Lightness of being

This renovation has transformed a cramped, dark and dingy kitchen into a modern, light and spacious area. The new kitchen has become a space the young family who live here gravitate towards, and it’s also great for entertaining.

Before
Prior to the renovation, the kitchen was dark and dingy, with no windows. There was scarce storage and bench space, and the area felt cramped, despite the space available. There was also no ventilation, making cooking fumes a problem.

View the before shot at the Notebook: forums.

After
A light, bright and airy kitchen was achieved with custom-made white benchtops, cupboards and furniture. Skylights in the roof have brought much-needed light to the whole area.

Set the mood
White cabinetwork, whiteware and furniture all give the kitchen a fresh and light feeling. The wooden floors add warmth, while the stainless steel accents lend the area a modern edge.

Light effects
One of Clare and James’ main aims in renovating their kitchen was to bring more light into the area. However as the property is a terrace house, there were no external windows available. The solution? Twelve skylights along the roof line. “It’s fantastic – it almost feels like you’re outside,” says Clare. “And the filtered light they let in means the room is great for plants; they just thrive.” Some of the skylights can also be opened for extra ventilation (flyscreens are attached).

Clare says more than just offering space, the island bench has become a social area that she, James, Felix, and their guests gravitate towards. “We do end up spending most of
our time sitting and standing around the bench when we’re entertaining,” she explains. “It means I can be cooking but still be interacting with people.”

Felix is also a big fan of the island. ”He used to have a highchair but now he just sits on one of the stools,” says Clare.

Finer details

• This kitchen forms a central thoroughfare in the house, located in between the main living area and another small living area that leads out to the garden. As such, Clare and James, the owners of the house, say it was important to make sure the open-plan space was streamlined and relatively simple in appearance, particularly as Felix, two, likes to race through!


• The costs add up quickly in kitchen renovations, so it helps if you’re able to do some of the more basic work yourself. Clare and James laid the floorboards (which were sourced from an old warehouse) themselves. The couple also took the measurements for, and then installed, the cupboards.

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