Room Of The Week
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Room of the Week: A Practical, Beachy Keen Kitchen in NZ
Changing a breakfast bar into an island bench opened the way to a more practical and pretty 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 house was built in 1929 and we wanted to incorporate a more classic look that complemented the rest of the home. By disconnecting the breakfast bar and making it into an island unit we were able to move the dishwasher adjacent to the sink, and having an additional entry/exit point is hugely beneficial to a busy family home.
The house was built in 1929 and we wanted to incorporate a more classic look that complemented the rest of the home. By disconnecting the breakfast bar and making it into an island unit we were able to move the dishwasher adjacent to the sink, and having an additional entry/exit point is hugely beneficial to a busy family home.
The layout before works
Struggling with a tricky floor plan? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
Struggling with a tricky floor plan? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
The new floor plan
Starting point
The home’s character was the main driver for the style of the kitchen; large skirting boards and architraves framing windows were also features we wanted to incorporate. Repolishing the solid-timber floors dictated the timber accent, which we aligned with the timber island benchtop. Shaker-style doors achieved the classic but clean look we wanted.
The home’s character was the main driver for the style of the kitchen; large skirting boards and architraves framing windows were also features we wanted to incorporate. Repolishing the solid-timber floors dictated the timber accent, which we aligned with the timber island benchtop. Shaker-style doors achieved the classic but clean look we wanted.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Colour palette:
- Warm white cabinetry.
- White stone benchtops with a soft accent colour in Dulux Maraetai on the island unit.
Materials palette:
- Dezignatek Ronda Thermoform doors to back cabinetry.
- Lacquer cabinetry to island unit.
- Athena Honed Prime Stone engineered-stone benchtops to peripheral areas of the kitchen.
- Solid-oak timber benchtop to the island unit.
- The tapware is from Plumbline.
- Pendant Lights are from Mr Ralph.
- The drawer hardware is Blum TandemBox Antaro.
Challenges you worked around
Space and size were big considerations within the design. It was key to ensure we had sufficient circulation and working spaces around the island unit while maintaining as much storage and benchtop space on the island as possible.
Browse more beautiful kitchens by New Zealand designers
Space and size were big considerations within the design. It was key to ensure we had sufficient circulation and working spaces around the island unit while maintaining as much storage and benchtop space on the island as possible.
Browse more beautiful kitchens by New Zealand designers
The kitchen before works
Why do you think this room works?
The kitchen is now complementary to the era of the home. The island has been a big win for the family, who find it is much more functional with multiple people in the kitchen at once.
Your turn
What do you love about 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
Craving more great interior makeovers? Take a look at this Room of the Week: A Bathroom and Wardrobe That Are Pretty in Pink
The kitchen is now complementary to the era of the home. The island has been a big win for the family, who find it is much more functional with multiple people in the kitchen at once.
Your turn
What do you love about 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
Craving more great interior makeovers? Take a look at this Room of the Week: A Bathroom and Wardrobe That Are Pretty in Pink
Styling by Olive & Oak Home Staging
Answers by Chelsey Mathieson, kitchen designer, Niche Design Co
Who lives here: A family with three older children, two still living at home
Location: Tauranga, NZ
Room purpose and size: An open- plan kitchen and dining room
Approximate budget: NZ$30,000 to $35,000
Did you use Houzz for this project: My clients used Houzz for inspiration.