Before & After: An Ocean-Toned Island That Makes a Kitchen Sing
A deep-teal island, paired with oak and Arabescato marble, makes this kitchen the heart of the home
Vanessa Walker
3 August 2020
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Maree Homer
Styling by Kerrie-Ann Jones
Answers Cate Liedtke, founder and principal designer at Catherine de Meur Interiors
Who lives here: A woman and her groodle, Lulu
Location: Lugarno, Sydney
Room purpose and size: A kitchen and dining area measuring 28 square metres
Budget: Approximately $100,000
Did you use Houzz for this project: I use Houzz for inspiration before beginning any project.
Styling by Kerrie-Ann Jones
Answers Cate Liedtke, founder and principal designer at Catherine de Meur Interiors
Who lives here: A woman and her groodle, Lulu
Location: Lugarno, Sydney
Room purpose and size: A kitchen and dining area measuring 28 square metres
Budget: Approximately $100,000
Did you use Houzz for this project: I use Houzz for inspiration before beginning any project.
The kitchen before works
Brief
The kitchen was originally tucked away in a confined corner of the home. Our client wanted to somehow make her kitchen larger and more central to the flow of the home. Interestingly, while she was very drawn to colour, she could not envisage anything other than a white kitchen.
Brief
The kitchen was originally tucked away in a confined corner of the home. Our client wanted to somehow make her kitchen larger and more central to the flow of the home. Interestingly, while she was very drawn to colour, she could not envisage anything other than a white kitchen.
The floor plan before works
Is your kitchen pleading for a redesign? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz
Is your kitchen pleading for a redesign? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz
The floor plan after works
What exactly did you do?
We moved the kitchen to what was the games room. We then removed all the internal walls between the existing kitchen, dining and living rooms as well as the wall between the living room and stairs to create one big open-plan living area.
We also widened the walls between the family room and the existing games room to make that bigger as well. The window in the dining area was changed to a French door to create flow between inside and outside. It’s now the perfect entertaining space.
What exactly did you do?
We moved the kitchen to what was the games room. We then removed all the internal walls between the existing kitchen, dining and living rooms as well as the wall between the living room and stairs to create one big open-plan living area.
We also widened the walls between the family room and the existing games room to make that bigger as well. The window in the dining area was changed to a French door to create flow between inside and outside. It’s now the perfect entertaining space.
Starting point for the look
We took inspiration from the amazing colours in the Arabescato marble and channeled teal, neutrals and blush pink.
We took inspiration from the amazing colours in the Arabescato marble and channeled teal, neutrals and blush pink.
The client was keen to incorporate her love of the ocean and the outdoors into the design. A keen cook, she tasked us with making the new kitchen highly functional, considering every detail, such as handle choice, cookbook storage and most importantly, a spacious island for food preparation, serving and entertaining.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: As a nod to the ocean, we opted for a striking deep teal for the island cabinetry. This teal, combined with splashes of blush pink, satisfied our client’s love of colour in the kitchen without overpowering the space – it’s far from the white kitchen she had envisaged but much better suited to her taste.
We offset the bolder teal with soothing neutrals – the muted Arabescato marble on the island, the chalky-white benchtops around the perimeter, the earthy wooden cabinetry, and the light-grey stone flooring.
Colour palette: As a nod to the ocean, we opted for a striking deep teal for the island cabinetry. This teal, combined with splashes of blush pink, satisfied our client’s love of colour in the kitchen without overpowering the space – it’s far from the white kitchen she had envisaged but much better suited to her taste.
We offset the bolder teal with soothing neutrals – the muted Arabescato marble on the island, the chalky-white benchtops around the perimeter, the earthy wooden cabinetry, and the light-grey stone flooring.
The kitchen before works
Materials palette: American oak, glass mosaic tiles, marble and brass accents.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- Arabescato marble slab on the kitchen island from Gitani Stone.
- Slimline oak and oak veneer from Farmers Doors.
- Fizi Ball 3 pendant light from Articolo Lighting.
- Vetro Lux Elon 1.6 x 3.2-millimetre sheet tiles in Bianco on the splashback from Di Lorenzo Tiles.
- Fornel brushed-brass handles from Kethy.
- Zip HydroTap Celsius All-in-One Arc in brushed gold from Winning Appliances.
- Silver Shadow light honed marble 900 x 450-millimetre floor tiles from Pacifico Stone.
- Kitchen island painted in Resene Beatnik.
The kitchen had terracotta floor tiles before works
Challenges you worked around
In order to successfully implement this new colour scheme, we needed to convince our client to replace the existing terracotta floor tiles. Rather than insisting up-front that they needed replacing, we demonstrated the impact of a new muted stone floor by including it as an option within the new colour scheme. This collaborative approach gave our client a feeling of control over the process.
Challenges you worked around
In order to successfully implement this new colour scheme, we needed to convince our client to replace the existing terracotta floor tiles. Rather than insisting up-front that they needed replacing, we demonstrated the impact of a new muted stone floor by including it as an option within the new colour scheme. This collaborative approach gave our client a feeling of control over the process.
Why do you think this room works?
This open-plan space elegantly balances aesthetic and design to create the wow factor this home desperately needed. This space is now the perfect entertaining area.
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
Want more great interior transformations? Take a look at our last Before & After: A Kitchen & Dining Area Made Lighter & Brighter
This open-plan space elegantly balances aesthetic and design to create the wow factor this home desperately needed. This space is now the perfect entertaining area.
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
Want more great interior transformations? Take a look at our last Before & After: A Kitchen & Dining Area Made Lighter & Brighter
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Kitchens
A Kitchen That Uses Special Elements to Punch Above Its Weight
This couple wanted a well-designed kitchen that incorporated their pre-bought furniture; this designer delivered
Full Story
Kitchens
An Interplay of Light, Dark & Colour Creates a Striking Kitchen
All-white joinery, floors and walls is foiled by a handsome island bench and contemporary artworks in this handy kitchen
Full Story
Kitchens
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
Full Story
Kitchens
Before & After: A Penthouse Kitchen High on Glamour & Substance
This NZ penthouse kitchen needed to open up to the views and adjacent dining area. The designer served up that and more
Full Story
Projects Born on Houzz
Before & After: An Open-Plan Kitchen Goes from Boring to Boss
After scouting Houzz for designers, this couple found the right match in a local designer who transformed their space
Full Story
Kitchens
Before & After: A Cathedral-Like Kitchen With Soft Texture & Tone
High ceilings, curves, fluted features and beautiful tactile details elevate this white kitchen into the stratosphere
Full Story
Kitchens
Before & After: A Scandi-Style Kitchen in NZ That's Light & Airy
See this sweet, bright kitchen and dining space in Wellington, which had environmental concerns at the heart of its plan
Full Story
Kitchens
Before & After: A Quietly Quality Kitchen That Kept Its Layout
The layout couldn't be changed, but a clever approach to storage and colour transformed this Melbourne kitchen
Full Story
Projects Born on Houzz
Room of the Week: A Reader's Bathroom Inspired by Houzz
When you're planning a new bathroom, where do you look for ideas? Houzz, of course! See how this reader did it
Full Story
Kitchens
Room of the Week: A Scandi Kitchen That Doubles as a Workspace
Pared-back lines, a clay-coloured ceiling and a cooking/storage 'pod' star in this designer's family kitchen/work zone
Full Story
I'm biased in favour of this because my own taste runs towards Teal/ Sandy beiges ... ! This will be a delight to look at every day and (I'm sure) a joy to work in ! And I"m not generally a fan of huge islands ! But this space can take it ...
I totally love the island, the colour is lovely. What is the size of the island please? A beautiful kitchen all round.
The island colour is gorgeous but I would have all drawers for accessibility