What kind of kitchen befits a landmark? When our Nathan walked up to the front door of Louise & Stephen’s home for the first time, he recognised it instantly. It’s the kind of building that always stands out: a beautiful bluestone two-storey edifice on a prominent corner in Norwood, built in 1857. This glorious remnant of Adelaide’s history deep in the heart of Redlegs territory was first a pub, then a boarding house before it was converted into a gracious home. Intimidating? Just a little.

Fortunately, the owners aren’t. Louise & Stephen are the friendly, gregarious kind of people who love to entertain family and friends. And Louise loves to cook. But despite the renovations over the years, their landmark home still bore the burden of its past. The old pub layout had a tiny kitchen that was the weak facet of this gem. And Nathan couldn’t wait to make it sparkle.

The trick with this one was always going to be about reconciling the building’s past with its future; obeying the understandably strict regulations without compromising the home’s utility, along with the wants and needs of its owners. Wisely, Louise & Stephen recognise they are the custodians of a rich heritage. Their brief was both reassuringly restrained and exciting.

So, what were they after? When Nathan asked them what works well in their current kitchen, the answer came back very quickly: very little. And that’s not surprising given that it sat at a crossroad with four doorways coming in and out. Yes, four! That meant the only bench space for the whole kitchen was 60 centimetres long, or just two feet in the old money. Imagine trying to prepare a meal for 40 people with that (as they do twice a year). And, by the way, the kitchen had no rangehood. So, you’d better like the smell of what you’ve just cooked.

Given that, it’s not hard to imagine what they were after: as they said, bench space, bench space and more bench space, quickly followed by storage and more storage. We got it; we got it. Ideally, it had to be a place where two or three people could cook in comfort without tripping over each other and be able to hold a conversation with other guests, who could sit in an adjacent area and savour the feast being prepared over a convivial glass. (It is an ex-pub, after all.)

What this space had going for it was that whilst it was in the original part of the house, it abutted (albeit, through a wall) a contemporary metal-clad extension with lots of glass that overlooks the garden. Being able to join all those dots was going to be tricky but very rewarding. As for style, they really wanted a modern kitchen. But, in saying that, it had to respect the history of the building, and then give a nod to the character and warmth of its pub origins. And, speaking of history, there were the inevitable heritage regulations limiting what could be done structurally. Quick: call the ‘kitchen whisperer’.

First, our congratulations to Violi, Louise & Stephen’s builders, who did a great job blending all the new additions with the existing dwelling. We were very happy to work hand-in-gloved-hand with these fellow craftsmen. Due to the heritage regulations, some structures remained sacrosanct and the layout naturally had to take its form around them. Fortunately, we were allowed the critical freedom of blocking up three doors and opening the fourth wall to reveal the great glassed addition that leads to the great outdoors. With the kitchen space thus secured, as well as made larger, lighter and more workable, our plan could reveal itself.

Louise & Stephen had warned against anything too shiny or too clinical, and the benchtop was definitely to be a workhorse rather than a show pony. (We eventually settled on Caesarstone.) So, early on, Nathan conceived an earthy, industrial vibe with materials that would complement the resplendent red-brick quoin work and the burnished concrete flooring to offer continuity with the rest of the living space. But if that sounds heavy, dark or unhomely, you don’t know Nathan.

The overall design is clean, sleek and clutter-free with the rangehood concealed within the cabinetry and ducted through the side wall, the dishwasher built to emulate a cupboard and a large appliance nook that includes a space for the microwave hidden behind Hettich Wingline bi-fold doors with custom timber handles made from wormy chestnut (also on the pantry next-door).

The cabinetry is finished in White Cotton satin-finish two-pack paint, relieved by the warmth of V-groove panelling below, reminiscent of the kind originally used in homes of that era. Storage? Given that there can never be enough, especially for Louise & Stephen, we’ve certainly delivered as much as the space could yield. And then some. This includes overheads that reach to the ceiling and a walk-in pantry with a sensor light fitted to the door. Nathan cleverly designed the pantry to make use of a tricky corner space: with the oven to right, only the left-hand door actually opens.

Given its origins as a junction of four walkways, this was certainly a tricky little space to conquer. But that just demanded a bit more thought. And we revel in these kinds of challenges. One of the highlights is the central and integral dining table that makes that social link Louise & Stephen desired, effectively extending the kitchen towards the outdoor entertaining area.

Apart from the V-groove panelling, the other retro nicety is the steel supports for the table and the open shelving frame, which are a throw-back to the kind of blacksmithing that would have been prevalent when the home was built. Ours, however, are powder-coated in Monument to match the colour of the new steel framework on the doors.

One of the quirks of the kitchen is that it packs two separate sinks (one for food preparation and the other for washing up) along with two 600-millimetre ovens. No longer do they have to cook for a multitude by performing the miracle of the loaves and the fishes on two feet of bench space.

Now they’ve had a chance to enjoy their new surrounds, the final verdict has come back from Louise: “Thanks to you, Nathan and team for delivering us not just a great kitchen, but a beautiful space that has changed the way we live in our home.” And that makes all the hard work worth it.