Adam is a firefighter who never sits still, and Suze is a primary school teacher/master organiser. Together, they are serial renovators, home design dreamers, and Adelaide Hills lovers. They moved a few blocks over to their current address in Bridgewater about 10 years ago, from another house they renovated. That was nothing compared to their latest effort.

In Suzie’s words, this was their “biggest and craziest” yet. They knocked down everything except three rooms (and a tiny ensuite), and that’s where all six of them lived for over a year. Adam, Suzie, Oscar (11), Noah (10), Ranger (the ball-loving border collie) and Dandy (the cat).

As they got about building their dream home with their own hands, the walk-in robe became a kitchenette, and they washed the dishes outside despite the chilly winters. Somehow, still managing to fit in social events, bike rides, basketball, tennis, Pilates, water sports, snow sports, creative chaos and Lego building sessions.

Suze said they squeezed a whole lot of love, laughter, and a fair bit of dust into a tiny living space. “It wasn’t always easy, but we survived, and we wouldn’t trade the memories for anything.” Especially now that they’re so happy with the result, including our kitchen!

We’re grateful those memories include choosing Spacecraft. As long-time friends of our head honchos, Ellen and Nathan, they already knew our work and loved it. But we did sit at the top of their budget. Thankfully, Suzie couldn’t let the idea of working with us go.

After pouring blood, sweat, and more than a few tears into recreating their abode, she knew a “just okay” kitchen wasn’t going to cut it. They deserved the centre, the heart of their home, to become a true gathering place where beauty meets function and everyone wants to be. She caught herself lying in bed one morning, pondering our “dreamy” designs. Then we got the call.

Given Adam and Suzie’s extensive experience, we knew they’d come armed with ideas. Given their personalities, we knew that warmth, style and a touch of quirk would all be on the agenda. And, given the existing friendships, we’re glad that they were on the same page as each other. Well, mostly.

They wanted the kitchen to feel like an extension of the outdoors, tying in the beautiful scenery and trees that surround them through a choice of colours, materials and textures. Green was their go-to colour, with a timber pop to inject warmth and nod to the hills.

Ideally, they wanted a practical, open-plan space that would accommodate their high-octane family members and a love of entertaining. Accompanied by hard-wearing bench tops.

They wanted all the mod cons of soft-close doors and drawers – perfect for reducing at least some of life’s inevitable noise – and curves to add interest and soften the space.

All appliances were to be concealed. Even so, black in colour, they would be matched by black window frames and cabinet handles for a cool and cohesive vibe.

We’d need to incorporate a bin system, a cantilevered island (which means it extends beyond its supporting base) and take into consideration the location of a fireplace.

Operation much-more-than-okay got underway.

Nathan’s design introduced subtle curves throughout the space, softening edges, widening walkways, and giving the whole kitchen a more open, flowing feel. Open shelving next to the oven and on the island echoed those curves, offering spots for display and a clever way to break up the colour palette.

For Suzie, the dream was the perfect island bench with a seating area that felt like a proper gathering spot, a place where the family of four could sit facing each other and connect, rather than perch on a row of stools along a bench. She also imagined it as a standalone piece of furniture and fell in love with the wood-panelled doors and opening shelving.

The Fibonacci benchtops brought a pop of colour and serious durability, but their weight meant a leg support was non-negotiable. Convincing Suzie it would look good was part of the design dance, and once installed, it became a feature, not a compromise. Funky, much like her.

The cantilevered island top added to the magic, creating a perfect perch for connected conversation, casual bites, or soaking up the warmth from the nearby fireplace. Getting the balance and flow right between the kitchen and the fire was key, and Nathan nailed it.

Blackwood timber was chosen to contrast the pine floors and complement the green hues, adding warmth and grounding the space. Raised oven stations made cooking easier, and integrating the dishwasher helped the kitchen feel seamless and clutter-free.

The wingline bifold doors concealed the appliance station with ease, keeping everyday items tucked away but always within reach. And those sleek black handles, complemented by black tapware and dual sinks? They weren’t just practical. They tied the window frames and appliances together, as requested, giving the whole space a sense of cohesion and quiet confidence. They matched the fireplace, too.

One final tweak: the fridge. Its depth meant a little joinery adjustment was needed to keep it from protruding too far – a small shift that made a big difference to the overall flow. And we did, of course, remember the bin system, also neatly hidden away.

With a little help from their friends, the Saffins established the heart of their self-built home. A kitchen space that invites you in and keeps you there.

In their words, “SpaceCraft truly got us and understood exactly what we needed. The rest is history.” Which is exactly the kind of story we love to tell.