Room Of The Week
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Popular Houzz Series
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Room of the Week: A Beachy, Retreat-Style Kitchen in White
The client was keen to have a relaxed vibe in her white kitchen, where she could entertain friends easily and in style
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Brief
Our client loves cooking, entertaining with family and friends at home, and a beachy decor that is reflective of the lifestyle in the area where she lives. She wanted to transform her kitchen into an inviting space and make it the heart of the home; improve the flow; increase the amount of benchtop space; allow for casual seating and maximise the storage space.
Our client loves cooking, entertaining with family and friends at home, and a beachy decor that is reflective of the lifestyle in the area where she lives. She wanted to transform her kitchen into an inviting space and make it the heart of the home; improve the flow; increase the amount of benchtop space; allow for casual seating and maximise the storage space.
Starting point
The client gave us a presentation with a brief and a mood board reflective of her taste, with different pictures of kitchens, materials and styles.
The client gave us a presentation with a brief and a mood board reflective of her taste, with different pictures of kitchens, materials and styles.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: Whites with timber to create an eclectic style with a mix of Scandinavian, tribal, coastal/island, and modern farmhouse.
Materials palette: The timber is there to create a natural touch and feel. It also provides a raw and earthy, imperfect, organic, rustic and beachy look.
Colour palette: Whites with timber to create an eclectic style with a mix of Scandinavian, tribal, coastal/island, and modern farmhouse.
Materials palette: The timber is there to create a natural touch and feel. It also provides a raw and earthy, imperfect, organic, rustic and beachy look.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings: The joinery consists of V-groove doors and panels in a hand-painted finish. We used Porter’s Paints, tinted to Dulux’s Vivid White, in a satin finish (the client wanted a low-VOC paint). Shaker-framed rattan doors are above the fridge and pantry. All timber shelves are made of stained American oak.
The L-shaped benchtop is 60-millimetre-thick Caesarstone in Pure White. The island benchtop is 100-millimetre-thick Seamless Surfaces X-Bond seamless stone in a custom-white satin stone finish. The handles are made-to-measure white leather recessed pulls. The tiles are Muro 41 handcrafted tiles in Milk from Di Lorenzo Tiles. The pendant lights are from Dezion Studio. The stools were the client’s own.
The L-shaped benchtop is 60-millimetre-thick Caesarstone in Pure White. The island benchtop is 100-millimetre-thick Seamless Surfaces X-Bond seamless stone in a custom-white satin stone finish. The handles are made-to-measure white leather recessed pulls. The tiles are Muro 41 handcrafted tiles in Milk from Di Lorenzo Tiles. The pendant lights are from Dezion Studio. The stools were the client’s own.
Appliances include a white Smeg Victoria Collection oven, an Asko range hood in Matt Black, a Franke Fragranite tap in Polar White, and an Astra Walker Icon + Leaver in Rose Gold.
The bins, in sky blue and lime green, are made by and available through Blakes of Sydney.
The bins, in sky blue and lime green, are made by and available through Blakes of Sydney.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
The space has a very unusual configuration as it’s broken up by three entrances (a fire-escape door, a hallway, and it is also open to the living area), so we had to find a layout that could work around these.
The footprint and dimensions of the room were ideal for an L-shaped bench and tall cabinetry on the short wall. And the space that was left in the centre was perfect for a 900-millimetre-deep island bench, which is great for additional storage, food preparation and casual seating.
The cooktop is at the entrance of the L-shape in the kitchen, as we had a wall to put units against. These house the under-mount range hood and it was a convenient location for cooking.
We positioned the sink under the window as there couldn’t be units above and because there’s good natural light. The tall units in the back wall are designated for food storage and breakfast preparation.
The space has a very unusual configuration as it’s broken up by three entrances (a fire-escape door, a hallway, and it is also open to the living area), so we had to find a layout that could work around these.
The footprint and dimensions of the room were ideal for an L-shaped bench and tall cabinetry on the short wall. And the space that was left in the centre was perfect for a 900-millimetre-deep island bench, which is great for additional storage, food preparation and casual seating.
The cooktop is at the entrance of the L-shape in the kitchen, as we had a wall to put units against. These house the under-mount range hood and it was a convenient location for cooking.
We positioned the sink under the window as there couldn’t be units above and because there’s good natural light. The tall units in the back wall are designated for food storage and breakfast preparation.
Why do you think this room works?
The functionality and look of the kitchen ties in well with the lifestyle and taste of the client.
The layout creates a flexible and interactive space with a huge amount of benchtop, designated areas for cooking, preparing, cleaning, entertaining and storing. Everything is easy to reach and most of the storage is within drawers instead of cupboards, which makes everything easier to see and access.
Thanks to the colour palette, the combination of different materials and textures, and the floating shelves for the display of nice crockery and plants, we achieved a natural feel and brought in the bright beach vibe the client loved.
Tell us
What do you like most about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Bar Takes Centrestage in an Art Deco Kitchen
The functionality and look of the kitchen ties in well with the lifestyle and taste of the client.
The layout creates a flexible and interactive space with a huge amount of benchtop, designated areas for cooking, preparing, cleaning, entertaining and storing. Everything is easy to reach and most of the storage is within drawers instead of cupboards, which makes everything easier to see and access.
Thanks to the colour palette, the combination of different materials and textures, and the floating shelves for the display of nice crockery and plants, we achieved a natural feel and brought in the bright beach vibe the client loved.
Tell us
What do you like most about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Bar Takes Centrestage in an Art Deco Kitchen
Answers and styling by Blake Riley, director of Blakes of Sydney
Who lives here: A woman who often has family and friends over
Location: Vaucluse, NSW
Room size: A 4.5 x 3.6-metre kitchen