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Room Of The Week
Before & After
Before & After: A Family-Friendly Coastal Kitchen to Die For
See how a redesign and layout reconfiguration of a characterless kitchen paved the way for a standout space on the water
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Did you use Houzz for this project?
We did. This project started before we began officially using Houzz Pro business management software, however in the end we used Invoicing for our design time. Towards the end of the project we worked on some additional rooms and used Houzz Pro Proposals and Room Boards (now called Mood Boards) as well as the Project Management tool.
We did. This project started before we began officially using Houzz Pro business management software, however in the end we used Invoicing for our design time. Towards the end of the project we worked on some additional rooms and used Houzz Pro Proposals and Room Boards (now called Mood Boards) as well as the Project Management tool.
What was the client’s brief?
They wanted this to be their forever home and reflect them as a family as well as the position of the home with a family-friendly, Australian-coastal feel on the water, which encapsulates the laidback lifestyle of being on holidays, enjoying the water, sun and breezes.
They wanted lots of natural textures and soft neutral sandy colours as well as some blue and green highlights reflecting what is seen outside. It has a very welcoming, comfortable feel about it – you instantly feel at home and relaxed.
Dreaming of a better kitchen? Take the time to find and talk to a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
They wanted this to be their forever home and reflect them as a family as well as the position of the home with a family-friendly, Australian-coastal feel on the water, which encapsulates the laidback lifestyle of being on holidays, enjoying the water, sun and breezes.
They wanted lots of natural textures and soft neutral sandy colours as well as some blue and green highlights reflecting what is seen outside. It has a very welcoming, comfortable feel about it – you instantly feel at home and relaxed.
Dreaming of a better kitchen? Take the time to find and talk to a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
The floor plan.
The kitchen before works.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Paint palette:
Colour palette:
- White, oak, navy blue and sage green.
- Two-pack polyurethane joinery.
- Timber veneer sections are in Planked Oak Eveneer.
- Caesarstone benchtop and splashback are in Frosty Carrina.
- Splashback tiles near cooktop are Varsity Celadon Tiles from Di Lorenzo.
- Tongue n Groove floorboards in colour Graupa.
Paint palette:
Starting point
There were a number of artworks the family had that we drew colours from. This included a beautiful Ken Done artwork of Sydney Harbour that incorporated blues and greens, but also had some soft blush colours that we used in the cushions on the sofa.
We were also guided by the surrounding landscape of water and greenery.
There were a number of artworks the family had that we drew colours from. This included a beautiful Ken Done artwork of Sydney Harbour that incorporated blues and greens, but also had some soft blush colours that we used in the cushions on the sofa.
We were also guided by the surrounding landscape of water and greenery.
The butler’s pantry before works.
The butler’s pantry after works.
Key pieces of furniture and fittings:
Key pieces of furniture and fittings:
- Sub-Zero 883L built-in side-by-side fridge.
- Qasair 90-centimetre Lismore Executive under-cupboard range hood.
- Miele KM 7897 FL full-surface induction cooktop.
- Miele DGC 7440 steam combi oven in Obsidian Black.
- Miele H 7464 BP pyrolytic oven in Obsidian Black.
- Miele ESW 7020 warming drawer in Obsidian Black.
- Vintec 100 Bottle Beverage Centre.
- Abey TD200B Schock sink.
- Zip Water tap for sparkling/chilled/boiling water.
- Franke Verona pull-out sink mixer.
- Miele G 7154 SCVI fully integrated dishwasher.
- Ronald Bar stools from GlobeWest.
- Pendant lights from Special Lights.
The living room before works.
The living room before works.
The living area after works.
- Custom-made sofa from Molmic covered in fabric in Portofino Birch from The Textile Company.
- Dunes by Bayliss custom-sized rug.
- Hooker Furniture Surfrider coffee table from Globe Imports.
- Side tables from Uniqwa.
- Cushions from Linen and Moore.
- Escea fireplace in the living room.
What was your thinking behind the arrangement of furniture and fixtures?
The client always wanted to remove the existing fireplace and we wholeheartedly agreed that it had to go. Because it originally held the TV and had the sofa orientated towards it, we needed to take this into account.
So we had to work back from the steel support posts that would ultimately be left and clad them with fluted-timber columns (just visible in the left-hand foreground of this image) after the fireplace was removed.
The client always wanted to remove the existing fireplace and we wholeheartedly agreed that it had to go. Because it originally held the TV and had the sofa orientated towards it, we needed to take this into account.
So we had to work back from the steel support posts that would ultimately be left and clad them with fluted-timber columns (just visible in the left-hand foreground of this image) after the fireplace was removed.
This set the scene for where the living area would go – we needed to seat the whole family and guests comfortably so a large modular sofa was needed.
We also needed another fireplace of course, then we worked backwards towards the kitchen area to fit in a large island for food prep and family dining.
We also ensured we could still have a butler’s pantry to keep pantry goods and all the appliances out of sight that would service a large family who likes to entertain.
We also needed another fireplace of course, then we worked backwards towards the kitchen area to fit in a large island for food prep and family dining.
We also ensured we could still have a butler’s pantry to keep pantry goods and all the appliances out of sight that would service a large family who likes to entertain.
The original fireplace before works.
What challenges did you work around?
We had to reconfigure the floor plan from what was originally there and remove the wall separating the butler’s pantry and main kitchen. As the kitchen level had an additional four stories above it, the wall was considered load bearing, as was the fireplace, which had internal steel posts.
So the builder needed to have these reinforced when we changed the layout. There was also the issue of drainage as we moved the sink away from the external wall, so they had to dig a trench underneath to run the pipework through.
What challenges did you work around?
We had to reconfigure the floor plan from what was originally there and remove the wall separating the butler’s pantry and main kitchen. As the kitchen level had an additional four stories above it, the wall was considered load bearing, as was the fireplace, which had internal steel posts.
So the builder needed to have these reinforced when we changed the layout. There was also the issue of drainage as we moved the sink away from the external wall, so they had to dig a trench underneath to run the pipework through.
This caused its own issues at the time as the ground underneath was full of water and much further away from the level of the floor. They ended up with a huge trench underneath that required remedial drainage work to allow the water to flow away.
This also meant we had to change the flooring in the living space to timber. I had always wanted to do floorboards from the start, but we were considering how the budget was tracking. In the end, there was no choice and we had the beautiful floorboards installed. I think they are lovely and complement the travertine elsewhere nicely, so it turned out well.
This also meant we had to change the flooring in the living space to timber. I had always wanted to do floorboards from the start, but we were considering how the budget was tracking. In the end, there was no choice and we had the beautiful floorboards installed. I think they are lovely and complement the travertine elsewhere nicely, so it turned out well.
Why do you think this room works?
It now has an updated working triangle of cooktop/sink, oven/fridges and food-prep area. The kitchen island doubles as a casual dining area for the family to enjoy meals and they don’t all have to sit in a row.
The corner nook/banquette area is another favourite spot to work at or read the paper with a coffee. Removing the fireplace from the centre of the room and reorientating the sofa really opened up the space and it feels far more inviting now.
Your turn
What ideas have you picked up from this expansive 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
Want to see another beautiful kitchen makeover? Check out this Before & After: From Dump Zone to New ‘Welcome Home’ Living Area
It now has an updated working triangle of cooktop/sink, oven/fridges and food-prep area. The kitchen island doubles as a casual dining area for the family to enjoy meals and they don’t all have to sit in a row.
The corner nook/banquette area is another favourite spot to work at or read the paper with a coffee. Removing the fireplace from the centre of the room and reorientating the sofa really opened up the space and it feels far more inviting now.
Your turn
What ideas have you picked up from this expansive 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
Want to see another beautiful kitchen makeover? Check out this Before & After: From Dump Zone to New ‘Welcome Home’ Living Area
Who lives here: A family with four children
Location: Cremorne, NSW
Room purpose and size: A combined kitchen, dining and family living area
Approximate budget: AU$300,000 for the kitchen and butler’s pantry
How did you meet your client?
The owner sent through a general enquiry about interior design via Houzz for her six-level waterfront home. I called to find out some more about the project and booked a visit to meet her and her husband.