With a rundown, tired, old kitchen and a large family to cater for, the owners decided it was time to renovate. The old kitchen was very basic, with a laminate benchtop that did little justice to the style of the home; it also lacked storage, which wasn’t ideal as there are at least six people the kitchen needs to provide for on a daily basis. Seeking a simple painted timber kitchen to become the centrepiece of their home, with a classic look sympathetic to the residence’s Californian bungalow design, the owners turned to Nouvelle. Here, they asked designer Brian Patterson to create a kitchen able to tackle the day-to-day activities of the busy family, who enjoy entertaining and cooking.
To hold the household’s mass of kitchen utensils, appliances and crockery, generous storage by way of drawers was incorporated into the kitchen. A large bin was also a necessity and the eco-savvy owners required a dedicated space where scraps could to be stored, ready to be taken out to their chooks. There’s plenty of bench space to prepare daily meals — with room for more than one chef to work in the space simultaneously when entertaining guests. A skylight above the centre bench fills the area with loads of natural light. A walk-in pantry provides plenty of storage for the masses of non-perishable items required by the family. This pantry adds to the kitchen’s easy flow, so moving around the space while working in it is a breeze. Colour use was also thoughtfully employed: grey and lime-green make a great combination — they’re bold yet calming colours. Looking out to the garden, outdoor entertaining areas and living rooms, this kitchen has become the heart of the home.
