My client had spent several years modernising their lovely family home with beautiful results and now wanted the kitchen to be renovated to match the rest of the home. The kitchen, at the rear of the bungalow, sits under a sloping ceiling. It had very old fittings, poor, unreachable storage, and appliances that required replacement.

The brief was to organize and create a central hub for the family with modern finishes that would enhance the home and create an enjoyable kitchen to work in, with an outlook to the garden. New appliances, including a larger fridge-freezer, and a large skylight centred above the kitchen were to be incorporated into the new design. Also, better, more accessible storage, including a mixture of quality materials, textures and fittings to achieve a beautiful and functional space.

To create a more practical cooking area and increase storage along the back wall of the kitchen, the southeast-facing window that looked out towards the neighbours was removed, as the new skylight and the existing bi-folding windows would still allow plenty of natural light to flood into the kitchen. A bulkhead was built above the full-height cabinetry that met the sloping ceiling, which helps define the kitchen zone. The overall colour palette was softened, which included adding a mix of stained timber veneer and white cabinetry. New, open shelving, painted in a metallic finish provides visual interest and allows for lighting spots that aid the ambience in the new kitchen. The unused window seat was removed and the existing solid Matai floor was refurbished and a new stain finish applied. A discoloured blackboard that was located next to the fridge (which lined the back of the laundry wall) was removed and a fake panel of matching cabinetry added.

The new kitchen provides two, much-needed pantry storage areas, which are both easily accessible – one is an on-bench area for everyday small appliances and another, a tall sliding pantry that contains general food storage. The mix of textures – the timber veneer, the subtle veining of the benchtop and splashback, and the metallic paint highlights – add a sophisticated finish and aesthetic to the kitchen that compliments the surrounding rooms. The clean lines of the bulkhead define and contain these contrasting surfaces. The addition of cupboards at the front of the island, in lieu of the previous unused seating, has given the much-needed storage required. The veneer finish that continues along the fridge wall cleverly disguises the laundry wall, making the kitchen appear seamless. Lighting the open shelves adds a metallic glow and a beautiful ambience to the kitchen.

The client is absolutely thrilled with the results and loves her new fresh kitchen.