This recently completed renovation includes a rear extension, new pool and decking, and an interior fit-out with a new kitchen and bathrooms. The lovely owners were seeking a stylish aesthetic that worked for their lifestyle, but they also appreciated and wanted to retain some of the home’s gorgeous character. The finished result is contemporary yet inspired by classic European design, with an easy elegance for everyday living. I loved working on this project with these cool-as-a-cucumber clients and the fantastic team at 505 Construction!

Entrance & Hallway

Kitchen

Contrast is used to make a statement in the kitchen, with a balance of black and white cabinetry adding impact. The home is a character bungalow, so while the owners wanted to make the spaces more modern they also wanted to retail its historic beauty. Marble is the perfect way to achieve this, and we fell in love with a Calacatta Oro marble from Artedomus featuring a range of neutral tones and stunning movement. This has been teamed with a practical Silestone from Cosentino on the working surfaces.

I’m not a fan of solid black cabinetry that has no texture as it can look too heavy. For me, the key is using a material with a natural woodgrain that softens the dark colour. I chose oak veneer in a crown cut pattern stained in black - you can see the lovely texture coming through creating softness and movement. All the lower cabinetry is drawers (because they fit so much more than cupboards!) in white to contrast the black. I wanted this kitchen to have a tailored, elegant appearance and the bevelled drawer angles achieve this, creating interest and depth. Rather than looking like regular flat cabinetry, they begin to take on the appearance of a furniture piece. Black steel handles, barstools and lighting balance the two tones and marry them together.

Living & dining

An original archway has been refined and kept to retain character - I love how the soft curve breaks up the modern lines. The original floorboards were sanded back and refinished as light as we could possibly get them. Rather than black floors we wanted the foundation to feature an oak colour that introduces a lighter, natural palette and is very practical for family living. This makes it easy to bring in natural, textural furniture such as the sofa.

When you’ve used dark accents in one area of the home it really helps to repeat them in other rooms especially if they are adjoining. Two-toned dining chairs and another statement pendant both feature black slimline steel, and the dining table (a family heirloom!) has been lacquered black. A dark coffee table and sideboard featuring a woodgrain finish add drama to the otherwise all white room, and pops of brass add a luminous touch.

Bathroom & laundry

Just like the kitchen, I wanted the bathroom to have a classic, European-inspired feel that’s still contemporary. Instead of smaller tiles we used large-format marble-look porcelain slabs that create a more seamless look. The bevelled kitchen cabinetry is repeated here in black to create a cohesive look, and the vanity tops are made from the same Calacatta Oro marble featured in the kitchen. White fluted vessel basins and fluted glass wall lights add elegance, and the mirrors were custom made with gentle curved black steel frames. The shower walls have been tiled in a black glazed ceramic tile, and the shower glass is reeded for privacy and light filtration with a black steel frame. The laundry is also in the bathroom, so rather than hide it away we made it a real statement with black oak cabinetry, a black benchtop and black tiles. When its open it almost looks like a bar! A bar in the bathroom? Why not!

Bedroom

Black timber bedsides, black glass pendants and moody bedlinen team with natural linen, white paint and dreamy sheers to create a restful look in the bedroom that still feels in keeping with the rest of the house.

Exterior

A new extension has been added to the rear of the home, now housing the dining space and featuring full height bi-folds that let lots of lovely light in. The pool appears to float above the back lawn, and marble mosaic tiles complement the design.