Welcoming your first child and living in the house you’re renovating could feel a little like running a marathon underwater. Fortunately for artist Cècile, and radiologist Tom, they were able to purchase a neighbouring property and create a home away from home while the major work was underway.

Although not as expansive as the changes taking place at Number 16, the house next door at Number 18 needed some refreshing of its own. And this is where we stepped in.

Cècile and Tom are also co-owners of a bar in the city. They have an eye for style and wanted their temporary abode to have character too. Our job was to create something interesting in the rear of the C1890 stone front cottage. To bring a unique mood to the open plan kitchen, living and dining area via a rich colour palette that balanced mid-century and industrial with the use of timber and stainless steel.

Could we define the kitchen zone in the open plan room? What about a combination of open and closed storage so they can show off their personality through art and knick-knacks but also hide items away?  Given its future as a rental, could we aim to future proof and be mindful of budget too? The answer was hell to the yeah and our designer, Bre Tarca, set to work.

Kitchen requests included a freestanding fridge, a 3-liner bin system, a double bowl sink, 60cm underbench oven, 60cm induction cooktop, concealed rangehood, fully integrated dishwasher, and the perfect bench location for a toaster and coffee machine. Even soon-to-be parents know to keep caffeine in easy reach. As for the finishes, they were keen on mid-century inspired with integrated detail and for them to continue from kitchen into the laundry/bathroom space.

The original layout was a walk through laundry to a separate bathroom, with secondary access to the laundry from the WIR. However, given she carries the infamous Spacecraft-designer-gene responsible for knowing how to maximise use of space, Bre had other ideas. She proposed a better layout during the in-home consult and after some to-ing and fro-ing Cècile and Tom agreed to give up the WIR walk through and create one big room.

Operation home away from home was officially underway.

Bre not only made the most effective use of the bathroom and laundry space, she made sure the kitchen (small by square meter rate) also packs a punch.

It’s an L-shape with a central island. The left side hosts the freestanding fridge alongside a single door pantry. Benchtop appliances are tucked into the corner, concealed from the living room view. Storage is maximised through open and closed formats such as four inner drawers to the pantry, a two-tier spice and oil pull out to the right of the oven, a vertical tray storage pull out, a wide bank of drawers in the island and the ever-coveted hidden garbage system.

Contrasting tonal tiled floors defines the kitchen zone while vertical dividing details and notch out handles create a lineal and structured kitchen design with mid-century aesthetic.  All services sit along the back wall – double bowl sink, fully integrated dishwasher, 60cm cooktop and underbench oven.

As promised, space was created for personality to shine. Open shelving to the back wall and island end has since been adorned with jars of spices, pickles, liquor, art and knick-knacks. So they have the option of leaving the inevitable baby paraphernalia in clear view or secretly stashed away!

Considering its future as a rental property, budget and design decisions were carefully balanced. Joinery was originally designed to link the kitchen to living area, providing extra tall storage and a TV credenza. However, this area was removed to allow for the clients to upgrade kitchen materiality. Bre originally proposed a Laminex Oiled Legno melamine for all door and drawer fronts, panels, fillers, kickers, and vertical dividers, with custom notch out handle details in solid Tasmanian Oak timber stained to match. However, Cècile and Tom opted to upgrade to Blackwood timber as they preferred the detail, colour and grain variation. The 17mm timber veneer works in beautifully.

The stainless-steel back benchtop is just as Cècile and Tom envisioned. It folds to 20mm in thickness with the integrated double bowl sink and 325mm upstand. The central island, a spot to perch on one of three stools, has a contrasting benchtop as hoped for. We just chose to go with hardy Dekton, rather than the original request for natural marble, given the priority to future proof.

Removing the wall between the laundry and bathroom created a large open room. It’s a well-considered, welcoming, and functional space. Along one side is a combination of practical joinery (also with timber veneer), vanity unit and toilet. On the other sits a generous bath/shower and wall mounted towel rail.

The joinery is tall, with the left unit housing a laundry hamper, linen storage, and vertical storage for Dyson charging. On the right, a wing-line bi-fold door conceals the washing machine and dryer tower.

The vanity houses an offset undermount basin, two banks of drawers and a 20mm Dekton benchtop and upstand. The feature wall sconces to the left of the custom mirror edged in matching veneer.

Thanks must go to Urban Services for coordinating and facilitating all trade and build works. But congratulations must go to Bre who’s enhanced Cècile and Tom’s temporary home so well they might be reluctant to leave! She’s combined practicality with visual appeal and ensured durability and versatility for future tenants.