A galley kitchen remodel success

This galley kitchen makeover proves that clean, contemporary lines needn't be cold and clinical. Eschewing all-white, this owner-designer has created a clean, modern kitchen that still retains some warmth.

When Danielle and her partner Jason set about renovating their dark and poky galley kitchen, enhancing space, light and function were clear priorities.

The job was part of a complete overhaul of their 1920s brick home in Melbourne's inner north, and for keen cook and entertainer Danielle, the galley kitchen remodel was the piece de resistance of the project.

Indeed, Danielle had some firm ideas about what she did and didn't want - and while others may call on the help of professional Melbourne architects, they decided to go it alone.

Out were stark white surfaces and clinical stainless steel; in were clean lines and modern finishes, but with a natural twist.

"I drove a lot of the kitchen design because I didn't want the typical stark, clinical-looking kitchen," Danielle says. "I still wanted something modern, but it had to be an earthy galley kitchen re-design. We had already picked out a beautiful spotted gum floor, so whatever we did had to tie in with that."

But before she could get stuck into samples and swatches, some additional work was required to open up the room and make it more light filled and functional. With the original kitchen suffering from a serious lack of elbowroom, Danielle and Jason decided to remove a wall and turn the adjacent bedroom into a dining space. To enhance natural light, a skylight was installed, while double glass doors replaced the single timber door leading out to the south-facing courtyard.

Next, Danielle joined forces with her mum, Dorothy de Guara of dorothydeguara interior design, to select the perfect fittings and finishes to complement the new bright and open space. Here, quality was key.

"All the cabinetry in the old kitchen was standard chipboard and, for want of a better word, cheap," Danielle explains. "We wanted to take this kitchen to that next level of quality and, as much as possible, use the latest finishes that would be durable as well as look good."

So in came a smooth, hardwearing CaesarStone benchtop and high-gloss vinyl wrap for the cabinetry - in a neutral tone for the undercounter cupboards and drawers and an eye-catching 'Africana' print for the 12 overhead cupboards.

"Ample storage was another priority in this galley kitchen remodel," Danielle says. "The idea was to have a place for everything and everything in its place - with such a simple, clean design, I didn't want bits and pieces cluttering it up."

To streamline the kitchen even more, Danielle and Jason had their Miele fridge and dishwasher integrated into the cabinetry. But the real feature of this renovation is the 4.5 metre-long glass splashback.

"That was a bit of a saga," Danielle laughs. "We had trouble finding a glass company to do it in a single sheet because it was too long for their trucks. In the end, we had to hire a special truck to bring it in."

Eventually, this sleek splashback will be highlighted by special LED lights recessed behind the overhead cupboards.

"My brother is a talented lighting designer, so I'm lucky to have him doing them," Danielle says.

Danielle, Owner and Designer

Where did you get your inspiration for this kitchen design?

The finishes and colour scheme were actually inspired by our beautiful spotted gum floor. Anything we did had to tie in with that, so stark white and stainless steel was very much out. Instead, we went for soft neutrals and stone colours, with the Africana vinyl wrap for the overhead cupboards.

How did you choose the fittings and finishes?

My mum, who's a very experienced interior designer, really helped me out. With so many products out there, I didn't really know where to begin, so she sourced a lot of brands she thought I'd like and we took it from there.

What was the biggest challenge in this renovation?

Getting the glass splashback made was a bit of saga. Because it had to be so long, a lot of glass companies wouldn't do it because it wouldn't fit on their trucks. In the end, we had to hire a special truck to deliver it.

Another challenge was working with an old home. Because the walls were no longer perfectly straight, the builders took some time getting the square cabinetry to fit snuggly.

What's your favourite part of the new kitchen?

I love the abundance of storage in our new galley kitchen, and particularly the deep undercounter drawers - I find them so much more ergonomic than cupboards when working below waist level. I also love the integrated fridge and dishwasher - they make everything look streamlined and uncluttered.

Where do you store all your pantry items?

There's a pullout larder to the left of the integrated fridge. It's fantastic - you'd barely know it's there, yet it's really deep and fits so much.

Would you have done anything differently in hindsight?

We may have reconsidered the height of the overhead cupboards, simply because my partner is very tall and they sit in his eyeline when he's cooking. It's not really a problem - the cabinets are at the standard height - but more of a preference issue. Also, we would have loved soft-closing mechanisms on the drawers, but they would have broken the budget.

If your kitchen is dark, cramped or in need of a fresh face, talk to your nearest kitchen renovator: