Before & After
Renovating
Interior Design
Before & After: From Dull Box to a Dynamic, Open-Plan Living Room
A kitchen/diner/living room in a multi-generational home is reborn with new joinery, timber and one-of-a-kind wallpaper
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Before works.
What was the open-plan room like originally?
The kitchen was a U-shape and the benches were quite high, so it chopped the room in half.
The kitchen’s U-shape meant there was a lot of lost storage space in the corner cupboards. Plus, the kitchen was over 20 years old and looked and felt dated.
Thinking of renovating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
What was the open-plan room like originally?
The kitchen was a U-shape and the benches were quite high, so it chopped the room in half.
The kitchen’s U-shape meant there was a lot of lost storage space in the corner cupboards. Plus, the kitchen was over 20 years old and looked and felt dated.
Thinking of renovating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Before works.
What wasn’t working for the client?
The poor layout and lack of connection between the kitchen and the living room space. Plus, the whole room felt tired and in need of an update.
How did they want to be able to use it?
They wanted the four parts of the room – cooking, relaxing, dining and a library space – to be more clearly zoned, while having a visual flow between them.
What wasn’t working for the client?
The poor layout and lack of connection between the kitchen and the living room space. Plus, the whole room felt tired and in need of an update.
How did they want to be able to use it?
They wanted the four parts of the room – cooking, relaxing, dining and a library space – to be more clearly zoned, while having a visual flow between them.
What was your brief?
The client wanted a modern Sri Lankan feel – so cement, warm timbers and nods to the cultural and heritage of Sri Lanka.
We also needed to improve the functionality of the kitchen and the relationship between the kitchen and living area.
The client wanted a modern Sri Lankan feel – so cement, warm timbers and nods to the cultural and heritage of Sri Lanka.
We also needed to improve the functionality of the kitchen and the relationship between the kitchen and living area.
Before works.
What was your starting point for the design?
Cement-look kitchen benchtops, warm, textured timber joinery and knockout wallpaper.
What look, feel and functionality did you want to create?
What was your starting point for the design?
Cement-look kitchen benchtops, warm, textured timber joinery and knockout wallpaper.
What look, feel and functionality did you want to create?
- A serene space for a multi-generational family to come together.
- A space that allowed multiple tasks to happen comfortably at the same time.
- To remove clutter and restore order.
What are the main elements of the colour and materials palette?
Greys, warm timbers, bronze and touches of green.
How did you create visual cohesion between the different parts of the room?
I added a stone wall behind the TV in the same material as the benchtops and splashback to create a sense of continuity from the kitchen (and to add drama).
I carried the joinery beyond the kitchen through to the living room for smoother visuals and flow.
Greys, warm timbers, bronze and touches of green.
How did you create visual cohesion between the different parts of the room?
I added a stone wall behind the TV in the same material as the benchtops and splashback to create a sense of continuity from the kitchen (and to add drama).
I carried the joinery beyond the kitchen through to the living room for smoother visuals and flow.
How important was good storage?
So important. I added three floor-to-ceiling pantry cupboards with vertical battens beside the kitchen to subtly delineate this space from the living area, while providing as much storage as possible, and then added drawers in the entertainment unit for more storage.
So important. I added three floor-to-ceiling pantry cupboards with vertical battens beside the kitchen to subtly delineate this space from the living area, while providing as much storage as possible, and then added drawers in the entertainment unit for more storage.
Did you install new flooring?
No, it is the existing floating timber floor.
The floor had yellowed terribly over time, so I checked if we could re-sand and stain it. When my floor expert gave us the go-ahead, I recommended a cleaner, neutral colour. We custom-mixed the colour, did some test patches, and the floor was prepped, stained and left to dry.
Three days later the client returned home to find the floor green! The stain had reacted to the oils in the timber. In over 20 years of doing floors, my tradie said that he’d heard of this rare event happening, but never seen it.
We re-did the floors with a new mix, gave it a coat of red to neutralise the green and then stained them the desired colour. They came up beautifully – phew!
No, it is the existing floating timber floor.
The floor had yellowed terribly over time, so I checked if we could re-sand and stain it. When my floor expert gave us the go-ahead, I recommended a cleaner, neutral colour. We custom-mixed the colour, did some test patches, and the floor was prepped, stained and left to dry.
Three days later the client returned home to find the floor green! The stain had reacted to the oils in the timber. In over 20 years of doing floors, my tradie said that he’d heard of this rare event happening, but never seen it.
We re-did the floors with a new mix, gave it a coat of red to neutralise the green and then stained them the desired colour. They came up beautifully – phew!
Where did most of the AU$90,000 budget go?
On the custom joinery.
Browse more beautiful images of Australian living rooms with timber tones on Houzz
On the custom joinery.
Browse more beautiful images of Australian living rooms with timber tones on Houzz
Tell us about the beautiful wallpaper
The client absolutely loved this custom wallpaper of a lush, tropical landscape as it reminded them of home. I adored the vintage etched design, which gives a subtle nod to Sri Lanka’s scenery, which is something I knew the owners wanted to acknowledge. Plus, the colours were perfect for the space and made it feel like we were bringing the outside in.
The client absolutely loved this custom wallpaper of a lush, tropical landscape as it reminded them of home. I adored the vintage etched design, which gives a subtle nod to Sri Lanka’s scenery, which is something I knew the owners wanted to acknowledge. Plus, the colours were perfect for the space and made it feel like we were bringing the outside in.
Tell us about the open shelving unit
I designed it and my joiner worked his magic to make it happen. I loved the shape of the uprights, the storage below and how the open shelves let you see the jungle wallpaper behind. This piece is incredibly solid and very heavy.
What is the main timber finish?
It’s a Laminex laminate board. I love the texture – it feels a bit recycled and rustic, which worked perfectly for the brief.
I had done the client’s upstairs addition a year ago and we used oak then, so it made sense for continuity to use a timber finish in this phase of the renovation.
I designed it and my joiner worked his magic to make it happen. I loved the shape of the uprights, the storage below and how the open shelves let you see the jungle wallpaper behind. This piece is incredibly solid and very heavy.
What is the main timber finish?
It’s a Laminex laminate board. I love the texture – it feels a bit recycled and rustic, which worked perfectly for the brief.
I had done the client’s upstairs addition a year ago and we used oak then, so it made sense for continuity to use a timber finish in this phase of the renovation.
Why do you think the space works so well now?
Because it hits all the client’s requirements. The design created a more functional kitchen, open and clearly defined zones, beautiful materials and palette, and a to-die-for wallpaper.
Because it hits all the client’s requirements. The design created a more functional kitchen, open and clearly defined zones, beautiful materials and palette, and a to-die-for wallpaper.
Materials palette
- Laminex Rural Oak on the kitchen joinery.
- Lo & Co joinery handles.
- Smartstone quartz benchtop, splashback and TV wall [colour now discontinued].
- GlobeWest dining table, dining chairs and bar stools.
- Custom wallpaper.
- King Living sofa.
- Beacon Lighting pendants.
- Walls painted in Dulux Natural White.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this reworked kitchen/dining/living 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
Decorating an open-plan room? You won’t want to miss these 8 Open-Plan Room Blunders… and How to Avoid Them
What’s your favourite feature in this reworked kitchen/dining/living 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
Decorating an open-plan room? You won’t want to miss these 8 Open-Plan Room Blunders… and How to Avoid Them
Who lives here: Three generations of a family – a mother, her son and two grandparents
Location: Maroubra, NSW
Room purpose and size: An open-plan kitchen/dining/living area measuring around 50 square metres in a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home
Budget: Around AU$90,000
Interior designer: Monique Sartor at Sartorial Interiors
Builder: Terraform Projects
Joinery: Joinery Gallery