Room Of The Week
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Room of the Week: The Little Kitchen That Could
A tactile kitchen that would accommodate the specific needs of their youngest child was just what this mum dreamed of
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Brief
When we began this journey with our architect, Emma, our guiding thought was that it needed to be a house that could be properly lived in, without compromising on the look or feel of the spaces. I love a layered home that captures feelings and memories from time spent together, so incorporating hard-wearing materials such as metals and stone was a fundamental factor, as they get more exciting with age, depicting a life well-travelled.
I wanted our children to have space and security, and as much freedom as possible to build their independence, especially our little guy, Kyan, who has a genetic condition causing global developmental delays.
When we began this journey with our architect, Emma, our guiding thought was that it needed to be a house that could be properly lived in, without compromising on the look or feel of the spaces. I love a layered home that captures feelings and memories from time spent together, so incorporating hard-wearing materials such as metals and stone was a fundamental factor, as they get more exciting with age, depicting a life well-travelled.
I wanted our children to have space and security, and as much freedom as possible to build their independence, especially our little guy, Kyan, who has a genetic condition causing global developmental delays.
Starting point
Our design journey began in the heart of the home, our kitchen. We had to challenge how the traditional kitchen space was used without compromising on the design or function of the space. Our main aim was keeping our son (and my favourite dinnerware) safe.
Our design journey began in the heart of the home, our kitchen. We had to challenge how the traditional kitchen space was used without compromising on the design or function of the space. Our main aim was keeping our son (and my favourite dinnerware) safe.
For us this meant incorporating some sort of sliding door system that would restrict access to the gas cooktop, kitchen sink and dishwasher while also allowing ventilation and visibility… the perforated metal sliding panel door was born. This door became the hero of our space and every hero needs a kick-arse uniform, right? We opted for mild-steel, tough but beautiful.
The chain curtains are a KriskaDecor product from Spain, purchased through ChainCraft.
We also needed a window hanging that would not obstruct our view of the Gateway Bridge or the kids playing outside; it had to be a material that would not show dirty handprints and one that could disappear to the outer edges and allow us to fully open our sliding door. The brass chain curtains are one of my favourite additions to our home as they are one of those shapeshifting pieces that change the feeling of our space depending on whether they are fully open, if it’s a windy day or sunny. They also fulfilled my desire for a resilient product that could handle the rough and tumble of everyday life and not break a nail.
But, the pure magic of our chain curtains is the sensory experience they provide for our little boy, the soft tinkling in the breeze, the feeling of the chains as they cascade over you as you walk inside and out, and the dappled shadow and light effects that constantly shift across the floor… Our little girl and her visiting friends are huge fans, too, they love playing among them, imagining they are swimming in a sea of gold.
We also needed a window hanging that would not obstruct our view of the Gateway Bridge or the kids playing outside; it had to be a material that would not show dirty handprints and one that could disappear to the outer edges and allow us to fully open our sliding door. The brass chain curtains are one of my favourite additions to our home as they are one of those shapeshifting pieces that change the feeling of our space depending on whether they are fully open, if it’s a windy day or sunny. They also fulfilled my desire for a resilient product that could handle the rough and tumble of everyday life and not break a nail.
But, the pure magic of our chain curtains is the sensory experience they provide for our little boy, the soft tinkling in the breeze, the feeling of the chains as they cascade over you as you walk inside and out, and the dappled shadow and light effects that constantly shift across the floor… Our little girl and her visiting friends are huge fans, too, they love playing among them, imagining they are swimming in a sea of gold.
Materials palette: The materials palette in the kitchen reflects the choices made throughout our house: brushed brass, steel, timber, brick, Azul Aran granite.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings: An Ilve Nostalgie double oven, cooktop and canopy range hood in matt black and chrome, Buster and Punch brushed-brass hardware from Living Edge. Brodware Yakato tapware in brushed brass.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings: An Ilve Nostalgie double oven, cooktop and canopy range hood in matt black and chrome, Buster and Punch brushed-brass hardware from Living Edge. Brodware Yakato tapware in brushed brass.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
The perforated sliding door was a must-have element in our kitchen. In previous designs (we had employed an architect previously who struggled to unlock our vision) the functionality or space was always compromised, but Emma created this seamless approach allowing the sliding door to be on display rather than trying to hide it away, and we tucked the laundry in behind the kitchen, galley-style.
It also allowed us to have a moveable and visible calendar of events as artwork, notes, appointment letters could be affixed through the perforated holes on the screen.
The perforated sliding door was a must-have element in our kitchen. In previous designs (we had employed an architect previously who struggled to unlock our vision) the functionality or space was always compromised, but Emma created this seamless approach allowing the sliding door to be on display rather than trying to hide it away, and we tucked the laundry in behind the kitchen, galley-style.
It also allowed us to have a moveable and visible calendar of events as artwork, notes, appointment letters could be affixed through the perforated holes on the screen.
Challenges you worked around
The first challenge I faced with our sliding door was finding a supplier who was prepared to think outside the box and challenge how mild steel was typically used. I was facing rejection as mild steel is not typically an interior material because of its potential to corrode and release small particles of rust into the air. Luckily I happened upon Debbie at Urban Metal on my third phone call. She was excited at the sound of our project and immediately set about finding techniques we could employ to make it safe for use in our family home and kitchen space.
The mild steel was left to weather to develop a rusted finish before being hand-sanded and lightly polished in a random format to bring areas of the screen back to the raw mild steel look that I love – those beautiful dark blue-ish tones that are oh so sigh-worthy.
A clear powder coat was applied to stop the screen from rusting/developing further. The panels were then mounted on a mild steel frame powder coated in Dulux ‘Black Ace’ and attached with decorative brass screws so there were no sharp edges where the perforations met the framework.
Together we devised the best size holes for little fingers to enjoy poking through (something my son likes to do) without getting stuck, and to allow visibility so as not to shrink the space, as it is a long narrow kitchen.
The first challenge I faced with our sliding door was finding a supplier who was prepared to think outside the box and challenge how mild steel was typically used. I was facing rejection as mild steel is not typically an interior material because of its potential to corrode and release small particles of rust into the air. Luckily I happened upon Debbie at Urban Metal on my third phone call. She was excited at the sound of our project and immediately set about finding techniques we could employ to make it safe for use in our family home and kitchen space.
The mild steel was left to weather to develop a rusted finish before being hand-sanded and lightly polished in a random format to bring areas of the screen back to the raw mild steel look that I love – those beautiful dark blue-ish tones that are oh so sigh-worthy.
A clear powder coat was applied to stop the screen from rusting/developing further. The panels were then mounted on a mild steel frame powder coated in Dulux ‘Black Ace’ and attached with decorative brass screws so there were no sharp edges where the perforations met the framework.
Together we devised the best size holes for little fingers to enjoy poking through (something my son likes to do) without getting stuck, and to allow visibility so as not to shrink the space, as it is a long narrow kitchen.
We loved the screens so much we found other uses for them in our home including cupboard doors and artwork for walls.
Why do you think this room works?
I think it works so well because it is a simple, uncomplicated space that boasts personality. It reflects who we are as a family – tough but soft around the edges; we scrub up alright but the lines on our faces and scars on our bodies show us who we are and where we have been… that is this kitchen.
I think it works so well because it is a simple, uncomplicated space that boasts personality. It reflects who we are as a family – tough but soft around the edges; we scrub up alright but the lines on our faces and scars on our bodies show us who we are and where we have been… that is this kitchen.
From the softness of the Legato laminate cupboards in Silk from Polytec, to the finely etched Buster and Punch knobs/handles and cool perforated metal screen, our kitchen is a tactile experience; people walk into our home and feel the need to reach out and touch things around them – which I love! It takes your senses on a journey, just like great food and wine.
Tell us
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join the conversation.
More
Want more great design? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: Tailored Kitchen Delivers a Vision in Soft Blue
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join the conversation.
More
Want more great design? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: Tailored Kitchen Delivers a Vision in Soft Blue
Who lives here: Designer Kylie Burger, her partner and two young children
Location: Balmoral, Queensland
Room size: A 22-square-metre kitchen
Professionals who worked on the kitchen: Architect Emma James from Twohill and James, builder Andrew Sutcliffe from Sutcom Construction Group and Debbie Bauer from Urban Metal.