FARM FRESH The Make It Happen team revamps a kitchen

Farm fresh

A TIRED KITCHEN HAS BECOME A BAKER’S DELIGHT, THANKS TO THE BUNNINGS MAKE IT HAPPEN TEAM

Words KYLIE JACKES Photography PAUL JOHNSTONE Styling SHARON BEGG

Paint colours may vary on application. †Available to order online or at the Special Orders Desk. Before

SAFETY TIP ALWAYS USE LICENSED TRADES FOR PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WORKS

ABOVE Cabinetry painted with Dulux ‘Renovation Range’ cabinet doors satin paint in Powdered Gum, $87.70/2L, I/N: 0116477. Lane 32mm round thick knobs in Matte Brass, $4.72 each, I/N: 0135448. Bellini 60cm 70L 10 function pyrolytic oven in Stainless Steel/Black, $680, I/N: 5103551. Everdure 90cm stainless steel canopy rangehood, $313, I/N: 0182422. Decor8 Tiles 324mm x 284mm x 6mm hexagon ceramic mosaic wall tiles in White Matt, $8.30/case of 15, I/N: 0033256. Verve Design ‘Harper’ DIY wall light with short arm in Matte Black, $59, I/N: 0018501. Window frames painted with Dulux ‘Aquanamel’ semi gloss paint in Domino, $61.60/1L, I/N: 1400055. Bellini 90cm stainless steel 5 burner gas cooktop, $469, I/N: 5102304. Kaboodle 38mm customisable laminate benchtop in Calcutta Grey†. Blanco 80cm double bowl sink in Anthracite, $587, I/N: 0223194†. Verve Design ‘Dome’ 60W metal pendant lights in Black and Gold, $69.98 each, I/N: 7070974. All lighting globes sold separately. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. 

Upcycled existing shelf mounted on Carinya 150mm x 130mm x 20mm x 15mm pine stayed brackets in White, $5 each, I/N: 0091707. Everdure WELS 4-star 13.6L 60cm freestanding dishwasher in Stainless Steel, $570, I/N: 5103644.

Keen cook Virginia loves baking. But her old kitchen? Not so much. “We’d never had a rangehood, I needed more storage and I was over the timber cabinet doors my husband, Andrew, had made when we bought the house 15 years ago,” she says. “I thought they just needed to go.” But

Make It Happen host and renovation expert Lucy Glade-Wright of Hunting for George (huntingforgeorge.com) had other ideas. “Virginia loved the charm of a farmhouse look, so we wanted to bring in that character and give it a modern touch,” explains Lucy. “This tied in perfectly with updating the existing timber cabinet doors which, although dated, were in good condition.”

The country scheme also forged a link with existing furniture in the adjacent dining area, including a timber table and hutch that Virginia had owned for many years. “The kitchen had a good layout and solid bones, so it was a matter of determining what needed to be replaced and what could be refreshed with paint,” explains Lucy.

Dulux Powdered Gum

H omeowner Virginia (lef )

with Lucy Glade-Wright

Abey ‘Gareth Aston’ WELS 3-star 8L/min gooseneck sink mixer in Brushed Brass, $361, I/N: 0176988†

Green thinking

A new colour scheme creates cohesion between the kitchen and adjoining dining space. “People can be scared of using colour, but it is an incredibly effective way to enhance the mood and proportions of a space,” says Lucy, who chose soft green Dulux Powdered Gum for cabinetry, teamed with warm Natural White on the walls and a pop of Domino to define window trims.

In the black

Bold accents pepper the space. “Black really grounds the scheme and can give a farmhouse kitchen a modern edge, so we introduced it through feature pendants and wall lights, as well as a black sink,” says Lucy. “People think you have to match your sink and tapware finish, but mixing a black sink with a brushed brass tap adds a little quirk and character.”

Modern touch

The room’s dated tiles and dreary work surface were replaced with contemporary white mosaics for the splashback, and distinctive marble-look Kaboodle benchtops. “My number one tip for splashbacks

is to tile from the benchtop to the ceiling if you can,” says Lucy. “It always amplifies the sense of space, particularly if you’re using a white tile. Here the mosaics add a subtle, modern pattern for textural interest.”

Conceal and display

As an avid baker, Virginia needed abundant storage for supplies and bakeware. Several extra cupboards were added to boost capacity, yet one of the biggest improvements was reorganising the existing pantry. Dry goods were decanted into stackable containers, tiered shelf inserts added layers, and lower shelves were replaced with pull-out baskets, which allow for easy access to bulkier items. Removing shelves alongside the oven, in favour of a floor-to-ceiling cabinet, has also allowed small appliances to be kept out of sight. A few new open shelves have been installed to display greenery and treasured pieces.

Final flourish

A couple of furniture updates completed the refresh. For Lucy, the key piece tying the makeover together was the newly painted timber hutch that carried the Dulux Powdered Gum hue through to the dining area. “Updating it with contemporary brass knobs to match the kitchen cabinetry was a lovely finishing touch,” she adds.

The dining table also benefited from some TLC. After it was sanded, the base was painted with Dulux Natural White, while the beauty of the timber top was accentuated with a coat of clear varnish. Virginia admits she was blown away by the impact. “Painting

An open shelf, made from MDF and painted to match the cabinetry, adds a display zone

Kaboodle cutlery insert tray in Grey, $14, I/N: 4560077. Boyle 60cm x 45cm self adhesive blackboard film, $7.19, I/N: 1661249. Practa Solutions small shelf stackers in White, $14.40 each, I/N: 2669885. Ezy Storage ‘Brickor’ long trays, $1.96 each, I/N: 2583803. Hills foldable bamboo laundry baskets in Smoke, $29.95 each, I/N: 0013628. Flexi Storage 185mm 2 runner mesh baskets in White, $19.74 each, I/N: 2590165, and 285mm 3 runner mesh baskets in White, $23.52 each, I/N: 2590166. LEFT Marquee cross-back dining chairs in White, $59.98 each, I/N: 0233087. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

A good sand and a coating of Cabot’s ‘Cabothane Clear’ brought out the woodgrain in the top of Virginia’s table

MAKE IT! SEE PAGE 59

the pieces was so simple but so effective – I thought my dining table was new!” she says.

Beyond thrilled with the fresh look and improved functionality, Virginia says she now spends even more time in the kitchen. “I wanted it to be a warm and inviting heart of the home, and that’s exactly what it is,” she says. “I just love it. When people visit for the first time after the transformation, the first thing they say is, ‘Wow’!” ◆

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Tune into episode 5 of Make It Happen to see how Virginia’s kitchen was transformed:

youtube.com/bunningswarehouse

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