A modern kitchen for a cottage with character and a kitty.
Price guide*: $45K - $50K
SpecificationsCarcase/Internals: Melamine high moisture resistant interiors/shelving by Polytec (BORG) White16mm Polytec (BORG) ABS edge for carcase in ‘Kalamata’. Door/Drawer/Panel/Kicker: Tall & base joinery, infills, panels & kickers by Redwood Kalamata, Satin finish 18mm by Redwood colour matched to Laminex Kalamata. Door/Drawer/Panel/Kicker: Overhead joinery & panels by Redwood Dulux Ellen, Satin finish 18mm by Redwood colour matched to Dulux Ellen. Drawer Hardware: Legrabox soft close drawers by BLUM Silk white by FHS. Drawer Hardware: Legrabox soft close inner drawer by BLUM Silk white by FHS above pull out bin. Top: Benchtops with under mount sink & std cooktop cut out Smartstone Calacatta Viola 20mm pencil round edge detail by Ideal Stone. Top: 920mm high benchtops. Kickers: 135mm. Hardware/Wireware: Blum HK Lift up BLUM Aventos HK lift up by FHS above fridge, push to open access. Hardware/Wireware: SIGE Pull out pantry, 5 Baskets by Wilson & Bradley SWPP200 200mm wide Wilson & Bradley. Hardware/Wireware: Wing line bi-fold door to microwave cavity Hettich by FHS. Hinges: Soft close BLUM by FHS. Handles: Custom timber handles Hira with curved ends by Auburn Raw, painted to Dulux Ellen Satin finish 50mm by Auburn. Handles: Push to open on overhead joinery BLUM. Waste Management: Wesco pull out bin 40L x 20L by Wilson & Bradley WBPB4560 by Wilson & Bradley Cutlery Inserts: Ambia-Line cutlery insert BLUM Grey by FHS. Oven: 600mm underbench oven Fisher & Paykel OB60SM16PLB1598mm x 596mm x565mm. RH ducting: Abey Horizontal Ducting Kit Abey RHH6 150mm. Cooktop: Natural Gas cooktop 600mm Fisher & Paykel CG604DNGGB4 530mm x 600mm. Rangehood: 600mm undermount black rangehood Schweigen BGUM6B 98mm x 292mm x 306mm. Microwave: LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter 1000W MicrowaveLG MS2336DB 476mm x 272mm x 370mm. Dishwasher: Integrated tall single dishdrawer Fisher & Paykel DD60STI9 454mm x 599mm x 571mm Fridge: Integrated bottom mount fridge Miele KFNS7734D. Sink: Vita double kitchen sink ABI Brushed brass- 10350 760mm x 450mm under mount installation. Shelving: Feature curved overhead shelving by Redwood Dulux Ellen, Satin finish 18mm by Redwood colour matched to Dulux Ellen. Tapware: Elysian kitchen mixer tap by ABI Brushed brass – 10357 372mm high Splashback: Upstand/hob 100mm x 150mm & part splash back with curve end – 2 x GPO cut outs Smart Stone Calacatta Viola 20mm pencil round edge by Ideal Stone. Splashback: Tile splash back Rosetta Penny round from Perini Blush, T39251 Sheet size 287 x 305. Flooring: Existing floor boards. Lighting: LED Strip lighting to underside of overhead joinery AllegraNatural white by FHS Switch to underside of overheads. Other: Shadow line by Laminex Brushed brass melamine 16mm Laminex. Other Feature: Full bullnose pelmet to overhead joinery Dulux Ellen, Satin finish 50mm, Full bullnose colour matched to Dulux Ellen.
*Price guide includes: cabinetry and tops. Exclusions: appliances, tiling, electrical and plumbing.
...Her aim was to complement the age of the home but introduce a modern look with improved functionality...
Fiona bought her stylish character home in Stepney early 2024 and moved here from Queensland in April for work. Dating back to 1895, it came with plenty of charm such as wooden floorboards, lead light windows, a burgundy veranda, and several open fireplaces. The kitchen, however, was in desperate need of some love and personality.
Her aim was to complement the age of the home but introduce a modern look with improved functionality. Ideally, this would include a significant infusion of colour, texture and fun, plus a banquette seating area opposite for dining space. Fiona shares her home with Lucy the cat and some beloved artwork, neither of which were to be ignored when brainstorming ideas.
Being a relatively small space, designer Jessie knew that creative solutions were not only a desire but also a must if they were going to increase storage in a single run kitchen. Open shelving. Higher and deeper benchtops. Overhead storage. Yes, to all these suggestions. And to integrated appliances so it’s clean and un-cluttered.
With a palette of pinks, mustards, deep reds and deep greens also on the agenda, Jessie knew she was in for some fun incorporating them into upholstery, 2pac painted fronts, feature handles, stone tops, an upstand, and a textural splash back.
Final considerations before getting to work: LED lighting, brass elements and curves.
...This reno ensured it’s not just the cat who got the cream....
Fiona ended up with a space to cook and entertain that’s loaded with light, colour and personality befitting of the character house in which it sits.
A single run kitchen will always provide the challenge of balancing functionality with the visually pleasing. Jessie got the balance just right by integrating the fridge and dishwasher and concealing the microwave away and off the benchtop for a clutter free environment.Even the bin is concealed in a drawer.
She’s created new storage options via a small pull-out pantry, large drawers and overhead storage with open shelving. A deeper benchtop allows for a stone upstand, which adds a visual interest, along with a shelf great for oils, salt and pepper.
LED strip lighting to the underside of the overhead joinery optimises functionality while keeping things aesthetically pleasing.
To get texture, Jessie selected Smartstone ‘Calcutta Viola’ stone tops. It’s bold and pairs beautifully with the paint of the joinery fronts which is matched to Laminex ‘Kalamata’. The same stone is continued up as a splash back to the underside of the window, finishing with a curve end to soften the look.
Well and truly ticking off both texture and curve requests, Jessie introduced a second splash back using Perini Rosetta Penny round tile in blush and topped the overheads with a bullnose feature pelmet.
The brass elements she included are both bold and beautiful. A brushed brass shadow line is incorporated between base joinery and benchtops along with overhead joinery and pelmet. These link in with the brass sink, tapware & Zetr power points.
As for playing with the contrasting colours, Jessie matched overhead joinery to Dulux ‘Ellen’ (a soft pink) to lighten the darkness of the ‘Kalamata’. Base joinery links the colours via notch out handles in ‘Ellen’. The tall fridge and pantry have custom Auburn timber handles painted to match too.
The colour flows into the dining area where the base joinery of the banquette seating is also ‘Ellen’. Green finally gets its moment in the wall mounted upholstery cushion (both curvy and classy), a gorgeous Warwick ‘Casimir Forest’ velvet with Velcro attachment. The material is as strategic as it is stylish. Not only does it tie in wonderfully with the Tasmanian artwork in the living space, but it will remain free from claw damage (unlike Fiona’s current couch). Apparently, cats don’t like the feel!
Whether you’re entering from the bathroom or the living area, the bullnose edge detail and curved ends of the banquette seating create a smooth feel and entry point. And for a final touch of personalised design, the open shelf at the end is perfect for magazines – or Lucy the cat to use, should she prefer her feeder neat and tidy off the floor.
Well done, Jessie. You’re the cat’s pyjamas! (That means awesome, in case you didn’t know.)