BESPOKE BEAUTY Be inspired by this customised coastal kitchen

Bespoke beauty

FOR THIS CUSTOMISED KITCHEN RENO, STYLE, FUNCTIONALITY AND NOSTALGIA ALL PLAYED ROLES

Words CAROLINE BOTTING Photography JONNO RODD Styling LUCY GLADE-WRIGHT

Before

This 1950s beach house in Victoria holds a special place in the hearts of renovation experts Lucy Glade-Wright and Jonno Rodd of Hunting for George (huntingforgeorge.com), having been in Jonno’s family for 50 years. But its kitchen was outdated and cluttered, with inaccessible appliances, inadequate storage and an impractical layout.

“The renovation was all about updating the home to accommodate and futureproof for a growing family,” says Lucy. Key to making it work was creating a kitchen like no other with customised cabinetry, lighting, statement zones and a mix of old and new.

“Open shelving creates easy access to everyday items and room for styling,” says renovation expert Lucy Glade-Wright Under-cupboard lighting brightens an inset (and potentially dark) breakfast station

PANTRY

FRIDGE

PANTRY

Kitchen floor plan

DW

SINK

SINK

BIN

The original fireplace cavity was expanded for a new 90cm stove, and the mantelshelf raised

ABOVE AND TOP RIGHT Kaboodle Kitchen cabinetry, ‘Alpine’ profile in Cremasala and ‘Modern’ profile in Spiced Oak. Shelves made using Kaboodle Kitchen 2400mm x 600mm x 33mm benchtop in American Oak, $640, I/N: 0246290. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

COLOUR CODE

VJ and plasterboard walls: Dulux Wash&Wear low sheen in Sago Ceiling: Dulux Ceiling White in Half Natural White Trim: Dulux Aquanamel semi gloss in Natural White

Making plans

In planning a major storage upgrade to suit their needs, the pair also wanted to retain the kitchen’s beachy retro vibe, along with its L-shaped layout. They opted for customised flush floor-to-ceiling cupboards and drawer systems for one side of the kitchen, along with an appliance upgrade and increased bench space for food preparation.

“My goal was to open it up and maximise the floorplan,” says Lucy. “I really wanted to maintain its original charm so I focused on creating a nostalgic and homey interior, but with modern applications.”

To create the coastal look, Lucy chose warm, neutral tones layered with greys and off-whites. Metallic pops of brass in the statement kitchen mixer and drawer pulls add an individualised contrast.

Deciding on the final options was all about gathering samples. “Have them in front of you to play around with and create a few selections,” she advises those wrestling with such choices. “I grabbed Kaboodle Kitchen samples in store as well as brackets, handles, timber, stone and other elements in order to finalise my design choices. It’s important to consider the entire space as a whole before making any big decisions.” (See page 41 for more tips on choosing finishes).

Although still on display, the microwave now snugly nestles in new cabinetry “By remaining consistent with my colour palette, I ensured all the decor items worked well together,” says Lucy Glade-Wright

TOP RIGHT A towel rail is reinvented as a sleek hanging rack for cooking implements. CENTRE Integrating the dishwasher into the cabinetry under the microwave nook allows it to seamlessly disappear within the revamped layout

Keep in mind…

n Any plumbing and hardwired electrical work must be carried out by licensed tradies.

Start customising

Working closely with the Kitchen Design Service, the couple ensured their Kaboodle Kitchen cabinetry perfectly fitted the space. They carefully prepared all measurements, along with a plan for appliances.

Jonno Rodd’s advice on assembling cabinetry is threefold: “Have printouts on hand of all sections of your kitchen to easily refer to; batch build all similar modules and parts, as it gets easier if you do the same thing back-to-back; and don’t forget to start at the bottom and work your way up.”

When planning cabinetry, think about your lighting. “When we installed our wall cabinets we allowed enough space to hide strip lighting behind them. This not only adds a custom touch but really elevated the look and functionality,” says Lucy Glade-Wright. After deciding on a warm, neutral palette, Jonno and Lucy fitted EasyCraft 100mm VJ-look wet area wall panels painted in easy-to-clean Dulux Wash&Wear low sheen in Sago.

Adding conversation pieces also gives a customised look. Lucy’s waterfall engineered stone benchtop and seating area is a beautiful statement, providing an entertainment and eating zone. The pendant lights accentuate the area and provide ambient and practical illumination.

“Cabinets are not hard to install yourself, but if you have extra space it pays to preassemble everything away from where it’s going, then you can lay it out like Lego”

Jonno Rodd, Hunting for George

A touch of nostalgia

With the kitchen installed, the couple added a mix of items to pull the look together. “I wanted to play to a nostalgic 1970s interior, with lots of terracotta, amber glass and brown and earthy tones,” explains Lucy. “There were existing older kitchen items I brought back and I picked up a few pieces from charity shops.”

On open shelves, Lucy displayed modern pieces with older cook’s objects including retro scales, ceramic vessels and a brass toast stand.

Maintaining the mantelshelf over the oven cavity also paid homage to the original kitchen. “It was an important element to help soften the interior, and brought a lot of character and charm into the space,” says Lucy.

Scan the QR code

Create your dream kitchen with a Bunnings design expert consultation, in store or at home:

bunnings.com.au/kitchen-design

Read it!

Control the spray to wet only the areas you’re mopping

NO BUCKET NEEDED

When unexpected guests are on their way, there’s no need to drag out the old mop and bucket. With an Oates Ezy Spray Mop, just spray and go – and get set to impress visitors with the cleanliness of your home.

Spray, mop and go!

Sparkling-clean floors are easy with the convenient, effective Oates Ezy Spray Mop

It turns out there’s a better way to mop after all. One that’s lightweight, won’t need you to lug a heavy bucket around the house and perfect for quick clean-ups. With Oates Ezy Spray Mop, available Australia-wide at Bunnings, cleaning your floors is a bucketless breeze. Ideal for hard-floor types such as timber floorboards, laminate, vinyl and linoleum, the Oates Ezy Spray Mop removes dust, dirt and spillages with ease, all without saturating the floor with excess water, which can often lead to damage. This cleaning wonder does it all wet or dry – without the need for chemicals.

Mop heads can be removed for easy washing

LIGHT AND EZY

Thanks to the lightweight design and easy-to-change refills that attract and hold dust, all the hard work is taken out of cleaning. Simply fill up the bottle, use the trigger on the mop handle and go. The refills can even be bought separately and are machine washable for continued use.

A DEEPER CLEAN

Concerned about tackling those more stubborn areas? The new scrub refill includes scourer technology to shift tough dirt and grime. It’s just as easy to set up and use, and can quickly be swapped over when you need it.

1 Oates ‘Ezy Spray’ scrub mop refill, $9.99, I/N: 0379448. 2 Oates ‘Ezy Spray’ mop refill, $9.99, I/N: 0379444. 3 Oates ‘Ezy Spray’ mop with bonus scrub refill, $29.99, I/N: 0379446.

@oatescleaningproducts facebook.com/OatesCleaningProducts

Spring garden solutions

Outdoor space looking a bit uninspiring? Here are five ways to give it an easy beauty boost, thanks to Northcote Pottery pots and Cyclone hand tools

Most gardens need a freshen-up for a new season. Here’s how adding a selection of gorgeous Northcote Pottery pots, planted up for spring with the help of quality Cyclone hand tools, can help.

1. FIND YOUR STYLE

Northcote Pottery pots come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colours. To whittle down the broad selection, consider the aesthetic of your home. Angular shapes work well with contemporary exteriors, round ones have a classic look, or check out the Mason Tapered collection, which combines angles and curves for the best of both worlds.

2. GET COLOUR CONFIDENCE

For timeless style, go with neutrals. White delivers a crisp, clean look that’s perfect for virtually any tone of foliage and offsets colour beautifully. Cream has a relaxed feel that works well with more traditional backdrops. Black is enduringly stylish and suits

Northcote Pottery ‘Emmerson’ trough planters in Black: 100cm x 47cm, $169, I/N: 0286026, and 80cm x 38cm, $129, I/N: 0286023

Northcote Pottery 32cm tapered square pot in Black, $39.99, I/N: 0356124; and 32cm tapered cone pot in Black, $39.99, I/N: 0356401

Northcote Pottery ‘Ava’ drum pots in White: 30cm, $34.63, I/N: 0356433, and 20cm, $22.53, I/N: 0356432

urban locations. It’s well known for making greenery pop, but is also fantastic with vivid colour.

3. TACKLE SPECIFIC ISSUES

Trough planters, such as the Emmerson range, are brilliant for problem areas. Plant them with a suitable screening plant and try them in a neat row to hide an ugly fence, border a patio to create a sense of enclosure, or set at the end of a balcony to enhance privacy.

4. MAKE A STATEMENT

For eye-catching impact, opt for pots with interesting shapes, like the Tapered Cone or Tapered Square. Striking when paired with statement plants and positioned either side of a front door, they’re also handy for strategic spots in the garden – as a central feature, a full stop at the end of a path, or to signal a change in deck height or direction.

5. GO WITH GROUPINGS

Arranging several pots together works well when they’re anchored by their surroundings, ideal for a neglected

TOOLS FOR THE TASKS

Of course, your pots require lovely plants to make them the style sensation you want them to be, but you’ll also need good tools for both planting and maintenance. Check out Cyclone’s range of handsome hand tools for pot care and general garden tidying. There’s a potting scoop for filling planters and soil top-ups; a hand trowel for planting; and a hand fork for sifting out pesky weeds. Complete the set with the bulb trowel which, as well as simple bulb planting, can make replacing a plant casualty with a new seedling easier. Once you’re done, clean up with the tough but gentle ProSeries multi-surface broom. Job ticked off, style problems solved!

corner. For a clean look, aim for consistency of colour, finish and plantings, and vary the size or shape. The easiest way to get this right is to include containers from the same family, such as the chic Ava Drum which comes in two sizes and – handily – accommodates growers’ pots.

1 Cyclone stainless steel garden trowel, $9.85, I/N: 3360998. 2 Cyclone stainless steel bulb trowel hand tool, $9.85, I/N: 3361000. 3 Cyclone stainless steel fork hand tool, $9.85, I/N: 3360486. 4 Cyclone potting scoop, $13.24, I/N: 0242127. 5 Cyclone ‘ProSeries’ 600mm outdoor broom, $69.49, I/N: 0065243.

For more potted inspiration, visit northcotepottery.com/blogs/potted-combos