Room Of The Week
Renovating
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Appears in
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome TimeMade Local
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
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Before Photo
Floor plan before works.
What is the house like?
A Victorian sandstone villa. After works, it now has a new contemporary extension that houses a kitchen/living area/diner, plus four renovated bedrooms and two bathrooms in the original part of the house.
Redoing your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
What is the house like?
A Victorian sandstone villa. After works, it now has a new contemporary extension that houses a kitchen/living area/diner, plus four renovated bedrooms and two bathrooms in the original part of the house.
Redoing your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
The original kitchen, which the designer turned into her daughter’s bedroom.
What was the original kitchen like?
It was closer to the middle of the house. It was essentially a separate room and not coherent with the rest of the home.
We turned it into a bedroom for our daughter, and then added a new open-plan kitchen to the new rear extension.
What was the original kitchen like?
It was closer to the middle of the house. It was essentially a separate room and not coherent with the rest of the home.
We turned it into a bedroom for our daughter, and then added a new open-plan kitchen to the new rear extension.
Floor plan after works.
Is your kitchen used by more than just the family?
Yes, our home also acts as a display space and an office for our team of seven. As such, the new kitchen/dining area needed to be able to accommodate our seven team members and family members using it throughout the day.
Is your kitchen used by more than just the family?
Yes, our home also acts as a display space and an office for our team of seven. As such, the new kitchen/dining area needed to be able to accommodate our seven team members and family members using it throughout the day.
What look, feel and functionality did you want?
Specifically, we wanted it to be:
Specifically, we wanted it to be:
- Open-plan.
- Light and bright.
- An inviting place to congregate.
- Look and feel unique.
- Plenty of bench space.
- Hidden appliances to maintain the clean lines and organised feel.
- Lots of storage.
The new open-plan kitchen is part of a new extension.
What was your starting point for the new kitchen?
The beautiful, curved pinkish/terracotta tiles (41Zero42 Biscuit ceramic tiles in colour Terra, available at Di Lorenzo Tiles), which we used on the island kicker and support leg.
Browse more images of contemporary Australian kitchens on Houzz
What was your starting point for the new kitchen?
The beautiful, curved pinkish/terracotta tiles (41Zero42 Biscuit ceramic tiles in colour Terra, available at Di Lorenzo Tiles), which we used on the island kicker and support leg.
Browse more images of contemporary Australian kitchens on Houzz
What was your thinking behind the layout?
We wanted to include a freestanding cooking/appliance pod with storage on the back to house a second fridge/freezer and an appliance cupboard hidden behind full-height doors.
We wanted to include a freestanding cooking/appliance pod with storage on the back to house a second fridge/freezer and an appliance cupboard hidden behind full-height doors.
Visually, the pod added a point of difference to the space. It required more room (than standard fitted cabinetry) so I was lucky to be able to start this room from scratch, which allowed me to make it work.
Tell us about the kitchen island
We wanted a congregation space and a high-level table – as a family, we eat dinner here every night. We added in some texture (with the beautiful tiles) and a downdraft rather than a range hood so we could maximise the volume of the gabled ceiling without congesting it with a bulky range hood.
We wanted a congregation space and a high-level table – as a family, we eat dinner here every night. We added in some texture (with the beautiful tiles) and a downdraft rather than a range hood so we could maximise the volume of the gabled ceiling without congesting it with a bulky range hood.
What are the main ingredients in the new colour palette?
Muted grey/white and soft timber-grain joinery, pale terracotta tiles and painted ceiling, and a touch of copper.
Muted grey/white and soft timber-grain joinery, pale terracotta tiles and painted ceiling, and a touch of copper.
What challenges did you face? Making all the appliances – the fridge/freezer, sink, dishwasher, microwave and wall oven – fit neatly and symmetrically within the small back run of joinery, while providing sufficient bench space and the correct proportions.
Homeowner and interior designer, Melissa Drew.
What do you think made the biggest difference to this kitchen?
Having volume within the space and lots of storage.
What do you think made the biggest difference to this kitchen?
Having volume within the space and lots of storage.
Where did most of the AU$50,000 to $60,000 budget go?
The appliances, the stone and features such as a smart Zip Water tap (which provides filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water).
The appliances, the stone and features such as a smart Zip Water tap (which provides filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water).
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Colour palette:
- Dulux Clay Pipe on the ceiling.
- Dulux Mason Grey on the cooking pod (to match the window seat surround).
- Dulux Lexicon Half on the walls.
- 41Zero42 Biscuit ceramic tiles in Terra, available at Di Lorenzo Tiles.
- Caesarstone Topus Concrete benchtops.
- Splashback in Caesarstone Topus Concrete and copper mirror.
- George Fethers Cellupal Berg laminate on the kitchen island and rear pod storage.
- Polished concrete floor.
Your turn
Has this design give you ideas for how you could improve your own kitchen or workspace? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more beautiful Australian interiors? Catch up on this Room of the Week: A Bathroom That Lets Nature Steal the Show
Has this design give you ideas for how you could improve your own kitchen or workspace? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more beautiful Australian interiors? Catch up on this Room of the Week: A Bathroom That Lets Nature Steal the Show
Who lives here: Interior designer and licensed builder Melissa Drew lives here with her partner, young daughter and labradoodle. The home also doubles as her design studio, which consists of a team of seven.
Location: Hyde Park, SA
Room purpose and size: A combined kitchen/dining area measuring around 15 square metres
Interior designer: Melissa Drew, founder of Mosmo Living
Builder: Mosmo Living
Budget: Around AU$50,000 to $60,000
Year of work: 2020