MINIMALIST KITCHEN with a SCANDI VIBE
Customising a chic modular kitchen has resulted in an open space in a Melbourne home that boasts practicality, as well as modern good looks
before
As part of a major renovation of their Edwardian brick house in Melbourne’s inner west, the professional thirty-something owners extended at the back of the property to create a spacious new kitchen, living and dining space. The owners approached Cantilever Interiors after falling in love with the company’s premium ‘K2’ kitchen system design but were also keen to tweak it to suit their individual preferences. “They are a design-focused couple who very much appreciated detail and quality and wanted something fairly clean and simple for their kitchen,” says Cantilever Interiors’ director and designer Travis Dean.
during
Although the ‘K2’ design usually features blackbutt veneer joinery, the couple opted for a lighter American oak option instead. “We like using blackbutt because of its Australian tonal qualities,” says Travis. “But the American oak has a broader, international flavour to it, which sat better with the couple who were keen on a pared-back Scandinavian look.”
The American oak joinery was teamed with doors in a low-VOC 2-pack polyurethane water-based finish in white and Caesarstone benchtops in Snow, keeping to the simple sophistication of a Scandinavian look. Classic white subway tiles were used for the splashback. “The owners didn’t want them to be a dominant feature,” says Travis.
Another modification was the use of finger-pull details for the cupboards instead of the classic ‘K2’ stainless-steel handles, a move considered so successful that this element will now be offered as a standard option of the ‘K2’ range. The usual dark-grey shadowlines were also replaced with white to match the joinery.
When it came to the cooking space’s layout, the couple were keen for the zone to ‘sit quietly’ and not dominate the combined kitchen, living and dining space. To that end, a butler’s pantry was an all-important part of the design, hiding a lot of the clutter and kitchen appliances – including a pair of stacked V-Zug ovens – that further helped to create the minimalist look the owners desired in the cooking zone.
Although it’s common for renovators to choose more budgetfriendly finishes in the hidden pantry, the couple opted to use the same materials, like the American oak veneer, for the open-fronted wall shelving. “This has given both areas a consistency, which has really made the space work,” says Travis.
Back in the main kitchen and adding to the uncluttered feel is the integrated Miele fridge and freezer hidden behind a tall white cupboard to the right of the back bench (pictured above). Above the long bank of under-counter drawers is a chunky floating shelf and a V-Zug integrated rangehood while the island bench houses a Franke drop-in sink and Armando Vicario bench-mounted mixer with V-Zug dishwasher underneath. At the front, there are two further storage cupboards, plus space for two stools from Open Room and Cantilever Interiors’ signature open-box bookcase.
after
The clients were very happy with their gorgeous new space. “It was very smooth sailing,” says Travis. “People who spend time and money on the design and employ a good builder who does quality work deserve to get a good result and they generally do.” For him, the standout feature of the design is the floating timber shelf at the back. “Increasingly, when it comes to kitchen design, we are space-hungry, particularly for the functional necessities, so to have a shelf that is essentially for display is a luxurious detail.” For more details on Cantilever Interiors, visit cantileverinteriors.com. The builder was Nathan Forrester of CBD Contracting, cbdcontracting.com.au.
“THE AMERICAN OAK VENEER HAS A KIND OF FURNITURE LOOK, WHICH HELPS IT SIT WELL WITHIN THE LIVING AND DINING AREA” TRAVIS DEAN, DESIGNER