Galley kitchen remodeling in Melbourne

A modern, streamlined space fit for a keen cook was the brief for this Melbourne kitchen renovation - with some careful planning, new possibilities were opened up for this kitchen.

This 1980s Melbourne home was large, but suffered from a poorly designed kitchen that clearly didn't work. "There was a tiny benchtop housing the cooktop and sink, with no remaining bench space," says designer Terry Cantwell, of Euroform Kitchen Solutions. "Originally, the end of the kitchen was a walk-in pantry, and behind it, the laundry."

After discussing possible plans with home owner Lindy, and acknowledging that knocking down walls would be a structural nightmare, it was decided to transform the space into a galley kitchen. The galley kitchen remodeling was ambitious: "The kitchen was brought into the living area to create more room to move, and the pantry and adjoining laundry redesigned for better storage," Terry says.

Despite the decision to bring the kitchen into the living zone, it was important for Lindy to maintain separation between the areas. A frosted-glass splashback achieves the intended distinction, acting as a shield from the hub-bub of the kitchen and blocking the view of the sink from the dining and living area.

Lack of storage was another awkward problem in the original kitchen. "Despite the large size of the home, storage was tricky," says Terry. \"For the galley kitchen remodeling, we concluded that putting a pantry where the laundry was would solve Lindy's storage dilemmas and be easily accessible."

The old laundry was converted into a dual space, with a pantry on one side and a compact laundry set-up on the other, complete with stacked washer and dryer. Terry was also able to incorporate more bench space by replacing the double-door pantry entrance with a single door.

While a modern and streamlined look was desired by Lindy, her heart was set on a seated breakfast area with a difference. The angled benchtop with a drop-down tabletop made of Sydney blue gum undoubtedly fits the bill. "It's my favourite feature," says Lindy. "It's different, yet complements the other materials and finishes."

Overall, the considered planning of this kitchen has ensured a practical, functional result for Lindy, a keen cook with an eye for quality.

Terry Cantwell, from Euroform Kitchen Solutions

What was the brief for this Melbourne kitchen renovation?

Having just migrated from South Africa, and with two teenage kids, Lindy wanted a kitchen that was practical, modern and aesthetically pleasing.

What's your favourite feature?

I'm pleased with the tapered bench - it can seat Lindy's whole family. There's also a really nice combination of colours in the kitchen.

Were there any challenges in the design process for this galley kitchen remodel?

It was a challenge to create enough room for the walk-through, and accommodating the large fridge made the design more difficult. There were also a few plumbing issues with the laundry that were hard to foresee and took longer than expected to resolve.

Lindy, the homeowner

What was the brief?

I wanted a really modern, streamlined kitchen. I love to cook, so it had to work well too! Although the new kitchen was destined to take up some of the living space, it was also important that the areas were separate.

How does your old kitchen compare with the new one?

The original kitchen was pretty ordinary, with an impractical island bench. There was also an extractor hood that went straight into the cupboard, and inadequate storage. The redesigned galley kitchen makes much better use of space, from the pull-out magic corner to the ceiling-level cupboards.

What's your favourite feature of the new kitchen?

The red-gum wooden table and seating area is my favourite feature. It's different, finishes off the look of the kitchen and complements the two-pak finish on the cupboards. I love the glass splashback too.

What's your impression of the overall kitchen?

Terry is an experienced Melbourne kitchen renovator and designer. He used the space very well and did a brilliant job of our tricky galley kitchen remodeling project; I'm very happy. He even thought of using the laundry as part of the kitchen. I can keep the laundry door open, and storage is excellent with the ceiling-height cupboards. Our new kitchen is well designed and the quality and workmanship, right down to the hinges, are excellent.

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