Kitchen rescue: Hot chocolate

Before

When it comes to small rooms, white is often right, but not for the kitchen in this two-bedroom 1930s Bondi apartment.

“I wanted to give it wow-factor and make it really stand out,” owner Scott explains. Believing he lacked the know-how to do the project justice and hampered by a busy work schedule, Scott enlisted interior designer Victoria Waters, handing her free rein to give the tired, dated kitchen the stylish upgrade it so desperately needed.

Fabulous finishes

"Wow" factor! Photo: Simon Whitbread

The secret to using dark cabinetry in a small space is balancing it out with lighter finishes.

Scott and Victoria chose cabinets in Laminex laminate in Espresso Ligna from Kensington Kitchens to give the kitchen a masculine edge, and countered the chocolate tones with a mirrored splashback to bounce light around the room. A pale benchtop in Caesarstone ‘Nova Aurora’ also has light-reflective qualities: the surface contains tiny mirrored flecks. The 20mm benchtop is significantly more affordable than a chunkier version and provides a luxurious finish without blowing the budget. A glamorous Ikea pendant light (now discontinued; try Fillsta from Ikea for similar) also softens the ambience.

Touches of class

Modernising hasn’t meant dispensing with the room’s existing character; retaining the original floorboards has resulted in a successful blend of old and new. A servery hatch between the lounge and kitchen was fitted with a Caesarstone benchtop to create a breakfast bar, a popular and inviting nook for Scott’s friends to gather around.

A mirrored splashback bounces light around. Photo: Simon Whitbread

Creating space

Reconfiguring the layout has helped maximise the space in Scott’s kitchen. The freestanding stove was replaced with an Omega Appliances ‘OO651XA’ oven and ‘OG61XA’ gas cooktop, built into the run of units, freeing up the corner spot for a large fridge/freezer, while a floor-to-ceiling pull-out pantry tidily accommodates the larder items. “Now it’s a fully functional kitchen that could work in a much larger house, even though it’s a small space,” Scott says.

The kitchen certainly doesn’t skimp on amenities: it boasts a retractable Omega Appliances ‘OA416W’ rangehood, an integrated Fisher & Paykel dishwasher and a purpose-built microwave cupboard. And tucking virtually everything away behind doors imbues the kitchen with a stylishly streamlined appearance. Another useful addition is an Aqua-Pure water filter tap, positioned next to the Palio mixer behind the undermounted sink. The compact space also boasts a built-in wine rack, a handy contemporary addition that breaks up the run of dark wall cupboards.