Room of the Week: An Open Kitchen That's a Lesson in Layering
Soft-grey marble, natural timber and lashings of white set a luxe and liveable tone in this generous open-plan room
Georgia Madden
17 June 2019
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 John Paul Urizar
Answers by Helen Carter, interior designer and design director at DCB Interiors (the design division of David Campbell Building)
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Beecroft, NSW
Room purpose: An open-plan kitchen/dining/living room where the family dines and congregates
Room size: Approximately 103 square metres
Answers by Helen Carter, interior designer and design director at DCB Interiors (the design division of David Campbell Building)
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Beecroft, NSW
Room purpose: An open-plan kitchen/dining/living room where the family dines and congregates
Room size: Approximately 103 square metres
The client
Brief
To create a timeless kitchen and introduce a softer, fresher palette that would connect the generous kitchen, living and dining spaces.
Brief
To create a timeless kitchen and introduce a softer, fresher palette that would connect the generous kitchen, living and dining spaces.
The kitchen before works
What wasn’t working about the room originally?
The homeowners had recently purchased the house – a grand, stately home on a huge, leafy block – when they came to me. The combined kitchen, living and dining space was vast and opened onto two alfresco areas. However, the original finishes were dark, heavy and felt very masculine.
Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz to create the perfect kitchen
What wasn’t working about the room originally?
The homeowners had recently purchased the house – a grand, stately home on a huge, leafy block – when they came to me. The combined kitchen, living and dining space was vast and opened onto two alfresco areas. However, the original finishes were dark, heavy and felt very masculine.
Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz to create the perfect kitchen
The living room before works
The client spent so much time in this space – it’s a real congregation point for her friends and family – yet it didn’t reflect her style or embrace the open, airy feel of the room when the adjacent doors were open.
The client spent so much time in this space – it’s a real congregation point for her friends and family – yet it didn’t reflect her style or embrace the open, airy feel of the room when the adjacent doors were open.
The kitchen before works
The floor plan after works
What were the clients’ must-haves?
There were several specific requirements that we needed to meet:
1. The original hardwood flooring was to stay. We simply sanded back the old lacquer and gave the boards a refresh.
What were the clients’ must-haves?
There were several specific requirements that we needed to meet:
1. The original hardwood flooring was to stay. We simply sanded back the old lacquer and gave the boards a refresh.
2. The ornate plaster cornice is a custom design that is used throughout the house, so it had to remain uninterrupted. We kept all the new joinery 100 millimetres below the cornice to give the two elements a sense of separation.
3. We had to incorporate the owners’ existing Liebherr fridge, which they loved but didn’t fit into the original kitchen plan. We positioned the fridge front and centre in the new kitchen layout.
The brushed stainless steel works well with the soft grey tones of the stone and pendants, and the handles and doors make striking features.
The brushed stainless steel works well with the soft grey tones of the stone and pendants, and the handles and doors make striking features.
4. The owners are great entertainers and requested an additional Vintec wine fridge in the kitchen. We housed it at the end of the island, where it’s tucked away discreetly yet in close proximity to the alfresco area for when they’re entertaining.
5. We had to incorporate an original heritage French log fireplace, which the owners cherished. It had a very clinical stainless-steel surround, which we removed and replaced with a custom-designed mantel in beautiful Artedomus Elba marble. This marble is also used on the kitchen benchtops, so there’s a sense of continuity between the two areas.
We elevated the fireplace and added a custom log storage to the side of the fireplace. This provides practical storage, but also adds texture and ambience to an otherwise dull corner.
We elevated the fireplace and added a custom log storage to the side of the fireplace. This provides practical storage, but also adds texture and ambience to an otherwise dull corner.
Starting point
We drew inspiration from the light, bright and fresh colour palette from the clients’ artwork of a windswept sand dune (above) by artist Katherine Wood, which is aptly called Coastal Dunes.
We drew inspiration from the light, bright and fresh colour palette from the clients’ artwork of a windswept sand dune (above) by artist Katherine Wood, which is aptly called Coastal Dunes.
What challenges did you face?
The main challenge was working within the existing floor plan. We sought to change the way the clients live and function in this space, but without moving any walls or disturbing the ornate cornice.
The main challenge was working within the existing floor plan. We sought to change the way the clients live and function in this space, but without moving any walls or disturbing the ornate cornice.
What was your thinking behind the arrangement of furniture and fixtures?
As this is a family home, we were conscious that the furniture and fixtures needed to not just look good, but withstand the rigours of family life.
We planned the spaces to allow for flexible seating in all areas, whether that’s a quick breakfast or mid-week supper perched on the bar stools in the kitchen, or more formal family dinners or entertaining at the oak dining table, which seats eight to 10.
Black leather sectional sofas from King Living are perfect for relaxing by the fire on a lazy Sunday or loaded up with the rugby-mad boys of the household to watch a test match. The spaces get more relaxed and sit lower to the floor as you move across the room from the kitchen to the living area.
As this is a family home, we were conscious that the furniture and fixtures needed to not just look good, but withstand the rigours of family life.
We planned the spaces to allow for flexible seating in all areas, whether that’s a quick breakfast or mid-week supper perched on the bar stools in the kitchen, or more formal family dinners or entertaining at the oak dining table, which seats eight to 10.
Black leather sectional sofas from King Living are perfect for relaxing by the fire on a lazy Sunday or loaded up with the rugby-mad boys of the household to watch a test match. The spaces get more relaxed and sit lower to the floor as you move across the room from the kitchen to the living area.
Why do you think this room works?
A good space needs to let the eye be at ease and allow those within it to feel relaxed and comfortable – and this room achieves both.
We worked closely with the client to achieve the light, bright and fresh look she wanted. The natural and neutral palette we chose calms the dramatic, dark timber floor and high ceilings, and brings all the elements together in a very family-friendly way.
A good space needs to let the eye be at ease and allow those within it to feel relaxed and comfortable – and this room achieves both.
We worked closely with the client to achieve the light, bright and fresh look she wanted. The natural and neutral palette we chose calms the dramatic, dark timber floor and high ceilings, and brings all the elements together in a very family-friendly way.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: White, mixed timbers and subtle shades of grey punctuated with matt black.
Colour palette: White, mixed timbers and subtle shades of grey punctuated with matt black.
Materials palette: The stone used on the kitchen benchtops and splashback is Elba marble from Artedomus. The V-joint custom cabinetry and walls throughout are painted in Dulux Natural White. The timber accent joinery is Prime Oak Woodmatt at Polytec.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings: The Hydro kitchen tap on the kitchen island is from Zip. The rear tap is a Tink-D kitchen mixer with pull-out from Abey. The black Schock Soho sink is from Abey.
The Normann Copenhagen Bell pendant lights are from HG Furniture Solutions. The Drive bar stools are from Hub. The Tapered Leg II dining table is from Città Design. The replica Wishbone chairs are from Matt Blatt. The Thor sliding-door console is from Coco Republic. The Delta III black leather sofas are from King Living. The Flinders Round coffee table is from Globe West.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings: The Hydro kitchen tap on the kitchen island is from Zip. The rear tap is a Tink-D kitchen mixer with pull-out from Abey. The black Schock Soho sink is from Abey.
The Normann Copenhagen Bell pendant lights are from HG Furniture Solutions. The Drive bar stools are from Hub. The Tapered Leg II dining table is from Città Design. The replica Wishbone chairs are from Matt Blatt. The Thor sliding-door console is from Coco Republic. The Delta III black leather sofas are from King Living. The Flinders Round coffee table is from Globe West.
Your turn
Which features impress you the most here? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Room of the Week? Catch up here with Room of the Week: A Kitchen For Entertaining Crowds with Ease
Which features impress you the most here? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Room of the Week? Catch up here with Room of the Week: A Kitchen For Entertaining Crowds with Ease
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Love the fire place and the flooring. Would be great to know if any work is done to the flooring.
Beautiful re-invention. That hardwood floor is to die for.
The sink dish drainer is pre cut/carved on bench top stone when the sink hole is cut.