to the rear from the open-plan living area. We boxed in the door to add more storage and a cooking area. The outlook when cooking now gives a sense of calm.
Why do you think this room works?
All of the boxes are ticked with this kitchen. There’s space for the kids to do their homework or eat breakfast, the hidden breakfast nook is a popular spot to make smoothies and tea, the cook has a view of the garden and the kids playing and there’s ample storage for coeliac-friendly food to eliminate cross-contamination.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this new design? 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
Keen to see more before & after projects? Take a look at this Before & After: A Zen-Like Kitchen With Curves Galore
All of the boxes are ticked with this kitchen. There’s space for the kids to do their homework or eat breakfast, the hidden breakfast nook is a popular spot to make smoothies and tea, the cook has a view of the garden and the kids playing and there’s ample storage for coeliac-friendly food to eliminate cross-contamination.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this new design? 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
Keen to see more before & after projects? Take a look at this Before & After: A Zen-Like Kitchen With Curves Galore
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Hello @mankitshad, The budget amount is a loose amount and didn't just include the kitchen. It included the laundry, a builder to add in new windows and furniture. Stone benchtops weren't requested as they are too cold.
All the best,
Tennille
Hello @kmmcam, we are qualified Kitchen Designers. There's no rule of thumb for all Kitchen Designs and giving measurements is not something that we advise on - until we see the full brief. Please contact us if you wish to have an initial consultation. All the best,
Tennille
I have laminate bench tops and I find they cause me to itch intensely. It took me a while to identify this as the cause and at one stage I was scratching down to the flesh and bleeding. My palms and fingers were a mess! One day I placed my hands on the bench and immedietely noticed I started itching. I pulled away and the urge went away. Then it happened again a few days later and the penny dropped. I did a few searches and found that laminate indeed can be extremely bad for those prone to allergies. Now I never touch it, and my hands have fully recovered after 2 years of this scratching madness I am now looking into having the bench tops spray coated which is much cheaper than new benchtops and they have some sensation finishes that are achieved in less than a day's work (interruption to my personal space!). It you have allergies, I wouldn't risk laminated tops, or if you have them already, do what I am doing. It's supposed to be super durable too.