The clients for this project live in Adelaide’s inner suburbs in a tranquil 110-year-old villa. As both are involved in design and marketing, they came to us with a vision of what they wanted in their new kitchen and were keen to be heavily involved in the design process. They were adamant that their pride and joy should be anything but mundane or mainstream.

Fortunately, the existing space for the new build and joinery would easily lend itself to the transformation. What they really wanted to do, however, was create an inside/outside living space to make summer entertaining a breeze, quite literally.

Together with the clients, we designed a generous, modern, open-plan entertaining area with a totally timeless feel. The clean lines of the kitchen coupled with effective use of space, muted colour palette and complementary finishes all ensure that it won’t date in a hurry.

It’s the sense of airiness that first strikes you. We maximised the vertical space by installing a floating bulkhead with Cleaf panelling, which creates a distinct and clear delineation between the kitchen and the servery/TV area. Then, a fantastic gas-lift window was added to open the home to the outdoors and create a harmonious link between the two spaces. Finally, there’s a cantilevered benchtop that is truly the hub of the kitchen, when working, eating or entertaining.

It’s the level of detail in the design that truly sets this kitchen apart. The Laminex Contour Finedge doors are finished in two colours: white and moose in a horizontal grain, which, despite its current cachet, is a truly inspired, natural colour that teams beautifully with almost any highlight. Instead of regular handles, minimalist finger grips do their job without drawing attention to themselves. And here’s a great idea: corner drawers, which make the most of a traditionally very inefficient space.

Even the best-laid plans come unstuck, however. When the substrate we originally specified for the bulkhead arrived on site, we discovered major inconsistencies in the product. Facing uncertain quality, we immediately pulled out all stops to find a replacement (the Cleaf product). Despite the delays, the client was thrilled with the end product and our commitment to excellence.

The clients now enjoy entertaining guests in their thrilling new space. Which just goes to show that the quality of the job always remains long after the problems are forgotten.

Winner 2012 HIA South Australian Renovated Kitchen Project Up to $30,000