Stickybeak of the Week: A Kitchen to Melt Kermit the Frog's Heart
Despite popular opinion, it's actually easy being green, as this fresh and colourful kitchen proves
Rebecca Gross
7 February 2016
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Many may remember the famous muppet, Kermit, singing: “Green can be big like a mountain, or important like a river, or tall like a tree.” Kitchen designers SpaceCraft Joinery proves green can also be retro and fresh, as seen in this vibrant Adelaide kitchen.
Carried out on a tight budget and satisfying the clients’ love of bright colours, this renovation transformed a formerly poky kitchen into a generous space for cooking up family meals. The colourful and highly functional kitchen is now a vibrant and relaxing space for family and friends that owners Simon and Ruth King say is “the hub of the home”.
Carried out on a tight budget and satisfying the clients’ love of bright colours, this renovation transformed a formerly poky kitchen into a generous space for cooking up family meals. The colourful and highly functional kitchen is now a vibrant and relaxing space for family and friends that owners Simon and Ruth King say is “the hub of the home”.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Ruth and Simon King, their two children, a turtle, Hazel, and cat, Monty
Location: Croydon Park, South Australia
Size: 25 square metres
Design and decoration: Ellen and Nathan Wundersitz, SpaceCraft Joinery
The Kings’ bright and bold California Bungalow had a cute but nevertheless tiny little kitchen. Needing more space for their growing family, the couple worked with Ellen and Nathan Wundersitz at SpaceCraft Joinery to renovate and extend the back of their home. They knocked down a lean-to and built a rear extension to create a new open-plan kitchen, living and dining space.
Who lives here: Ruth and Simon King, their two children, a turtle, Hazel, and cat, Monty
Location: Croydon Park, South Australia
Size: 25 square metres
Design and decoration: Ellen and Nathan Wundersitz, SpaceCraft Joinery
The Kings’ bright and bold California Bungalow had a cute but nevertheless tiny little kitchen. Needing more space for their growing family, the couple worked with Ellen and Nathan Wundersitz at SpaceCraft Joinery to renovate and extend the back of their home. They knocked down a lean-to and built a rear extension to create a new open-plan kitchen, living and dining space.
Wanting to still retain the character and style of the bungalow kitchen, the designers amplified the original 1950s styling with a verdant green and white palette, and added curved detailing above the open shelves.
Cabinets painted in ‘Zatar Leaf’ P23G8: Dulux
More on California bungalow style
Cabinets painted in ‘Zatar Leaf’ P23G8: Dulux
More on California bungalow style
The new kitchen replicates the cabinetry of the old one, with character coming from open shelving and curved details. A double ceramic sink, Pacini oven and Miele dishwasher, along with cleverly concealed pull-out recycling bins, make for an up-to-date and functional space despite the retro styling.
Oven: Pacini; refrigerator/freezer: Fisher and Paykel; dishwasher: Miele
Oven: Pacini; refrigerator/freezer: Fisher and Paykel; dishwasher: Miele
To stay within budget, the clients painted the MDF doors and framework themselves after the installation. Each cabinet is finished with a flourish, namely a bespoke ceramic flower-shaped handle. “It takes a lot of care and attention to detail in order to blend the old with the new in this seamless fashion,” says Ellen.
Ceramic bespoke handles in rose and white: Stepneys
More handles and knobs
Ceramic bespoke handles in rose and white: Stepneys
More handles and knobs
“It is a very individual, eccentric and homey kitchen that really harks back to the origins of the bungalow, but with all the mod cons of a newer more modern kitchen,” the designer adds.
A tiled splashback with a horizontal band of white, lime green and apple green glass tiles mediates the space between the upper and lower cabinetry. Displayed in open storage above the bench, Simon and Ruth’s collection of retro canisters and other useful yet decorative items are well suited to the look of the new kitchen.
Olive green marble benchtop: Adelaide Marble; Domsjo double bowl kitchen sink: Ikea; tiled splashback: Beaumont Tiles; Polo sink mixer: Hansa
Olive green marble benchtop: Adelaide Marble; Domsjo double bowl kitchen sink: Ikea; tiled splashback: Beaumont Tiles; Polo sink mixer: Hansa
A marble benchtop in olive green provides Ruth with the space she needs for baking and making what Ellen describes as “delights such as apricot jam, lemon butter and her legendary onion jam”.
It takes confidence to go green, but just like Kermit said – and this vibrant kitchen shows – “it’s beautiful, and I think it’s what I want to be”.
DESIGNER’S TIP: If you are thinking about going green, keep these tips from Nathan in mind: “Pick your green carefully as different shades will each produce a very different look and feel. Brighter, lighter greens are more vibrant (and are associated with growth and vitality), while darker, richer greens are more grand and subdued (and represent prestige, wealth and abundance).”
TELL US
How have you made over your kitchen? Show us by posting photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Colour-Blocking in the Kitchen
Colour Lessons From Nature: Glorious Green
Stickybeak of the Week: A Retro-Country Kitchen Mash-Up
It takes confidence to go green, but just like Kermit said – and this vibrant kitchen shows – “it’s beautiful, and I think it’s what I want to be”.
DESIGNER’S TIP: If you are thinking about going green, keep these tips from Nathan in mind: “Pick your green carefully as different shades will each produce a very different look and feel. Brighter, lighter greens are more vibrant (and are associated with growth and vitality), while darker, richer greens are more grand and subdued (and represent prestige, wealth and abundance).”
TELL US
How have you made over your kitchen? Show us by posting photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Colour-Blocking in the Kitchen
Colour Lessons From Nature: Glorious Green
Stickybeak of the Week: A Retro-Country Kitchen Mash-Up
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Love the look. But, who can reach those upper cabinets??
The title is so funny!! Love it!!