A designer kitchen makeover

They needed lots of bench space and plenty of cupboards. They wanted a central island bench which would provide a work area but also allow them to communicate with their guests in the living room. 

They needed a big, robust stove and oven. They were keen on having two pantries and some larger drawers to hold big pots and pans. They wanted the space to be practical for them to use, and to have a design aesthetic that contrasted with the older style of their house.

So they called in Matthew from Carrera Kitchens to take care of things. Darren was impressed with Carrera's professional manner and friendly approach, and with the 3D computer model in which he could see the proposed design before work was even begun. "The good thing about that," says Darren, "was that it gave us the opportunity to change things after they had come back with the first set of designs. We were able to have some genuine input."

Matthew took Darren's ideas and came up with a minimalist but practical design that made the most of every inch of space.

"We went for a look that was quite streamlined and modern, while aiming to meet the client's demands in terms of entertaining and using the kitchen in general," says Matthew.

The design incorporates clean, bright lighting and many reflective surfaces, which "adds to a sense of space and openness", according to Matthew, as well as providing that practical, functional element of supplying light to work by. 

The overall colour scheme is light, too, although the darker splashback - which, unusually, runs above the cupboards as well as beneath them - provides a subtle contrast.

"It adds a modern touch," says Matthew. "On top of that, it is easy to clean. There are no tiles, so no grout where grease and dirt tends to build up."

Darren and his wife are tickled pink with their new kitchen. They've ended up with a space that is practical but stylish, and suits their needs perfectly. 

Matthew Foti

Carrera Kitchens

Why did the client engage your services?

They were completely refurbishing and extending an existing property and wanted the kitchen to be part of the new extension. We took them through some design ideas and some materials and finishes that we thought might work, and they decided to engage us to do the work.

Was the style of the extension meant to match the style of the existing house?

The owners were planning to restore the older part of the house to its former glory, with jarrah floorboards and so on, but they wanted to move in the opposite direction for the extension. They wanted a modern, minimalist look for the extension, so there would be two distinct sections to the house. 

And how did that translate to the kitchen design?

We went for a look that was quite streamlined and modern - clean bright lights and lots of reflective surfaces - while aiming to meet their demands in terms of entertaining and using the kitchen in general. That meant lots of bench space, an island unit with a sink, and lots of cupboard space. 

Is the colour scheme meant to reflect that minimalist approach?

Yes. We've gone for light-coloured benchtops, cupboard doors and floor, with lots of glossy surfaces. The only real contrast we've put in is that darker-coloured splashback, which is unusual in that it runs up behind the stove and around the tops of the bulkheads near the ceiling.

Why did you use glass for the splashback?

It looks really modern and is easy to clean. There are no tiles so no grout where grease and dirt tends to build up. It's another reflective surface, which helps keep the room light and open. Bright light is important in a kitchen, where functionality needs to be kept in mind along with aesthetics.

Darren

Why did you choose Carrera to design your new kitchen?

They were really friendly and very helpful. They showed us the 3D computer model that they use to display the proposed design, which was a great facility, and very handy. And they walked us through their showroom to give us an idea of which materials and finishes were available. 

What were your priorities for the kitchen space?

We wanted as much cupboard space as possible and as much bench space as possible. We wanted a couple of large drawers for big pots and pans, two pantries, and also those new self-closing drawers. And we were looking for a modern design for the space to contrast with the older front of the house.

And how did the process work from there?

I gave them just a rough sketch of what we were after and some notes with ideas. They came out and measured, and within a week they came back with this computer-generated image of how it would look. Then I had the chance to have some more input into the design.

Do you do much entertaining or cooking?

We do. We've got a large entertaining space outside and we entertain a lot. So it was important to have a good, large stove, and all that bench and cupboard space. And that's why we went for that really large island bar in the middle. It's perfect for entertaining.

And how do you like your new kitchen?

We love it. It does just what we want it to and we love the way it looks. It's nice and modern looking and the colour scheme looks great and I think the contrast with the glass splashback works really well. And the two-pack finish on the cupboards never marks, which is great.