Stickybeak of the Week: Kitchen Refresh in the Heart of the City
From dark and dated to light and bright, this inner-city Melbourne kitchen received a much-needed refresh for a relaxed look and feel
This small but smart kitchen is a practical and pleasant space, featuring plenty of natural light. It’s perfectly suited to the professional couple living here, who wanted something fresh – just like the food that they enjoy cooking in it; and a relaxed flow – just like their conversations with family and friends.
“This couple love entertaining, travelling and spending time with family and friends,” says Susan Cleveland, senior interior designer at Smarter Kitchens. So armed with the brief “to improve the functionality and lighting of the kitchen and to infuse the clients’ personalities into the renovation,” Cleveland went to work.
“This couple love entertaining, travelling and spending time with family and friends,” says Susan Cleveland, senior interior designer at Smarter Kitchens. So armed with the brief “to improve the functionality and lighting of the kitchen and to infuse the clients’ personalities into the renovation,” Cleveland went to work.
The existing kitchen was dark and dated, with black benchtops and a splashback that visually weighed the space down. The L-shaped bench protruded into the narrow living space, as did the refrigerator, making it difficult to access and work in the kitchen.
The first step saw the complete removal of the existing kitchen – benchtops, joinery and the fridge. Making the most of the open space, the new kitchen now utilises the full length of the wall, with tall cupboards for storage and an integrated fridge. A peninsula island provides an additional benchtop for food preparation, serving and storage without jutting into the now much more open space.
“The new layout created a space that allowed better flow and opened up a relaxed area for conversation and cooking with friends,” says Cleveland.
Arthur round dining table and Johansen side chair: Clickon Furniture; Laya pendant light: About Space
“The new layout created a space that allowed better flow and opened up a relaxed area for conversation and cooking with friends,” says Cleveland.
Arthur round dining table and Johansen side chair: Clickon Furniture; Laya pendant light: About Space
‘Flow’ was an all-important factor in this kitchen, as Gibson is a serious cook and writes her own food blog. “Her food is wholesome with an emphasis on freshness,” says Cleveland. “As a designer with the same interests, I wanted that to be reflected in the look, feel and functionality of the space.”
Working with a such a narrow space, Cleveland says they opted for texture and form over colour. They achieved this by painting the kitchen (in fact, the entire terrace) in Dulux’s ‘Mt. Aspiring’, which also helps lighten and brighten the space.
“We achieved a lot in the budget by keeping the design streamlined,” says Cleveland, “as well as using special finishes on some items, like the handmade tiles and knobs.”
The Interia knobs are handmade from American oak, and are an elegant and playful detail that adds touches of the couple’s personality to the space. The splashback combines white textured tiles from Academy Tiles’ ‘Vibration’ range with Navurban Tablelands veneer accents.
The Interia knobs are handmade from American oak, and are an elegant and playful detail that adds touches of the couple’s personality to the space. The splashback combines white textured tiles from Academy Tiles’ ‘Vibration’ range with Navurban Tablelands veneer accents.
Clean, simple materials – such as the matt white laminate joinery and Essastone Verona Mist benchtops – were chosen for their practicality and longevity in a small space. “They will last well into the future while saving the couple money,” Cleveland explains.
The end result is a bright, modern kitchen that suits the lifestyle of the couple who live here. “Whether it’s for a quick wholesome mid-week meal, or leisurely weekend breakfast, this couple now enjoys seriously good food in a great looking and functional space,” says Cleveland.
TELL US
What do you think of this light/ bright kitchen renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US
What do you think of this light/ bright kitchen renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here: Annie Gibson and Daniel Taylor, and their two dogs Monty and Nala
Location: Port Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 20 square metres
Design, build and decoration: Smarter Kitchens