A compact, practical and stylish kitchen

An architect has packed her delightful kitchen with plenty of storage and neat design touches - by Words Jane Parbury, Styling Ruth Welsby

MARTINA GEMMOLA

When it came time to design the kitchen, homeowners had a clear vision. It had to be practical, functional and visually pleasing. The resulting room, at just 4.4m by 2.9m, is certainly not over-large, but nevertheless packs in plenty of storage, in the shape of a bank of tall cabinets, home to a stack of ovens and the fridge-freezer, as well as a mix of base cupboards and drawers and display shelves that complete the C-shaped space. Aiming for a classic yet fresh look that wouldn’t date, the couple opted for white, Shaker-style cabinetry with timber benchtops that add a natural warmth, and introduced a pair of strategically placed pendants which give an unexpected industrial edge.

MARTINA GEMMOLA

Narrow subway tiles (Spanish handmade natural white gloss ceramic from Marble & Ceramic Corp are similar) deliver on-trend texture and interest to walls. A pair of floating shelves beside the rangehood with carefully chosen, colour-co-ordinated pieces adds an extra display area.

MARTINA GEMMOLA

Positioning the stainless-steel double sink and mixer (for similar, try Clark’s Pete Evans double-bowl undermount sink and Estilo chrome pull-out mixer, both available at Bunnings) underneath the window gives the washer-up something to look at other than dirty dishes. A long open shelf plays host to a tub of mixed herbs and tableware, and is a neat design feature.

MARTINA GEMMOLA