Before & After: Narraweena, NSW
When Michaela and fiancé Ashley purchased a home located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches last year, they knew they wanted to undergo a complete renovation and turn it into the home of their dreams. At the centre of the transformation was the outdated kitchen, which the couple envisioned to be the heart of their home, a place to entertain, and with a baby on the way, a design that celebrates family living. After sitting down with their Freedom Kitchens designer, the resulting Hamptons Coastal-inspired kitchen ticks all the boxes.
Read on to learn all about their kitchen journey.
Before.
The original kitchen was a standalone room, separated from the living room, which leads out to the outdoor space. Despite a practical U-shaped layout, the cabinetry was dated, and storage limited and didn’t lend itself to the sophisticated Hamptons vibe that Michaela loves.
Who lives here? Michaela, her fiancé Ashley, their adorable dachshund Winnie, and a baby on the way!
The brief.
The brief was to create a Hamptons meets Australian Coastal-inspired space that was light and bright and celebrates open plan living, blending the kitchen, living and dining rooms. The look was to balance a modern aesthetic with touches of rustic and warm tones. Ensuring an island bench within the design and plenty of storage were other must-haves to suit this expanding family.
The result.
The first order of business was to remove the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room, creating an open-plan zone consisting of the kitchen, dining and living rooms. An L-shaped layout was selected as it maximised cabinetry and storage while allowing for a generous island bench at the centre of the design.
Complementing the homes seaside location, the kitchen’s aesthetic balances the sophistication of the Hamptons style with the subtle luxury of the Australian Coastal style. Shaker-style cabinetry was a must to create this look, with Freedom Kitchens Sierra doors showcasing a classic 60mm Shaker profile, providing the perfect choice.
The colour palette consists of a mixture of whites, greys, marble and gold. Sierra joinery in Classic White Matt dominates the space; however, the island bench features Oyster Grey doors, adding interest and depth to the neutral scheme. Michaela opted for eye-catching matte white square and subway tiles for the splashback, explaining, “I love these tiles; their imperfect pattern is very bespoke”.
The kitchen also features marble-look benchtops, a farmhouse-style sink, and metallic handles and tap to bring the overall style together. Warmth is injected through the choice of the two natural-toned pendants and stools placed at the island.
The generous island bench takes centerstage within the room, ensuring that it is the gathering place within the home. The ultimate workhorse, one side includes an integrated Ninka Bin, four drawers and a built-in microwave. The countertop has been extended to allow for seating on the other end, offering the ideal spot for casual meals and guests to sit while the couple entertains.
Storage and functionality have been maximised throughout the design. Cupboards have been used predominately to provide plenty of storage and organisation space. The cooking, cleaning and prep zones have been laid out to minimise steps when moving around the room. A tall pantry and fridge have been placed at the end of the cabinetry run and located near the island to ensure quick and easy packing and unpacking of groceries. The inclusion of the wine rack is a nod to the couples love of entertaining family and friends.
While the Samsung French Door Fridge is displayed, other appliances and accessories are concealed behind the joinery. “I love the integrated elements, smiles Michaela. We now have our rubbish bin & dishwasher integrated into the cabinetry, which makes for such a cleaner-looking kitchen!”
The end result is a warm and inviting kitchen that is the heart of the home. “We are a couple that love to entertain, explains Michaela. However, with a bub on the way, we are looking forward to raising a family and utilising our open plan kitchen to enjoy it to the fullest.”
The Freedom Kitchens experience.
“We had a fantastic experience with Freedom Kitchens! There are so many elements to think of and coordinate, but I found our designer and installer very helpful along the way, explains Michaela. I found the online portal very helpful; it was nearly an instant response! And when I had some last-minute design and colour changes, they were very accommodating.”
“I will and already have- recommend Freedom Kitchens,” replies Michaela when asked if she would recommend Freedom Kitchens. “Designing a kitchen can be very overwhelming with everything to think about, and budget, and manage. However, I found Freedom Kitchens were very helpful every step of the way!”
Are you inspired to create your dream kitchen with Freedom Kitchens?
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Full project details:
Cabinetry: Sierra Classic White Matt, Sierra Oyster Grey Matt
Benchtops: By client. For similar we recommend Caesarstone® Aterra Blanca™
Handles: By client. For similar we recommend our Brass Dimple Knob 30mm (8-K-34)
Splashback: Newport Matt Square & Subway tiles from Tile Cloud
Accessories: Cutlery Trays, Ninka Bin
Appliances. By owner. Delonghi Gas Cooktop, Blanco Oven, Electrolux Undermount Rangehood, Samsung French Door Fridge, Domain Fully Integrated Dishwasher
Sink: Butler Farmhouse Ceramic
Tap: By Signature Faucets
Flooring: Hybrid Wonderwood – Pearl White
Lighting: LED downlights, Pendants from Beacon Lighting
Photography: Patrick Moran
