Before & After
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Before & After: An Average Kitchen Reworked into a Great Beauty
This Sydney kitchen went from plain and functional to stylish and softly coloured with sophisticated touches
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
The kitchen before works.
What was the original kitchen like?
What was the original kitchen like?
- An uninspiring and outdated space. The kitchen was ready to be updated.
- The couple wanted to use the kitchen cooking space simultaneously and the old kitchen didn’t allow for this.
- They also required better storage solutions, improved style and functionality.
The kitchen after works.
Starting point
We wanted the kitchen to be a sophisticated design, to complement the rest of the home. Our client loves colour, so we were excited to create something unique and special.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Starting point
We wanted the kitchen to be a sophisticated design, to complement the rest of the home. Our client loves colour, so we were excited to create something unique and special.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Key design aspects
Colour palette: We chose a blue and soft-grey palette that was warm and elegant. The mix of metals – with bronze on the pendant light and nickel hardware – all works together with complementary warm tones.
Our client loves colour, so blue for the island was the perfect balance for the couple’s colourful collection of art.
Colour palette: We chose a blue and soft-grey palette that was warm and elegant. The mix of metals – with bronze on the pendant light and nickel hardware – all works together with complementary warm tones.
Our client loves colour, so blue for the island was the perfect balance for the couple’s colourful collection of art.
- Dulux Brume Quarter in a two-pack polyurethane satin finish for the cabinets.
- Dulux Blowout in a hand-painted finish for the blue island bench.
- Dulux Casper White Quarter Wash & Wear low-sheen on the walls. The new wall-paint colour was chosen to soften the bright north-facing kitchen and living area, while also complementing the soft-grey cabinetry paint colour.
The kitchen before works.
The kitchen before works.
The kitchen before works.
What challenges did you work around?
The major changes to the kitchen were bricking up an existing window that provided no natural light or pleasant views. This allowed for the kitchen to extend the entire length of the room to allow for more storage.
What challenges did you work around?
The major changes to the kitchen were bricking up an existing window that provided no natural light or pleasant views. This allowed for the kitchen to extend the entire length of the room to allow for more storage.
The new floor plan.
We also redesigned the external french doors off the kitchen to allow more northern light to come inside.
We also redesigned the external french doors off the kitchen to allow more northern light to come inside.
Materials palette:
Be inspired by more beautiful blue kitchens by Australian designers
- The original blackbutt floorboards were sanded back and a clear coating/polish applied.
- Nickel and brass are also used.
- Caesarstone in Organic White on the benchtops.
- Amano white subway tiles on the splashback from Academy Tiles.
- Satin finish on the cabinetry.
Be inspired by more beautiful blue kitchens by Australian designers
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- The curved, hand-painted blue island is loaded with storage.
- Kew handles from Hepburn Hardware.
- Kew knobs from Hepburn Hardware.
- Kew appliance pull from Hepburn Hardware.
- Scala horizontal pull-out sink mixer tap.
- Billi B-5000 sparkling water tap with XL levered dispenser.
- Smeg Classic oven.
- Smeg Classic gas cooktop hob.
- Falmec Arno NRS 80 range hood.
- Integrated French Door fridge/freezer.
- Franke Kubus sink.
- Rakumba Highline pendant light in Bronze above the kitchen island.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures:
We allowed the space to flow better by redesigning the layout and distances between the main kitchen and island bench, and the distances around the island. We designed the kitchen to utilise every inch of space to maximise storage.
We allowed the space to flow better by redesigning the layout and distances between the main kitchen and island bench, and the distances around the island. We designed the kitchen to utilise every inch of space to maximise storage.
Why do you think this room works?
With the new external doors and landscape gardens, the kitchen is now reflective of the quality that exists throughout our client’s home.
With the new external doors and landscape gardens, the kitchen is now reflective of the quality that exists throughout our client’s home.
Your turn
Which ideas would you steal from this space? 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 refreshing Before & After: A Clever Concealed Office for a Couple Who WFH
Which ideas would you steal from this space? 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 refreshing Before & After: A Clever Concealed Office for a Couple Who WFH
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Mosman, NSW
Room purpose: A kitchen of 8.5 square metres
Did you use Houzz Pro for this project? Yes! For invoicing, Mood Boards and collaborating over comments, drawing sets and revisions… We love Houzz Pro for all of our projects!