New lease on life

Thanks to a timely overhaul, this once inward-looking kitchen is now a light-filled room with a view.

With their adult children no longer living at home, Sydney couple Jane and Andrew decided it was time to update their empty nest. Their 1920s bungalow on the city’s North Shore had been a very comfortable family home for 30 years, but some elements – including the kitchen – had remained unchanged that entire time. They knew there was plenty of scope for improvement and called on interior designer Annie Bowen to help.

“The rear of the home has a beautiful outlook across the water to Manly, but the old kitchen was inward-looking, with only a small window looking out to the view,” says Annie. “There was a narrow central island, limited storage, and the kitchen benches had become a virtual office, with computers, phone chargers and paperwork on display.”

Working with the existing 4x5.9-metre footprint, Annie completely reimagined the space, creating an L-shaped layout with a large central island and a whole new outlook. “We flipped the focus so the workspace looks out to the view,” she says. “Instead of having cabinets along a wall that adjoins the deck, we removed this wall and replaced it with large glass doors. Now the dining deck feels like an extension of the kitchen and the whole space feels bigger.”

To get this sense of openness, Annie located the cooktop and bank of overhead cupboards along the back wall. An adjoining wall of V-groove joinery accommodates a walk-in pantry, appliance storage, integrated fridge and another pull-out pantry. The colour palette is neutral and calming, with two-tone cabinetry in white and soft grey-green to subtly echo the tones of the Australian bush. Shaker-style detailing complements the heritage elements of the home.

The generous 2.9x1.3-metre island features seating for casual meals, a large sink, a dishwasher and oodles of storage including a wine fridge. Nearby, a hallway cupboard has been converted into a neatly concealed docking station for those laptops and phone chargers. Heavenly!

A combination of white and soft grey imbues this Sydney kitchen with a sense of calm, which is also derived from having an abundance of storage. “Everything has a place,” says interior designer Annie Bowen.