Lighten up

An uninspiring, dark kitchen was opened up and transformed into a bright, modern cooking haven.

Before

This two bedroom unit in a 1970s brick building was in desperate need of a revamp. The kitchen was originally a pokey, dark space, separate to the other rooms, so the owners decided to open up the living areas to make the kitchen the focus overlooking the dining and living rooms.

The owners realised that in order to revamp this kitchen, they needed to tackle some larger issues affecting the whole unit. The first thing they decided to do was install a ceiling to cover an ugly old 1970s spray-concrete disaster. Due to the uneven ceiling, the height had to be lowered by nearly 10cm to make it all level. A steel beam had to be brought in to reinforce it. You can notice the beam running across the ceiling from beside  the fridge, which adds some architectural detail without making the room appear as if it is closing in on you. They then installed downlights and painted everything white to help open up such a small space. 

They also saved time by doing the bathroom alongside the kitchen renovation, so the tilers, glaziers and painters would only be there for one project. The owners had the luxury of staying with their in-laws while their own home was a worksite.

The colour scheme they chose is fresh and reflects northern sunlight into the apartment − which is great during winter. Neutral finishes were selected as a safe bet for when the time comes to sell as their family grows. The owner was initially keen to install a pebble-coloured splashback to stay with the safe scheme, which would have also worked with the stainless-steel appliances, but loves the soft, mint green as a point of difference.

The splashback was chosen for its easy-to-clean surface with no grouting issues. The owners opted for a crystal glass finish, which doesn’t give off a ‘green glass’ colour. Slightly more expensive, crystal glass is clearer, allowing a pure colour to come through which gives a cleaner hue. Many companies can make custom colours or paint to your specification.

Streamlined finish

Flat-pack cabinets were not going to fit the irregular walls of such an old unit, so the owners had the kitchen custom-fitted by Finemaster Kitchens (they also made all of the cabinetry).

They wanted a modern, streamlined finish and completed the look with the following: 

• Rather than slatted blinds or curtains, they opted for an inexpensive roller blind which they cut to fit. With a little DIY, the blind provides privacy, cuts out glare, and looks good with the sheer curtains. 


• Large, neutral-coloured floor tiles from ColorTile and the CaesarStone bench top in Osprey help create the sleek, spacious feeling. 


• Handles on all of the cabinets would  have cluttered the look, so the owners chose push-mechanism doors instead which also provide a smooth gliding motion when closing.


• The white recessed dishwasher almost blends entirely with the white cabinetry.

Power stations

The kitchen is one of the most functional rooms of the house and requires numerous electrical products on the go at any one time − from the kettle to the toaster, blender, microwave, fridge and coffee machine to name just a few. As such, it requires its fair share of power points to make life easier. It’s a good idea to have an electrician consolidate your power points prior to having the splashback and any cabinetry installed.

Smart buys

Here are a few bargains the owners found which helped keep down costs: 

• The stainless-steel fridge was bought second-hand online for $600. 


• The expensive Italian tiles were bought at a sale for half the price. 


• The dishwasher was a gift − not purpose bought. Rather than replace it, they plumbed it in where it wouldn’t dominate.

Words & styling: Angela Haughton. Photography: Scott Hawkins.

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