When Shae and Carly approached us with their kitchen and pantry vision they’d been living in their family home for a few years. The brief was all about warmth, texture, and minimalism. As fans of the Zen aesthetic, they were also keen on natural and neutral, with light tones and timber elements to match the stunning flooring they’d already installed in a connected part of the house.

But this vision wasn’t just about aesthetics – the kitchen was to be built from scratch in what was being used as a spare living space, a bit of a ‘for now’ area with an old couch and no storage, despite being full of stuff. Note: stuff is virtually unavoidable when you’re the busy parents of a daughter and twin boys.

So, the first obvious challenge arose, creating ample storage while still matching an uncluttered lightness of feel. Working in our favour was the idea to fashion a pantry from the full-size laundry adjacent. It was a space the family felt was bigger than necessary.

Other requests included lots of differing bench space areas to serve each section of the kitchen and a mix of task and decorative lighting. If possible, could we include some curves to help soften the space, especially an arched doorway between the kitchen and pantry space.

One of the biggest priorities? A standout island. Something that felt more like a piece of furniture – functional, beautiful, and a natural gathering point for their family.

And they had their hearts set on touches of brushed brass to match a gorgeous, curved tap they’d already ordered.

With all this in mind, our designer Sarah set out to create a kitchen and pantry set-up that was warm, inviting and full of savvy storage solutions.

Bringing this vision to life came with two main challenges. Balancing aesthetics with budget and making sure there was enough storage without overwhelming the space. With smart design choices, Sarah and the team found the perfect balance.

The kitchen and pantry spaces were quite large so to achieve the warmth and texture of timber without blowing the budget, we opted for a high-quality melamine timber look. For areas that required solid timber for structural reasons, like the island frame, we used natural timber stained to match. The result? A cohesive and sophisticated look that matched the overall feel.

One of the happiest surprises for the clients was discovering that by making this switch, they could afford stone benchtops – something they thought was out of reach.

Much consideration went into ensuring the island became a true centrepiece. The custom timber frame was designed for both function and beauty. To elevate the design, we played with two different timber leg thicknesses for added visual interest. Stylish stools stack easily beneath it when not in use.

As for the much-anticipated arched doorway? It became a striking feature. We carried this soft, curved theme throughout the space, complementing it with the tiered curves on the glass door design, subtle curves on the open feature shelving, and in the key drop area.

To create a sense of continuity, we designed a long benchtop that extends from the kitchen into the pantry, enhancing flow between the two spaces. The tiled splashback behind the sink area is in the same neutral tone used in the cooking area and topped by a timber open shelf.

Back to that storage challenge. It was maximised without making the space feel too heavy. Both cupboards and drawers span the long benchtop. The island includes drawers bearing lip pull handles, while the appliance area has drawers with discreet brass handles to tie in with the tap and match those on the glass door storage near the fridge and freezer. Being able to go to ceiling height with the joinery helped us to create additional storage via overhead cupboards. A section of open shelving left between them offers a sense of space and allowed for the placement of a beautiful Robert Gordon wall sconce and an area for putting things on display.

We designed a sizeable and dedicated appliance corner to ensure easy access for the whole family, while making sure there was pantry bench space to accommodate any larger appliances. For the adults only, we created a cute little bar area behind the glass doors, perfect for some quality together time or entertaining friends.

As requested, we created bench space aplenty. Ample room around the sink, plenty of entertaining bench space, and a cramp-free cooking space. LED strip lighting augments the task areas, two sets of matching cylindrical white lights illuminate the island, and a series of inset lights take care of the rest.

And no, the family does not clean their clothes in the kitchen now. That wouldn’t be very Zen! With some creative reconfiguring, Sarah designed a sleek European-style laundry behind bifold doors in an adjoining room.

Extra. Boxes. Ticked.