The latest installment of our Before & After series showcases a Freedom Kitchen located in Cherrybrook, NSW which has been transformed from outdated to outstanding!
Prior to their kitchen renovation the Wilson family were living with a very old, U shaped kitchen with old fittings.
The Problem
The owners felt their kitchen didn’t reflect their taste: the old cabinetry and outdated tile splashback looked tired, and the layout wasn’t the best use of the space for their lifestyle. Like many older kitchens, it had a peninsula bench attached to one wall of the kitchen, leaving a narrow thoroughfare on just one side of the kitchen.
The Design Brief
The Wilsons knew they wanted an island bench as the centrepiece of a more modern, open plan design, and glass bi-fold doors to connect their kitchen to an outdoor deck. While they were happy to keep their cabinetry neutral, they wanted to move away from their yellow-toned timber floors and draw from a more modern grey palette throughout.
The Solution
The clever new kitchen design makes the most of an L-shaped layout, and extends the wall with the fridge to include extra cabinet storage as well as bench space.
The refreshing new cabinetry is from Freedom Kitchen’s Iceland range of doors in the colour Alabaster Satin – the perfect blank canvas, with a finish chosen specifically to complement the island.
Keeping the cabinetry neutral also allowed them to make a statement with dark & glossy mosaic glass tiles for their new splashback, and the LED task lighting below the overhead cabinets light up the tiles to stunning effect.
The overhead cabinets feature touch-catch opening mechanisms for a clean look, while the base cabinets feature modern metal bar handles for style as well as ease of use. The big, soft close drawers provide more than enough storage space for their family’s needs now and into the future.
As desired, a beautiful island benchtop plays hero in the centre of the space, and the Freedom Kitchens designer has re-oriented it to allow it to be a grander scale.
The island seating also benefits from the new orientation, as it faces more of the adjacent dining & living area.
The angle of the new island also showcases the stunning waterfall ends, showing off the engineered stone surface they selected in the alluring grey tone of Rugged Concrete by Caesarstone – which both the owners and their gorgeous doggo are pretty pleased with.
The rear benches are in the more neutral tone of Fresh Concrete by Caesarstone, for a more subtle concrete speckle that complements the island rather than competing with it.
The decision to remove the peninsula bench in favour of an island was also part of their plan to open up the kitchen to become and indoor/outdoor space.
This has made a remarkable impact – the space is now flooded with light, and perfect for entertaining or a sunny spot to read the paper on a lazy Sunday.
When asked to name their favourite part of their new kitchen, the Wilsons said the island – but that really, they loved everything: “All of it. It is so functional and it cleans and tidies up well so quickly.”
Handy accessories like this integrated bin certainly contribute to the ease of clean-up.
Take a look at the impressive BEFORE & AFTER of their kitchen side by side:
As part of their renovation the Wilsons also tackled their old laundry, taking the opportunity to update it with the same Iceland cabinetry used in the kitchen.
The benchtop complete with sink was installed with Nugget by Caesarstone.
We loved seeing this kitchen and laundry renovation – and how much it’s transformed the way the Wilson family now the enjoy the heart of their home!
Is it time to see how your own kitchen can be transformed by a Freedom Kitchens make-over?
Why wait – start your own kitchen journey today!
Click HERE to download our latest catalogue, or click HERE to book a free design appointment at your home.
