Light relief

With good planning and design Alexia Biggs managed to turn her cramped and dated kitchen into a spacious, light-filled room that's sure to stand the test of time.

Before
The original 1950s kitchen featured veneered doors, narrow laminate benchtops and an upright stove. The makeover gave the room a classic yet contemporary look, while also creating extra space for storage and cooking.

New toys
Some of Alexia's favourite new appliances include the streamlined Smeg oven, cooktop and double sinks, and her Bosch dishwasher. "No more washing everything by hand at a tiny sink!"

Storage sorted

• Oceanic Kitchens worked on this kitchen make-over. As the kitchen is in an apartment, it had to be redesigned around the existing plumbing and power. Alexia, the owner, says she's more than happy with the results. "I'm really pleased with the storage; there's even a drawer below the microwave, to give me quick access to utensils as I prepare food," she says. 

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• The pre-existing fridge was still in good working order, but the doors had become rusty. To save buying a new one, two extra panels were painted at the same time as the kitchen cupboards. The fridge and freezer door handles were unscrewed, and the panels were then attached to the fridge doors with liquid nails.


• The large pantry contains a downlight to make it easy to see where everything is, and also holds small appliances. A cupboard above adds extra storage.

Production & Styling: Alexia Biggs. Photography: Scott Hawkins.