A kitchen renovation designed to create space

Owner Rebecca wanted a kitchen renovation in keeping with her 1950s home. With some strong ideas about what she required, she approached designer Simone Gillespie from Essence Interiors with her list.

The original kitchen was far from functional so, in consultation with Simone, she completely relocated the kitchen, ensuring maximum use of space and a convenient window view of the backyard.

"We had a very specific space that we had to fit everything into," says Rebecca. "It's quite a narrow space and we had to have room for a walkway into the dining area, so it couldn't be too wide and imposing."

The new kitchen now has a very clean feel, set off by the large pale green glass panel that serves as the splashback. In its tidiest state, the kitchen could have seemed almost clinical, so Simone added a few softer elements to offset any harshness. The open wine rack adds some personality to the cabinetry.

A smart and popular addition to this kitchen is the island bench – functioning as both a bench and dining area for the family. Rebecca's island incorporates a dishwasher and sink with enough discretion not to let clutter put them off their food.

"The island bench is long enough so that family can sit at the overhang end, while Mum can access the sink and dishwasher at the other," explains Simone. "Messy dishes are cleverly screened from view by the smart timber upstand, which also incorporates even more storage space."

Rebecca was adamant on having cupboards that reached the ceiling. Avoiding the wasted space that sits above a normal cupboard, she is able to stack utensils and less-used food items all the way up, accessing them with a clever fold-out stepladder housed inside the kickboard below.

Appliances are neatly hidden away behind tidy roller doors, making them easy to get to but not in your face.

"Measurements were taken of all the appliances like rice cooker and slow cooker, bread maker and sandwich press, to ensure all of these would fit into the appliance cabinet," says Simone. "This was quite a feat since the owner had a lot of gadgets."

Simone Gillespie

Essence Interiors

What was the brief?

Rebecca asked me to help design a family kitchen in the new extension, that was modern and slick, with loads of storage. They wanted to use a wood grain - but not too much of it - so we opted for a mix of white and wood grain with stainless steel here and there.

How did you develop the design?

The owner requested a few elements be included in the design and that guided the whole thing. She wanted an island bench housing the sink and dishwasher at one end, and an overhang with bar stools at the other. Every inch of space was used for storage.

Were there any challenges involved?

Choosing a wood-grain colour for the doors that would contrast well with their existing jarrah floorboards which extended into the new area was a bit tricky. Deciding which cupboards would be white and which would be wood was also a challenge.

What makes this kitchen unique?

The blend of different materials used and the way they all work together to produce the sleek look and clean lines. The pantry is unique in that it is larger on one side and there is an overflow cabinet if the pantry should become full. Also, the storage goes all the way to the ceiling.

What do you like most about the design?

I like the way the kitchen relates to the room and the textures and materials used echo what is used in the room's construction. The use of white alongside wood grain is less overbearing and gives the kitchen a lightness and brightness. The island bench is also a favourite for me.

Rebecca

What was your brief?

We wanted an entirely new kitchen, which was modern but fitted in with the style of the 1950s house. I wanted maximum utilisation of shelving and drawers. I also needed to incorporate my oversize microwave oven. I wanted to minimise the movement that I had to do in the kitchen to make it work.

How has the kitchen been improved from its previous state?

We didn't have an oven, just the convection microwave. We basically moved the kitchen to an entirely new place. I wanted to have good visibility to the children in the garden while I was in the kitchen. But I think the main thing was greater efficiency in space utilisation.

Did you have a lot of input in the design?

I was clear that I wanted a Corian benchtop, as we'd had one in two other houses we'd lived in. I didn't want tiles or stainless steel for my splashback, so I decided on glass. It's worked really well. It makes things seem lighter because of the reflection of the light on the glass.

Did the renovation go smoothly?

The kitchen renovation all ran pretty smoothly. We used Simone's cabinet-maker and he was really good. We got a specialised person to do the Corian and also the glass splashback, so we co-ordinated that. It could have been a problem, but thankfully things ran pretty smoothly.

What is your favourite aspect?

My favourite part is my Corian benchtop. And I think the island, because it allows me so much visibility. Another thing I like is how the island conceals the dishes. I never get around to doing the dishes every second they come in and that hides it.