Some people talk about environmental responsibility. Others, like Laurie and Emma, actually live it. So when they needed to replace the kitchen in their home at the Aldinga Eco Village, they needed to find a designer and builder who shared their concerns. And that was a major challenge in itself.

One by one, they approached several cabinetmakers (who shall remain nameless), and they report that none had a clue about environmental sustainability. Certainly, none were keen to replace melamine, which concerned Laurie and Emma because it contains MDF and formaldehyde.

Then, in the midst of despair, we’re glad to say they found us. (We just wish – for their sakes – it hadn’t taken them so long.) Immediately, we got what they were on about and Nathan could tell them about the recent low-impact projects we’ve completed, what new products have worked and what haven’t, and we started exploring new ideas together.

Beyond the fundamental environmental necessities, which were absolutely non-negotiable, their dream was to create a modern, Scandi style kitchen with a pop of colour (which, by the way, didn’t have to be green). They also wanted lots of storage in an ergonomic design. And, as seems the usual situation with our clients, the space it all had to fit in was tiny. Time to sharpen your pencil, Nathan.

With the plan in place, Laurie and Emma ripped out their old kitchen ready for us to replace it with a unique design that would cope with the environmental expectations and space limitations.

Together, we’d investigated a new product for the carcass called Novofibre, which is made from pressed straw, a waste product from cereal crops. (There is something deliciously ironic in building a breakfast bar from cereal production.) Whilst it might sound unusual, it actually works very well. The doors were built from hoop-pine plywood (a native timber sourced 100% from FSC-managed plantations), finished in a low-VOC, water-based polish. The benchtops were a combination of E0 laminate and reclaimed blackbutt timber, lovingly oiled by the tireless Laurie and Emma. We selected Blum’s soft-close Intivo Blumotion runners for their longevity, backed up by a lifetime warranty.

With its very compact dimensions, the space had to be managed meticulously. Clever storage solutions include placing drawers inside the pantry and using the back of the island bench as a seat for the dining nook.

To capture that clean, streamlined Eames-era style (and eliminate the need for buying handles), we notched-out finger pulls and gave the overhead cupboards that gorgeous orange hue to give it that pop-culture pop.

The bottom line from Laurie and Emma’s kitchen is that you can be serious about the environment and still have fun.