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Design Designers Interviews Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Green makes statement in Art Deco meets Miami kitchen

“The perfect kitchen functions seamlessly, with all the necessities, but doesn’t necessarily feel like a kitchen. Choose materials that excite you, that bring warmth and a sense of togetherness and then get the seating right and you’ll never want to leave the space!” says Bondi Kitchens brand director Charlotte Riggs who shares a stunning kitchen with us today. Created by Bondi Kitchens, and nestled inside a federation bungalow perched on Sydney’s Centennial Park, this space certainly exemplifies Charlotte’s sentiment.

Bondi Kitchens
What a luxe space!

Part of a large-scale renovation of a large Randwick home, this kitchen features rich materials and a real sense of drama that you don’t often see in such a utilitarian part of the home. “The richly textured palette fuses the heritage of the home whilst bringing in a sense of the exotic. We like to think it’s Art Deco meets Miami,” says Charlotte.

Bondi Kitchens
The appliances are hidden behind doors featuring black Lo & Co handles

The luxe materials palette includes custom teak-stained crown cut American oak cabinetry, stunning Calacatta Oro marble and polyurethane cupboard fronts painted in a statement – Dulux Highland Green. “Calacatta Oro is a classic and it gives instant glamour which is what the client was hoping to achieve,” says Charlotte of the rich, caramel gold-veined marble that really draws the eye.

the generously proportioned island bench features waterfall ends with a shadow-line detail while a Peggy 9 pendant light by Vistosi, sourced from Mondoluce, hangs above. The cooktop is comprised of Pitt burners that were purchased individually from Winning Appliances and then grouped to create a custom configuration.

Bondi Kitchens

Concealed appliances are also key in creating a kitchen that doesn’t look like one. “These little details cleverly conceal traditional kitchen utilities like the fridge and oven,” says Charlotte. Tucked beside the kitchen is a large butler’s pantry that features the same lovely mix of materials.

“Custom teak-stained American Oak inlays on the stool-side bring warmth and connection to the kitchen as a whole,” says Charlotte. Retro emerald-green velvet vintage stools complete the look.

Butler's pantry
Butler’s pantry
Bondi Kitchens
Inside the butler’s pantry

Large in scale, one of the main design challenges for the space was getting the proportions right. “The kitchen is on the generous, grandiose side so clever detailing in wall panelling and the balance between marble, veneer and poly cabinetry was the secret to the kitchen’s success.”

Photography: Jacqui Turk

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Design House Tours Interviews Kitchens Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Skinny Sydney terrace reno a triumph of understated design

While we love a good trend, sometimes there’s something so visually soothing about a series of classic elements coming together in an understated way. The work of Bondi Kitchens, this recent heritage terrace renovation in Sydney’s Coogee is a case in point. Natural marble, smoked mirror and moody timbers make for a series of casually elegant spaces, the likes of which are classic without being dull.

Coogee terrace renovation

“It’s the subtle elegance of the home that we love the most. The simple yet refined selection of materials marry to make something quite beautiful, without the snobbery. There is nothing complicated about the spaces, that I think makes you feel instantly relaxed and welcomed,” says Charlotte Riggs, brand director of Bondi Kitchens who was responsible for the renovation.

Home to a young professional couple and their pooch, the small two-level home was originally built in 1910 and consisted of 1.5 bedrooms and one bathroom. “It was a tiny heritage terrace house and while liveable it wasn’t necessarily functional in its state. There was room for improvement, and also investment for the young owners,” says Charlotte. The extensive overhaul resulted in a much larger home that boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an extension that includes a larger living and kitchen area.

Kitchen
Kitchen

A central hub, the kitchen sits in the middle of the house and is accessed from a traditional terrace entrance hallway. “For the kitchen, the main consideration was the use of classic and understated, tasteful finishes with subtle elegant European-esque accents. The owners were very clear in not having a trend-driven, showy kitchen but rather something that just relaxed into the room – a natural beauty,” says Charlotte of the hardworking space that is easy to use.

Kitchen
Large overhead cupboards encourage height while providing a large amount of storage

Alongside the kitchen, there’s additional pantry and cupboard storage as well as a dining area opposite that features a custom upholstered floating banquette seat. “This banquette’s curves add softness and texture to a very sharp-lined kitchen. The clients allowed us full creative license with this design, and it’s a beautiful statement piece that complements the kitchen with its laid-back charm.”

The banquette was upholstered in Warwick Fabrics ‘Kumi Vapour’ jacquard
The dining room banquette seat was upholstered in Warwick Fabrics ‘Kumi Vapour’ jacquard

Upstairs, the renovation continued in the master bedroom which features a pair of unusual, mirrored wardrobes with recessed handles. “Very heavy, they were challenging but rewarding to make. The mood that smoked grey (compared to standard silver) mirror creates is like no other. The mirror also bounces light and makes the bedrooms feel super luxe, and larger than life!” says Charlotte.

Bedroom
Bedroom
Custom smoke mirrored wardrobes are a feature in the master bedroom
Custom smoke mirrored wardrobes are a feature in the master bedroom

The wardrobes are another example of the way in which the renovation maximised space within the home’s diminutive footprint. A small and narrow block, the Bondi Kitchens team worked hard to make layout changes that were highly functional while imbuing the home with a sense of openness. 

“Overall, creating long and slim proportions and using neutral, yet interesting materials allows the home to feel open, flowy and also bounce light.”

Bathroom
Bathroom

Photography: Jacqui Turk

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Design Styling

My 5 favourite interiors insta-accounts this month (May 2020)

I often assume everyone else is following the same Instagram GOLD that I am, but I’ve realised that’s not always the case. I don’t want you to miss out, so I’m going to start sharing five of my faves each month. I hope you love them, and find them as inspiring and enjoyable as I do!

Abigail Ahern is a fellow Pom and an interior designer with a really brave, authentic, interesting style. She makes no apologies for following her own rules, and I absolutely love her regular Instagram TVs where she talks through what she has done in certain rooms in her amazing London home, giving great tips and showing you how you can make your own interiors more exciting, in a really easy to follow and inspiring way. I also love the fact that her super cute dogs often jump into shot too, with hilarious results.

She’ll teach you how to be brave with darker paint colours (including the ceiling!), that you can fit more lamps than you thought possible into one room and it’ll look amazing, and how it’s all about adding drama and friction. I love it! While my aesthetic and hers aren’t obviously similar, I love everything she does and I take a lot of tips from her videos and implement them at home.

If you love what you see, Abigail runs an online styling masterclass which you could easily jump into, even from all the way over here in Australia! Speaking of which, Abigail loves Oz, and was due back here for Decor + Design until it was sadly postponed. Hopefully we will see her on our shores again soon!

Steve Cordony is one of Australia’s most talented stylists and my love of his work (and him, because he also happens to be a delightful and genuine person) is nothing new, but lately his Instagram Stories are some of my favourites. The poor guy (that’s sarcasm) is in lockdown at the ridiculously beautiful farm he has been renovating with partner Mike in Orange and he has been sharing styling tips, his favourite things and glimpses of his home and ever-growing menagerie!

As a bonus suggestion, you’d better follow his Rosedale Farm account too. Steve’s recently announced October styling masterclasses at the farm sold out super quickly, but stay tuned as I hear he may announced new dates soon!

Bondi Kitchens is a relatively new follow for me, but I have to say, I’ve not seen so many gorgeous kitchens in one feed for a long time! Everything they do seems to be so modern and fresh, but at the same time quite classic.

ZouBuild This husband and wife team’s feed is before & after gold, and you all know how much I love a good before & after. The Brisbane pair transform some of the most ordinary houses into spectacular homes through clever renovation and extension. Chris and Christal’s (I know, cute!) projects are always popular when we feature them on the blog.

Tiny Homes Australia I’ll level with you: I don’t think I could ever live in a tiny house (maybe if I ditched the husband and kids, but can’t see that happening any time soon!) but I love seeing how other people do it. The whole concept fascinates me and this account is great for inspiration and a nosey inside people’s little homes!

I hope you’ve discovered at least one new must-follow among these! I’d love to know who your favourites are too?

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Design Interviews Real Renos

Real reno: Joinery stars in richly layered Coogee abode

Designed by Sydney interior designers Space Control, this Coogee abode was given a major face lift recently and the result combines mid-century elements with Deco flair in what is now a sophisticated family home. “The client brief was to bring this Coogee beach house to its maximum potential as it was in desperate need of a complete makeover. We also needed to introduce a sense of a playful contemporary style to the interiors that related to the clients’ beach lifestyle,” says Space Control director Cressida Kennedy.

Kitchen
Kitchen

Kitchen
Calacatta Statuario marble is featured throughout the project

“We wanted to create a house that had a strong design direction but was still a livable family home – not too perfect. One where the kids could come directly from the beach and feel relaxed to use the features and furniture of the house. The solid American walnut timber joinery is combined with a minimalist white colour palette that contributes to the laid back coastal atmosphere created within the home,” says Cressida.

Bathroom
The bathroom features so many sumptuous textural layers

Combining brass, marble and feature American walnut, there’s no denying the high-end bespoke joinery (created by Bondi Kitchens) is a standout feature of the renovation. The full fit out joinery package included a stunning kitchen detailed with v-groove polar white curved island and back bench, along with American walnut veneer full height cabinets, detailed with a solid walnut trim. “The house is richly layered with numerous bespoke interior elements that add fun, joy and intrigue, whilst the design creates a new visual language for the family home,” says Cressida.

Bondi Kitchens
The stunning parent’s retreat

And as for her favourite space, it’s the knockout first floor parent’s retreat. “I like the open planning living that is focused around the marble fireplace along with the feature American walnut timber and brass bar for entertaining. The house has amazing natural light and this space captures it beautifully,” says Cressida.

Upstairs bar
The upstairs bar is a fabulous entertaining space

Photography: Drew Wheeler

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