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Before & After: A Zen-Like Kitchen With Curves Galore
A fixed footprint, an awkward balustrade and a fussy '70s look... check out this modern kitchen and butler's pantry now
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
The kitchen before works
What was the original kitchen like?
Small, poky, dark and worn out. It had been built in the late 1970s.
What didn’t the owners like about it?
Everything, but mainly the layout, colour and the age of the kitchen.
Dreaming of a new kitchen? Make it happen with the help of a local kitchen designer on Houzz
What was the original kitchen like?
Small, poky, dark and worn out. It had been built in the late 1970s.
What didn’t the owners like about it?
Everything, but mainly the layout, colour and the age of the kitchen.
Dreaming of a new kitchen? Make it happen with the help of a local kitchen designer on Houzz
The kitchen before works
What was your brief?
What was your brief?
- Open up the layout of the kitchen and make it more user-friendly.
- A clean, crisp, white and bright colour scheme.
- Bring in more light.
- Swap the opening to the laundry to the left-hand side to create a passageway of light from the back door.
The floor plan after works
What was your starting point
A new layout. Changing the layout and swapping the opening to the laundry to create a larger space for the new cooktop island bench was the starting point for the whole design.
What was your starting point
A new layout. Changing the layout and swapping the opening to the laundry to create a larger space for the new cooktop island bench was the starting point for the whole design.
Leaving the butler’s pantry open draws the eye further into the kitchen, cleverly elongating the space
Key design aspects
Colour palette
Key design aspects
Colour palette
- Whites, timber and texture from the Kit Kat tiles.
- Benchtops in Quantum Quartz stone in Alpine White.
- Timber cabinetry by Laminex and Polytec.
- Kit Kat tiles to the splashback and range hood.
Key fittings and fixtures
Dulux Lexicon Quarter on kitchen walls and butler’s pantry.
- Franke Atlas Neo Swivel Spout tap in brushed nickel from Winning Appliances.
- Restored original timber flooring.
- Matt white Kit Kat tiles from Rivoland.
- Timber shelves from Monaro Timber & Joinery.
- Nexus 10 Narrow Bell pendants from Zest Lighting.
- Artiss Tractor stools from Matt Blatt.
- 1960s vintage ‘Bamba’ print by S Rajko.
Dulux Lexicon Quarter on kitchen walls and butler’s pantry.
Tell us about the curves in the range hood, archway and island
The curves add softness to the space. We added in the arched doorway for the walk-in pantry as there are arches elsewhere in the original house, including in the dining and living rooms. We wanted to carry curves through to the kitchen to create a sense of flow between the rooms.
We chose to echo the curves in the range hood first to create a soft, flowing line that visually connects with the arched doorway to the walk-in pantry.
Curving the stone on the island bench creates a wider walkway between the island and the balustrade on the right-hand side, and it visually connects with the other curves in the space.
The curves add softness to the space. We added in the arched doorway for the walk-in pantry as there are arches elsewhere in the original house, including in the dining and living rooms. We wanted to carry curves through to the kitchen to create a sense of flow between the rooms.
We chose to echo the curves in the range hood first to create a soft, flowing line that visually connects with the arched doorway to the walk-in pantry.
Curving the stone on the island bench creates a wider walkway between the island and the balustrade on the right-hand side, and it visually connects with the other curves in the space.
What was your thinking behind the layout and arrangement of fixtures?
We wanted to create a layout with separate zones for cooking, entertaining and cleaning.
We wanted to create a layout with separate zones for cooking, entertaining and cleaning.
What look and feel did you want to create?
- A crisp, white and clean kitchen that still felt cosy. We achieved this by using a white palette paired with timber finishes and black accents.
- Our intention was to create a space that is simple in design. We didn’t want to overfill it with large items, so we concealed the fridge behind the cooktop wall.
- The finishes are quite minimal but the texture of the tiles, timber flooring and detailing adds depth.
- The curved benchtop and range hood soften the space.
What challenges did you work around?
Our challenge when designing this kitchen was to create as much open space as we could, while keeping the existing footprint of the walls and still having enough functional space to accommodate walking around the island and into the kitchen.
Our challenge when designing this kitchen was to create as much open space as we could, while keeping the existing footprint of the walls and still having enough functional space to accommodate walking around the island and into the kitchen.
Why do you think this room works?
It meets everything in our client’s brief by creating a more functional space and bringing in more natural light.
Your turn
Are you as much of a fan of this simple, curvy kitchen as we are? 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 interior transformations? Take a look at this Before & After: The Radical Rethinking of a Classic Country Home
It meets everything in our client’s brief by creating a more functional space and bringing in more natural light.
Your turn
Are you as much of a fan of this simple, curvy kitchen as we are? 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 interior transformations? Take a look at this Before & After: The Radical Rethinking of a Classic Country Home
Answers by Isabella Cardona, interior designer at ACT Renovations
Who lives here: Two adults and a child
Location: Queanbeyan, NSW
Approximate budget: Around $65,000, including scope of works, finishes and appliances
Room purpose and size: A family/entertainer’s kitchen measuring around 12 square metres
How did your client use Houzz?
Our client looked for kitchen inspiration on Houzz.