WORK ZONE with HOME STYLE
Always up for a challenge, we decided to make over our small studio kitchen to take it from dull-office grey to star-bright white
before
The communal kitchen of the photographic studios where Inside Out shoot magic happens is one of the unloved corners of our work world. Fed up with dirty cups and empty lunch containers littering every surface, we teamed up with IKEA to give the space a makeover. Around the same size as your average apartment kitchen at 3.7 metres by 4.4 metres, it has the same challenges, so it was a good way to put the flflat-pack kitchen team to the test.
When planning began, we wanted to solve a few core problems. Firstly, we wanted to change the perception of the space. Instead of a grey-lit work zone, the kitchen needed to feel like a welcoming space you actually want to make tea, coffee and food in. If the zone felt like home, guests of the studio would treat it the same way.
Secondly, the area didn’t function properly as a kitchen. It didn’t have a dishwasher, which meant the stacking of dishes was always unsightly, and while there are separate catering kitchens in the facility, it’s always handy to have more options for food shoots.
during
Starting with the studio team, we worked out the essential elements the kitchen needed to be functional (a new Hisense fridge, oven, cooktop and integrated dishwasher, streamlined bench space, new surfaces), then also how we could make it feel a bit more special.
Two solid consultations with the IKEA team – one in store and then one on site – was all it took to get things happening as they offer a start-to-finish service including consultation and installation. We chose the ‘Metod’ range for its flexibility, and the design was driven by the fact that the rest of the studio is clean white with a utilitarian look. The basic palette also helped hide the awkward nib walls in the floorplan while the new stone benchtop and floating shelves gave the work zone a more lived-in character.
Moving the coffee and tea making area outside the main thoroughfare meant we created two clear zones with different functions, meaning a more efficient layout and less congestion.
After locking in the basic floorplan, next up was the joinery format. We wanted to keep the lines clean (with no handles), which is easy to do when you include ‘drawer-in-drawer’ options. With the shift away from below-the-bench cupboards towards deep drawers, it’s important to know how you’ll keep the contents ordered. We took stock of what were essentials and invested in plate/pot/cutlery stackers to keep everything in order.
after
People often assume that a flflflflat- pack kitchen is a fifififixed-format option, but that’s not the case. Depending on which system you choose, the format of the cupboards and drawers can be changed, not to mention custom panels can be created; for example, a panel above the fridge, covering the excess space people often have if their appliances were bought for another area. Don’t forget you can also customise the zones around the joinery once you’re done. In this case, our style editor Jono Fleming added ‘Lack’ shelves from IKEA. Open display is the perfect way to showcase some of your more beautiful accessories or bring actual life in with plants.
Even in small spaces, it’s important to incorporate ways to show off your personal style. Artwork, books and small pieces, such as this stool and bench in natural timber, really take this effificient space out of the work zone and into a community hub. Head into your nearest IKEA store to learn more about the kitchen design process and services. Visit ikea.com.au for more details.