S WITCHED ON Inspired by the owner’s artistic background, this

INSIDE | RENOVATE

IN DETAIL switched on An unusual shade on the pendant lights was the starting point for this Sydney kitchen, closely followed by the cabinetry colour

Colour was key in this kitchen overhaul, which formed part of a whole-house refurbishment for a family of five living in the Sydney suburb of Balmain. “The owner, Arabella, is a portrait photographer and her work is full of strong colours. I knew colour would figure in this project, too,” says the designer, Altus Design Studio founder Josie Simpson. When Arabella began showing Josie images of other houses she liked, a common denominator soon became apparent: the use of blue.

The other main consideration was Arabella’s extended family. “She’s one of five children, and her relatives all live nearby,” Josie explains. “So, part of our motivation was to create a welcoming space for their large family gatherings.”

first steps “The first things we decided on were the pendant lights above the dining table,” says Josie. “That was the pivotal decision that really drove the rest of the design.” Next, Josie took the somewhat unorthodox step of installing the lights before the space was painted. “With the light fittings on site, we were able to cycle through paint swatches for the cabinets,” she explains, adding: “I didn’t want the blue to match the light fittings – I wanted it to complement them.” To add more variation, Josie and Arabella chose two white tones to go with the rest of the room.

furniture options While the dining table was decided on very quickly, Josie and her clients spent a considerable amount of time considering options for the chairs. “The owners have young kids, so they didn’t want to go down the path of upholstered chairs, or leather,” says Josie. “Sometimes in the Sydney summer, you get up from a chair and almost slide out of it because you’re so sweaty.” They settled on classic cane chairs based on a 1920s Austrian design. “The husband had grown up with that sort of chair in his grandmother’s house, so there was a sentimental aspect.”

the result Arabella and her husband chose a 6mm matt porcelain benchtop after Josie pointed out the practical advantages. “Porcelain is the most forgiving surface you can possibly find,” she points out. “You don’t have to worry if you spill something like red wine or lemon juice on it.” Above the benchtop, a super-thin pendant light in solid brass illuminates the island without competing with the lighting in the dining area. “The clients did question that pendant. They said, ‘That’s a lot of money for a very simple light.’ But in the end, I convinced them to trust me – and now they love it.” Discover more projects at altusdesignstudio.com.au

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Miele ArtLine Compact Combi-Steam 45cm oven , $9199, Winning Appliances. Marmi Michelangelo matt pressed porcelain , $1210 per 3m x 1.5m x 6mm sheet, Artedomus. Freado Eterno Piccolo floorboards , $123 per sq m, Tongue N Groove. Dulux Wash&Wear paint in Apollo Bay, $104 per 4L, Bunnings. Crop bar stool, $544.50, Relm. OPPOSITE Light wood tones cluster in the dining zone. Jutland oak dining table , Huset. No.811 Hoffmann chairs , Thonet. Sadly, the Bezel pendants by Nightworks Studio are discontinued. A Highline pendant by Rakumba hangs above a perfectly paired brushed-brass tap by Brodware.