The couple bought their property, a 1923 Californian bungalow in Cheltenham, Sydney, two years ago and set their renovation plans in motion straightaway. Although they wanted to stay true to the original style of the house, they were keen to lighten its heavy-looking timber indoors and expand the little rooms. More importantly, they wanted the kitchen moved from its southerly position at the front of the house to the northern side of the back, where it would enjoy a better aspect and also have a view to the tennis court and pool.
ACTION STATIONS
Th e homeowner refl ects on the importance of the kitchen’s location, saying that the main priority was to get the perfect visual aspect. “My wife wouldn’t move to a house unless she could see the entire backyard from the kitchen,” he says, which makes sense with three children, aged two, eight and 10, regularly playing and swimming outside, and a stream of friends with kids popping over for catch-ups.
Having seen an architect to sketch out plans for it, they sat down with Stephan at Scullery & Holz, who modelled it to suit their old-world renovation. Th e homeowner describes the company’s style as “a bit different to the standard”, going on to say they were attracted by its use of proper hinges on the doors and that all its doors are made from Oregon timber. “All our internal woodwork is Oregon so we thought it would create a good connection to the rest of the house,” he explains.
Part of the discussion with Stephan centred around the inclusion of a signature feature they wanted to carry from the original house – a glass-panelled door on the pantry, which inspired the design for the top tier of the cabinetry. “We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling for storage reasons, plus we think it gives it a diff erent look,” he relates. “We were looking to steer clear of a standard kitchen; that was our main goal.”
Th e layout was also crucial to creating their ideal kitchen. As they wanted to showcase its classic-country style, they positioned the Aga stove and island bench in the ‘visual’ part of the kitchen and relegated the more contemporary-looking functional pieces that don’t relate to it, such as the microwave and dishwasher, down the other end, where they’re housed in a concealed L-shape section, along with the pantry and a second sink. Likewise, the fridge is integrated into the cabinetry. “We didn’t want that big open-plan look where you can see mess,” he says. “We usually eat on the verandah at night, and from there and the TV room you don’t see these bits, just the good bit!”
BEST OF SHOW
Th e homeowner nominates the Emperador-marble benchtop as one of his favourite features, citing its exquisite antique finish that shows up the veins of the marble. “It’s the best benchtop I’ve ever seen in my life,” he states. “I’ve always loved Emperador, and Arciuli, the stone manufacturers, did the most beautiful job. Even though people make the comment that granite is a harder surface, marble is so much easier to look after because you can’t see a thing on it; even if it’s marked it looks like it’s meant to be.” Also high on the favourites list are the Aga stove, the tapware and the light fittings over the bench, which the family believes look like little hats. “Separately they look quite ugly but together I think they set the whole kitchen off,” the homeowner says.
Tying it all together is a cream and white colour scheme, which was refined with the help of interior designer Cassie Dummett of KGD Design, and an expanse of spotted gum floorboards that highlight the timber stools at the bench.
This thoughtfully designed kitchen has features that draw the eye to every part of it, but they always come back to the beautiful benchtop, which, apart from its function as a gathering point for friends and family, now has an everyday role as “command central’ as my wife calls it,” the homeowner smiles.
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
Ovens – Aga; Miele
Dishwasher – Miele
Rangehood – Qasair
Benchtops – Emperador marble by Arciuli
Fridge – Liebherr
Tapware and sink – Perrin & Rowe, pewter fi nish
Cabinetry and handles – Oregon; handles from Motherof Pearl & Sons
Splashback tiles – Country Floors, Willoughby, handmade glass mosaic
Light fittings – Magins Classical Lighting and Hardware, Willoughby
Downlights – Magins iL Fanale
Flooring – Spotted gum
Paint colour – Dulux Grand Piano
Story by Zoe Liddy
Photography by Ryan Hernandez
Styling by Kirstin Randl-Katalinic