When Christine and Joe were building their family’s new home, Christine knew precisely what she was aiming for in the kitchen. “I wanted a country-style kitchen,” she recalls, “with exposed hinges and handpainted cabinetry. I wanted fine detailing.”
She had been scouring magazines for years and with an extensive collection of pictures to help her pull it all together, she called upon the services of Paul Muscat of Concept Joinery – not only for the kitchen but also for all the joinery in the house. Together they formed a formidable partnership, relying on each other for ideas and execution.
PRECISION PAINT
Paul says colour selection is a common problem when designing a kitchen and he believes pastel colours are best for a country-style space. “I always advise that in this type of kitchen, pastel tones are the correct choice as they provide a subtlety that suits. For instance, people love Caesarstone, but when they choose black, it’s way too modern.”
Christine was of the same mind. The cabinets are painted in a cream she mixed herself, carefully matched to replicate the colour of her imported cooker. “It was real trial and error,” she remembers. “I would mix up a colour and take it to Paul who would paint one door. Then we’d check it, and I’d go back to modify it.” The end result, they both agree, was just right.
DISTINCTIVE TOUCHES
From start to finish, Christine knew she wanted this kitchen to be unique – something a little bit different. The magnificent Falcon cooker, made by the same company that manufactures the legendary AGA, is just one example of an appliance that is far from ordinary – as is the sink. While they’re often thought of as mundane, this cooker is a real design accent. And, nestled behind a raised servery, is a butler’s sink.
But instead of the plain façade most often seen, the outside face has a series of distinctive indentations. Made from porcelain by the English company Shaws of Darwen, each of its sinks bear the mark of the craftsman who made it. “It’s very, very heavy,” Christine explains, “and it took two people to carry it into the house! But I just love the way it looks.” Other distinctive features include a built-in dresser designed to house her work-in-progress collection of Villeroy & Boch china, the impressive fireplace with bespoke surround and a mantle that blends the kitchen with the dining area and the handsome floor made from Boral’s Australiana grade blackbutt.
PRACTICAL GRANITE
Timber features prominently in the room, from the blackbutt floor with its variation in colour, to the 18 intricately carved corbels. Even the fridge is integrated, secreted behind more of the cream-painted woodwork.
When it came to selecting benchtops, timber was Joe’s initial choice. “He really wanted timber, but I leaned toward granite because it was more practical. You need benchtops that can take heat,” Christine explains. “But I agreed that we wanted to work with the warm timber tones of the room.” That sparked a search for granite that could bring warmth into the room and yet still provide practicality. “It took a long time to find the right colour,” she remembers. “I took more than a few samples home. Finally I chose Kashmir Gold as it has the shades of brown and cream that perfectly complemented the look we were after.”
TEAM EFFORT
The key to the success of this kitchen was the creative partnership between Christine and Joe, along with Paul, the man behind Concept Joinery, who says his relationship with the client is the most important factor in the process. “As the person bringing their vision to life, I have to listen to what the customer wants and needs. I use their ideas to create an individual kitchen, but provide advice based on my experience and expertise.”
Paul praises Christine for the clear vision she had for the room. She credits Paul with great patience and amazing skill in creating the fine detail she wanted. And between them, they have created a warm country kitchen with impressively fine detail.
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
Joinery – Concept Joinery
Tiles – Manago Tiles
Kitchen taps/handles – Marina Isles
Kitchen sink – Shaws of Darwen butler’s sink
Kitchen wall colour – Dulux Hog Bristle
Benchtop – Granite in Kashmir Gold from Arciuli
Story by Jebby Phillips
Photography by Tony Potter
Styling by Greg Sukendro