Before & After: Barn Style Meets the Beach in a Kitchen Makeover
Coastal style, colour contrasts and the owners' joyful personalities were key ingredients in this kitchen transformation
Julia Fairley
27 September 2021
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
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 Michael Conroy, Silvertone Photography.
Answers by Kerrie Richardson, lead designer, Lux Interiors.
Styling by Emily Nelson, Lux Interiors.
Building by Lux Interiors.
Who lives here: A couple with a one-year-old
Location: North Beach, WA
Room purpose and size: A family kitchen measuring 36 square metres
Budget: This was part of a larger home renovation, the total price of which was approximately $330,000.
Answers by Kerrie Richardson, lead designer, Lux Interiors.
Styling by Emily Nelson, Lux Interiors.
Building by Lux Interiors.
Who lives here: A couple with a one-year-old
Location: North Beach, WA
Room purpose and size: A family kitchen measuring 36 square metres
Budget: This was part of a larger home renovation, the total price of which was approximately $330,000.
Brief
The client came to us wanting a coastal barn-style home to enjoy and for their children to grow up in. The kitchen was a large part of this home renovation. The client wanted a space that truly was the heart of the home – where the family would spend most of their time – to cook, eat, entertain, work, play and relax in.
The client came to us wanting a coastal barn-style home to enjoy and for their children to grow up in. The kitchen was a large part of this home renovation. The client wanted a space that truly was the heart of the home – where the family would spend most of their time – to cook, eat, entertain, work, play and relax in.
The kitchen before works
What was the original kitchen like?
Previously, this large room had the kitchen squished into the corner, with a small island bench. It lacked bench space around the cooktop and did not utilise the room to its potential.
There was also a corner display unit that wasn’t used often and became wasted space. The existing walk-in pantry was poorly laid out with open-shelf storage that butted into the tall cabinets.
What was the original kitchen like?
Previously, this large room had the kitchen squished into the corner, with a small island bench. It lacked bench space around the cooktop and did not utilise the room to its potential.
There was also a corner display unit that wasn’t used often and became wasted space. The existing walk-in pantry was poorly laid out with open-shelf storage that butted into the tall cabinets.
The kitchen before works
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- They wanted to utilise the room better and extend the size of the kitchen to fit the room.
- A large island bench, with no need for a dining table due to an undercover alfresco seating area.
- More bench space.
- They wished to channel coastal barn style, which is light and bright, with elements of brass.
The new floor plan
Starting point
The inspiration for this space was the relaxed, sun-filled coastal lifestyle. The space also needed to reflect the owners’ personalities, being warm, kind and full of joy. This is where the warm, deep timber detailing came in and the touches of luxurious brass hardware.
Starting point
The inspiration for this space was the relaxed, sun-filled coastal lifestyle. The space also needed to reflect the owners’ personalities, being warm, kind and full of joy. This is where the warm, deep timber detailing came in and the touches of luxurious brass hardware.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Colour palette:
- White, grey, pink, brass and black.
Materials palette:
- Timber.
- Stone.
- Porcelain.
- Brass.
- VJ-groove panelling.
- Styling also brought in raw natural materials such as organic pottery vases, wicker rattan balls, and plants for some greenery.
Browse more beautiful kitchens by Australian designers
Key pieces of fixtures/fittings and appliances:
- Bianco Calacatta silk-finish six-millimetre splashback and 12-millimetre benchtop from Lusso Group.
- VJ-groove Polytec Calcutta panelled cabinetry in Dulux White on White satin finish.
- Polytec Florentine Walnut Woodmatt floating shelves.
- Falcon Classic Deluxe 110-centimetre Dual Fuel Range Cooker in black and brass.
- Fisher & Paykel Freestanding Quad Door 605-litre fridge and freezer with ice and water from Hart & Co.
- Asko XXL fully integrated dishwasher from Hart & Co.
- Vintec 100-bottle bar fridge in black glass from Hart & Co.
- Turner Hastings Novi Fine Fireclay Butler Sink and brushed-brass basket waste, both from Sea of White.
- Abey’s Gareth Ashton range Lucia Goose Sidelever Mixer from Hart & Co.
What led you to add the trio of chandeliers?
The pendant lights were selected to add a coastal element that softens the large, uninterrupted island bench.
The pendant lights were selected to add a coastal element that softens the large, uninterrupted island bench.
And the panelled cabinetry?
We selected the VJ-groove panelling as it exemplified the coastal aesthetic we wanted to achieve, while being a subtle and refined feature in the space.
We selected the VJ-groove panelling as it exemplified the coastal aesthetic we wanted to achieve, while being a subtle and refined feature in the space.
Tell us about the bar area
Previously there was a weird tall cabinet in this corner that didn’t work in the space. We didn’t want to leave the area blank or unused, so we thought it would perfectly complement a bar area that is central to the entertaining spaces.
Previously there was a weird tall cabinet in this corner that didn’t work in the space. We didn’t want to leave the area blank or unused, so we thought it would perfectly complement a bar area that is central to the entertaining spaces.
The kitchen before works
What challenges did you work around?
A stand-out element is the freestanding black Falcon cooker with added bench space and overhead storage. The challenge here was to remove the hidden chimney that was previously above the stovetop, and build in an uprise behind the cooker so it could sit forward rather than recessed to the wall.
What challenges did you work around?
A stand-out element is the freestanding black Falcon cooker with added bench space and overhead storage. The challenge here was to remove the hidden chimney that was previously above the stovetop, and build in an uprise behind the cooker so it could sit forward rather than recessed to the wall.
This meant that the cabinetry and benchtop could be brought forward in line with the pillars that frame the space. It also allowed us to make the overhead cabinets deeper, at 500 millimetres, for plenty more storage.
Why did you choose the freestanding cooker?
The freestanding cooker was the centrepiece that breaks up all the white cabinetry. We selected the black as a bold contrast that catches the eye immediately and demands attention.
The freestanding cooker was the centrepiece that breaks up all the white cabinetry. We selected the black as a bold contrast that catches the eye immediately and demands attention.
Why do you think this room works?
I feel we achieved the perfect balance in this kitchen with the intention of having little overhead cabinets and no tall cabinets in the main kitchen space. This design decision makes the kitchen feel spacious and inviting but also a sense of calm as it’s simple but effective.
We transformed this kitchen to utilise the full room, introducing an abundance of bench space and more storage. It now features a large island bench, complete with storage on three sides, which doubles as a dining table, given the home’s complete alfresco dining area.
Your turn
Which elements in this kitchen do you love? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more beachy-keen kitchen transformations? You’ll love this Room of the Week: An Expansive Coastal Kitchen’s Bright Rebirth
I feel we achieved the perfect balance in this kitchen with the intention of having little overhead cabinets and no tall cabinets in the main kitchen space. This design decision makes the kitchen feel spacious and inviting but also a sense of calm as it’s simple but effective.
We transformed this kitchen to utilise the full room, introducing an abundance of bench space and more storage. It now features a large island bench, complete with storage on three sides, which doubles as a dining table, given the home’s complete alfresco dining area.
Your turn
Which elements in this kitchen do you love? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more beachy-keen kitchen transformations? You’ll love this Room of the Week: An Expansive Coastal Kitchen’s Bright Rebirth
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It certainly looks lovely but having the fridge in the butlers pantry cant be very practical
What is the flooring please?