Room of the Week: A Pale Pink Mid-Century Kitchen Full of Charm
This $20,000 revamp delivered an utterly individual mid-century kitchen, packed full of practical features
Vanessa Walker
26 April 2018
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.
Photos by Josie Withers
Styling by Emily O’Brien
Answers by Ellen Wundersitz general manager, SpaceCraft Joinery
Who lives here: A couple and their cat
Location: West Beach, SA
Room purpose: A combined kitchen, dining and living area
Styling by Emily O’Brien
Answers by Ellen Wundersitz general manager, SpaceCraft Joinery
Who lives here: A couple and their cat
Location: West Beach, SA
Room purpose: A combined kitchen, dining and living area
Overview
The couple lives in a mid-century home that is designed in a U-shape around a courtyard and pool. When we visited for the first time (to consult with them on a new kitchen), we were knocked out by the home’s curvaceous confidence and sassy use of colour, including the grand, curved entrance hall, which is painted in a soft pink.
In keeping with the mid-century-modern vibe of the couple’s home, their carefully collected pieces from that period and their love for the colour pink, we created a very subtle solution that maximised the utility and minimised the fuss in a unique kitchen design for this small space.
The couple lives in a mid-century home that is designed in a U-shape around a courtyard and pool. When we visited for the first time (to consult with them on a new kitchen), we were knocked out by the home’s curvaceous confidence and sassy use of colour, including the grand, curved entrance hall, which is painted in a soft pink.
In keeping with the mid-century-modern vibe of the couple’s home, their carefully collected pieces from that period and their love for the colour pink, we created a very subtle solution that maximised the utility and minimised the fuss in a unique kitchen design for this small space.
The curved entrance hall
Brief
This is a mid-century home and for the kitchen the owners wanted something different. They wanted:
This is a mid-century home and for the kitchen the owners wanted something different. They wanted:
- The kitchen to be in keeping with the mid-century vibe of the home, as well as existing mid-century pieces
- The inclusion of pink without overdoing it
- Black shadow-line detail
- Open shelving to display special items
- An integrated fridge and microwave
- Laminate tops with timber edging (with the edge polished clear)
- LED strip lighting in warm white on the underside of overheads for task illumination
- Curved open shelving on the end of the island bench to mirror the curves in the home’s entrance and create a retro feel, plus a special place for displaying items
- Blackwood custom timber knobs from Auburn Woodturning
- Corner pull-out/lazy Susan for maximisation of corner cupboard space
Starting point
The home has a curved feature entrance wall that is painted pink – and was the inspiration for the kitchen design. The couple has lots of groovy mid-century furniture, hence the new joinery needed to work in with their existing pieces (so we colour-matched timber to the existing furniture as well as architraves).
The home has a curved feature entrance wall that is painted pink – and was the inspiration for the kitchen design. The couple has lots of groovy mid-century furniture, hence the new joinery needed to work in with their existing pieces (so we colour-matched timber to the existing furniture as well as architraves).
Key design aspects
Colour palette: White, timber (mid-century toned) and pastel pink (including the grout between the white tiles).
Colour palette: White, timber (mid-century toned) and pastel pink (including the grout between the white tiles).
Materials palette: The Polyrey laminate is in a delightful blush called ‘Rose Petal’. This was also linked to the soft pink grout used for the splashbacks (in a 50 x 50 millimetre tile from Artedomus). Mostly the cabinetry and benchtop surfaces are white and edged in blackwood, a favourite timber with furniture makers in the 1970s.
The same timber was used to create custom door knobs, fashioned by Auburn Woodturning, and in the uprights for the curved open shelving on the end of the island benches.
It’s a romantic retro influence that riffs on the home’s original architecture. The base cabinet fronts and laminated benchtops were cost-effective choices to keep within client budget.
The same timber was used to create custom door knobs, fashioned by Auburn Woodturning, and in the uprights for the curved open shelving on the end of the island benches.
It’s a romantic retro influence that riffs on the home’s original architecture. The base cabinet fronts and laminated benchtops were cost-effective choices to keep within client budget.
To keep this compact kitchen calm and collected, the fridge and microwave are both integrated into the joinery and hidden behind fascias, and there’s a corner cupboard with a lazy Susan pull-out to store the small appliances when not in use. The one visible appliance, the groovy SMEG Victoria retro range that Olivia chose, settles very nicely into its surrounds.
Challenges you worked around
For us, the most important constraint was that the space we had to deal with was long and rectangular, and would incorporate both the dining and living areas. The kitchen, therefore, needed to be relatively compact and meticulously planned. There was also a limited budget (under $20,000).
For us, the most important constraint was that the space we had to deal with was long and rectangular, and would incorporate both the dining and living areas. The kitchen, therefore, needed to be relatively compact and meticulously planned. There was also a limited budget (under $20,000).
Why do you think this room works?
It’s in keeping with the home’s era, the couple’s existing furniture and is quirky and unique, just like its owners.
It’s in keeping with the home’s era, the couple’s existing furniture and is quirky and unique, just like its owners.
Tell us
What do you love about this room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join in the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Minimalist Kitchen Made Good
What do you love about this room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join in the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Minimalist Kitchen Made Good
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One of the most beautiful, yet simple, period style kitchens I have seen... thank you for sharing it here.
Would enjoy seeing the rest of the home!
Time warp design! They've certianly taken an authentic approach. It's sweet as...but at 6' 2" I'd hate trying to retrieve my T.V. dinner from that underbench, upside-down cupboard-doored Microwave. Hang on.... microwave... mid century ?