Cook’s delight Our very own food and entertainment supremo Kerrie Worner showcases her dream workspace
HOME BEAUTIFUL FOOD AND ENTERTAINING SUPREMO KERRIE WORNER LEAPT AT THE CHANCE TO CREATE HER DREAM WORKSPACE
When she’s whipping up tasty recipes for Home Beautiful and others, it’s not unusual for Kerrie Worner to have the oven on eight hours a day, with multiple dishes on the go. Working from her Sydney home for the past 13 years, the foodie and food stylist made do with her compact kitchen, but with a full home renovation on the cards late last year, she jumped on the opportunity to upgrade her cook zone. “Rather than renovate the original kitchen in the centre of the house, I extended out the back, which gave me more than twice the space,” she says. Kerrie worked with Leading Edge Kitchens to devise an efficient, double-duty kitchen featuring a large, free-standing gas cooker, two fridges, abundant bench and storage space, as well as a handy breakfast bar. Aesthetics were also key, with Kerrie opting for a modern Hamptons look infused with fresh white and mint green. Tried and tested, with dozens of recipes born in the new space, and family meals also enjoyed here, Kerrie is thrilled with the result. “It’s a joy to be in,” she says.
WHO LIVES HERE? Recipe developer and food stylist Kerrie Worner and her children, Jaimee, 17, and Louis, 15. ORIGINAL HOUSE: A 1960s fibro bungalow with a mid-1990s kitchen update. TIME FRAME: Six months for the entire house renovation and five days for the installation of the kitchen. THE BRIEF: Go bigger! “I needed lots of bench space to spread out, a great pantry, ergonomic drawers and vertical storage for my huge collection of baking trays and chopping boards,” says Kerrie. THE WORKS: An extension was added to the back of Kerrie’s house to accommodate the new kitchen. MAJOR CHANGES: The original kitchen was converted into a home office and transition area and the new double-sized kitchen was fitted out with custom storage, Smartstone Arcadia benchtops, an Artusi gas cooker and a Velux skylight which floods the area in natural light. LESSONS LEARNED: “Plan well ahead and start clipping inspiration at least one year before you book your kitchen company,” advises Kerrie. “I also compiled a file on tapware, appliances, handles and splashback tiles, with pricing, which was essential to keeping the reno on track.” >
SUPER SOAKER After working in many a test kitchen, a sleek, easyclean undermount sink was on the wish list for Kerrie. “It needed to be deep so I could leave big pots and trays in it and not see them,” she says, of the Ostar square undermount sink (below) paired with an Astra Walker ‘Signature’ mixer with chrome handle.
COLOUR CONFIDENCE The foodie trialled 10 shades of green before picking Dulux Mint Mousse, which teams with Vivid White for the cabinetry. “Go to a paint colour centre and take your time,” she says. “Get a variety of samples and try them in-situ to see how colour changes at different times during the day.”
“BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH STORAGE AND BENCH SPACE, IT’S EASY TO KEEP THE KITCHEN tidy and organised AND I CAN HAVE MY FAVOURITE PIECES ON DISPLAY” – KERRIE
DOUBLE UP Kerrie opted for two 442-litre Fisher & Paykel fridges (above, for similar, try Harvey Norman) and used a joining kit to create one doubledoor unit. “It enables me to allocate space to large items and trays, so nothing gets squashed and I can find what I need,” says Kerrie, who appreciates the fridge’s distance from the main cooking area. “The kids can access what they need without disrupting my work flow.”
HAMPTONS CHARM The Shaker-style cabinets paired with Antique Pewter shell handles from Kethy beautify functional storage, while on the benchtop, mesh concertina doors (above) hide glassware and small appliances. “I wanted the mesh cupboards as they have a vintage look and they’re a wonderful way to break up the white wall,” says Kerrie of the aged, stainless-steel fronts.
ON THE MENU For her natural-gas-connected kitchen, Kerrie chose a very impressive freestanding Artusi ‘AFG1206X’ dual fuel oven/stove (below), which functions as an 850mm and 350mm oven in one. “I’ve always used gas cooktops because I use cast-iron and large pans and I find a gas burner radiates and spreads heat more quickly and offers greater control,” she says.
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE With more baking trays and boards to house than in the average kitchen, a key inclusion was several narrow vertical cupboards (above) where trays could be stored vertically for easy access. “I also specified a slide-out shelf for oils and sauces near the stove, which is so handy; everything is right where I need it,” says Kerrie.