A fresh start

A DARK AND DATED TIMBER KITCHEN IS NOW A LIGHT, BRIGHT, WELCOMING SPACE FOR THIS FAMILY OF FIVE

Words and styling KYLIE JACKES Photography LOUISE ROCHE

When Eleesha and husband Brock bought their 1990s home in a quiet seaside town in Queensland two years ago, the kitchen wasn’t a selling point. “It was dark, poky and definitely not somewhere you’d want to spend time,” says Eleesha, who documents life with the couple’s three young daughters on Instagram (@the.quinn.girls). Yet the house soon grew on the family, prompting Eleesha to customise the kitchen with everything she loved.

Planning process

As they live in a regional area, Eleesha booked a virtual – rather than face-to-face – consultation with a kitchen design expert through Bunnings In Home Services‡. This assisted with layout decisions and ensured storage was maximised with clever solutions. The kitchen stayed in the original location, but morphed from a compact U-shape into a larger galley-style layout, taking in space from a former home office to create a butler’s pantry. The result is a streamlined, modern area.

“Getting a sketch, layout plan [above] and 3D images really helped us visualise how it would all come together,” says homeowner Eleesha (below)

Bay Gallery Furniture ‘Darcey’ outdoor teak and rope bar stools, $675 each*, I/N: 0355558. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. This product is available to buy online only and is sold and delivered by a Bunnings Marketplace Trusted Seller. Not all items are available in all states and territories. *Delivery charges may apply.

Family f unctionality

Must-haves included a window splashback, drawing in abundant natural light and garden views, as well as a generous three-metre island. “With the window above the back bench, I can watch the girls playing outside while I cook, or they can sit at the island and do their homework and chat while I’m making dinner,” says Eleesha, who added warmth with teak and rope bar stools. 

THESE PAGES The floating shelf either side of a concealed rangehood is a custom-cut Kaboodle Kitchen 36mm

Hevea benchtop

Oregano plant in Lotus Collection 140mm x 120mm round ceramic egg pot in Clay, $7.98, I/N: 0376196. Thyme plant in Lotus Collection 23.5cm x 21cm ceramic egg pot in Cream, $17.48, I/N: 0258689. Curry plants in Lotus Collection 11cm x 9cm ceramic egg pot in Cream, $4.98, I/N: 0258684, and 140mm x 120mm round ceramic egg pot in Clay, as before. Tiles, for similar try Decor8 ‘Clay’ 250mm x 62mm gloss subway wall tile in Chalk, $39.98/pack of 20, I/N: 0289531†. All plants sold separately. All other products, stylist’s own.

ABOVE “Although subtle, the tiles have a great irregular surface and varying tones which create a bespoke look,” says Eleesha

LEFT The expansive island’s Kaboodle Kitchen ‘Alpine’ profile cabinetry in Macaroon boasts a marble-look benchtop with waterfall ends – for a similar look, try Essential Stone 40mm square-edge benchtop in Carrara Marfil. Timber-framed complementary prints, Deuce Oliva (left) and Olives and Lemons, both by Sydney artist Vynka Hallam, provide colour.

Lutec ‘Sura’ 10W IP54 cool white LED downlights in White Finish, $19.76 each, I/N: 0094424. Abey ‘Gareth Ashton’ WELS 3-star 8L/ min gooseneck sink mixer in Brushed Brass, $369, I/N: 0176988†. Blanco single bowl inset or undermount sink with overflow, $598.95, I/N: 0045554. Kaboodle Kitchen ‘Plaza’ 128mm handles in Brass, $9.50 each, I/N: 0175957†. BELOW LEFT Kaboodle Kitchen 2 x 35L side mount pullout bin, $317, I/N: 0229082. BELOW RIGHT Hafele ‘Point Pod Multi’ pop-up power outlet in Aluminium, $545, I/N: 0427137†. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Style direction

Inspired by the bones of the original house, Eleesha chose a coastal style combining traditional and modern influences. “White and stone were key to the new palette, as it brightened the kitchen and ensured it flowed with adjoining dining and living spaces,” she says. Silk-finish cabinetry and timeless square-edged, marble-look engineered stone benchtops team with walls in Dulux Natural White. Above the island, a trio of downlights provides task lighting when needed.

Concealed assets

Many of the family’s favourite features, like the pull-out bins and a Hafele pop-up recharge/power point, are hidden. “As we spend so much time around the island bench, it’s actually the most-used power point in the house. I love that it disappears seamlessly into the benchtop when we’re finished with it,” says Eleesha. 

The streamlined butler’s pantry is a valuable addition to the home and offers plenty of practical benefits

Butler benef its

Converting an unused room into a butler’s pantry dramatically increased the kitchen’s storage and created a second prep zone. For a cohesive look, the same palette of finishes –such as sleek white cabinetry – flows throughout, with the brass handles and gooseneck sink mixer giving subtle metallic touches.

A generous 53L undermount sink can accommodate the largest of saucepans or oven trays, while VJ panels painted in Dulux Natural White act as a textural backdrop below a bank of wall units, lit up at night with LED strip lights mounted under the cabinetry.

A tall cupboard next to the fridge functions as a pantry, while pull-out baskets in corner cupboards ensure no potential storage space is wasted.

Design Directions

Homeowner Eleesha set herself a trio of main goals to work towards, which helped guide decisions.

“The kitchen space needed to be light and open.”

“I wanted it to showcase an element of personality yet have broad appeal if we decide to sell.”

“Rather than being purely a workspace, I wanted it to look and feel like an extension of the living area.”

I/N: 0256109.

9mm

Find primed 100mm VJ panel in White, $90, I/N: 0330364.

Ashton’ WELS 3-star 8L/min gooseneck sink mixer in Brushed Brass, $369, I/N: 0176988†. Blanco ‘Andano’ undermount sink, $1,198.38, I/N: 5090352†. Bird’s nest fern plant in Lotus Collection 23.5 x 21cm plain ceramic egg pot in Cream, $17.48, I/N: 0258689 (plant sold separately). Kettle and toaster, for similar try Morphy Richards ‘Illumination’ 1.7L kettle, $79*, I/N: 0294561, and 4 slice toaster, $79*, I/N: 0294551, both in White. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. This product is available to buy online only and is sold and delivered by a Bunnings Marketplace Trusted Seller. Not all items are available in all states and territories. *Delivery charges may apply.