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Before & After: A Beachy Sydney Kitchen Sans the Coastal Cliché
A fresh materials palette gives a sense of place, while avoiding style stereotypes, to uplift this timeless new kitchen
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Brief
The client wanted a fresh palette that reflected the beach location of the house, but without it feeling ‘beach themed’. The materials also had to be practical and easy to clean while looking luxurious and timeless.
The client wanted a fresh palette that reflected the beach location of the house, but without it feeling ‘beach themed’. The materials also had to be practical and easy to clean while looking luxurious and timeless.
The family wanted a space where they could enjoy working through their daily life rituals; a place to sit casually and have a cup of tea or coffee, look out into the lush garden and pool, while being able to keep an eye on their little ones.
Is your tired kitchen in need of an update? Find experienced kitchen designers near you and browse images of their projects
Is your tired kitchen in need of an update? Find experienced kitchen designers near you and browse images of their projects
The kitchen before works.
Starting point
We had to work around the existing island bench location and general layout of the kitchen as the client wanted to retain the timber floorboards and not risk damaging them.
We worked in materials that matched the timber floorboards and lightened up the space with the white two-pack polyurethane paint and a beige-coloured quartzite.
Starting point
We had to work around the existing island bench location and general layout of the kitchen as the client wanted to retain the timber floorboards and not risk damaging them.
We worked in materials that matched the timber floorboards and lightened up the space with the white two-pack polyurethane paint and a beige-coloured quartzite.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
Colour palette:
- A warm-neutral colour palette, with accents of black to ground the space and steer away from a ‘beach style’ theme.
- Quartzite Taj Mahal stone benchtops and splashback from CDK Stone for durability and luxury.
- The cabinets are a mix of two-pack polyurethane in Dulux Snowy Mountain (quarter) and…
- …New Age Veneers NAV Lam joinery finish in Mountain Oak.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- EST Lighting Ambrosia pendant light over the island bench.
- Est Lighting split-tube surface-mounted downlights.
- Qasair rangehood
- Gessi kitchen tap.
- Blum hardware and pantry system.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
We tried to keep the plumbing and layout similar to the original kitchen, so we integrated the appliances such as the fridge and pantry into the joinery to help create a clean, seamless appearance.
We created a beverage cupboard with fold-back doors that houses the coffee machine and tea-making items.
When not in use the cupboard doors are closed, which continues the clean joinery surface. We wanted to eliminate clutter by creating a home for all the appliances and items that could be out of sight when not in use.
Browse more beautiful Australian kitchens with light timber cabinetry
We tried to keep the plumbing and layout similar to the original kitchen, so we integrated the appliances such as the fridge and pantry into the joinery to help create a clean, seamless appearance.
We created a beverage cupboard with fold-back doors that houses the coffee machine and tea-making items.
When not in use the cupboard doors are closed, which continues the clean joinery surface. We wanted to eliminate clutter by creating a home for all the appliances and items that could be out of sight when not in use.
Browse more beautiful Australian kitchens with light timber cabinetry
The kitchen before works.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The client was living overseas and needed the kitchen to be completed before they arrived in Sydney. We had three months to design and build the kitchen; we had limited access to the house for measurements and the whole design process was conducted remotely.
All items and materials had to be in stock and ordered to arrive before the end of a three-month window.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The client was living overseas and needed the kitchen to be completed before they arrived in Sydney. We had three months to design and build the kitchen; we had limited access to the house for measurements and the whole design process was conducted remotely.
All items and materials had to be in stock and ordered to arrive before the end of a three-month window.
The kitchen before works.
The other challenge was working with the existing kitchen layout and finishes that the client wanted to retain.
The other challenge was working with the existing kitchen layout and finishes that the client wanted to retain.
The kitchen before works.
Why do you think this room works?
The space is light, but grounded, the warm tones of timber and the simple clean whites allow the greenery of the garden to feature. The earthy feel of the quartzite helps the kitchen connect with the exterior and the overall natural colour palette opens up the space – your eye isn’t drawn away from the exterior by bold obtrusive colours in the kitchen as it was with the previous design.
Your turn
Which ideas would you borrow from this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Catch up on more great transformations here with this NZ Before & After: A Penthouse Kitchen High on Glamour & Substance
Why do you think this room works?
The space is light, but grounded, the warm tones of timber and the simple clean whites allow the greenery of the garden to feature. The earthy feel of the quartzite helps the kitchen connect with the exterior and the overall natural colour palette opens up the space – your eye isn’t drawn away from the exterior by bold obtrusive colours in the kitchen as it was with the previous design.
Your turn
Which ideas would you borrow from this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Catch up on more great transformations here with this NZ Before & After: A Penthouse Kitchen High on Glamour & Substance
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Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Northern Beaches, NSW
Room purpose and size: A kitchen of approximately 27 square metres
Scope of work: All new joinery, fixtures, appliances, lighting and finishes. We completely gutted the kitchen but kept the flooring.
Approximate budget: AU$100,000
Project completed: 2022