Instant Inspiration

Knowing exactly what you want and then sticking to it will save you a lot of time and money, advises this kitchen renovator.

Before: The owner inherited a very basic kitchen with an old electric stove when she moved in 16 years ago. “I always seemed to be juggling a dozen saucepans every time I had a dinner party,” she says. The new six-burner Ilve stove is this keen cook’s dream come true.

The picture of a kitchen, glimpsed while flicking through an American magazine one day was enough. “I saw it and thought straight away, ‘that’s the kitchen for me,’” explains the owner. With clipping in hand, she briefed a builder to build the cabinets from scratch. “I wanted it to be really simple and clean, with all the ugly appliances out of the way – the fridge used to be the dominant feature,” she says with a laugh.

Today, the offending whitegood is concealed in a bank of joinery in an alcove under the stairs. As this was the last room to be renovated in her 1910 weatherboard cottage, this experienced renovator was very clear about what she wanted – and advises others to do the same. “After you’ve decided on a plan, be definite and stick to it – you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble,” she says.

Renovating can be one of the most stressful things you ever do, so make sure you avoid any expensive mistakes with careful planning. The first step is to research the various options and decide on a budget. This joinery had to be custom-made as the room had uneven measurements, a common problem with old houses such as this one, and cheaper, flat-pack cupboards were not an option. The final bill, including the high-quality appliances and benchtop, came in at about $18,000.

Try to make the most of every centimetre. Here, the once wasted alcove space under the stairs is now a great place for the fridge – close enough to be convenient but not centre stage. Other electrical appliances, such as the microwave, juicer and toaster are also stored in these cupboards. “I really wanted to be able to clear the benchtops and put everything away,” explains the owner.

Words: Victoria Carey. Photography: Sue Ferris. Styling: Lisa Hilton.