Green scene

Fresh appeal

“WE CAN’T BELIEVE HOW OUR DESIGNER JESS SQUEEZED SO MUCH MORE STORAGE OUT OF THE SPACE” ~ HEIDI, HOMEOWNER

Before avid cooks Heidi and Damian made the move from Sydney to their newly purchased home in the NSW Southern Highlands, the kitchen in their new abode had to be improved. “We spend a lot of time in the kitchen,” says Heidi. “I love to bake, Damian does a lot of slow roasts and it’s where we often hang out with our son Tom, so we wanted it to be a hub and reflect our tree change.” Keen to inject personality and style, the couple enlisted interior designer Jess Hunter, who devised a palette inspired by the home’s surroundings and found clever ways to improve functionality. “We kept the floor plan the same but changed awkward corner cupboards and angles,” says Jess. “We took joinery to the ceiling and added a concealed pantry and bar area, for extra prep and storage space.” A sweeping colour change saw bland beige cabinetry switch to soft muted green, with the splashback and benchtops also upgraded to a sleek grey, ultra-compact Dekton, which resembles stone. “Completion was perfectly timed with our move, so we could cook straight away in our lovely new kitchen, which was just amazing,” says Heidi. “For us it’s the most important spot in the house – and

Jess has captured the look and feel we were after.” >

HIDDEN BAR

A pantry and bar zone (above) added storage space while making use of an existing bench. “Pocket doors provide easy access and the flexibility to screen it off,” says Jess, who specified Laminex ‘Rural Oak’ for the fit-out. “There’s an AM side for coffee and breakfast items and a PM side for cocktails and wine glasses,” says Heidi, who for the most part keeps the doors open. “I just love looking at the timber veneer. It adds such a lovely warmth to the kitchen.”

CABINETRY

To save on costs and reduce waste, the majority of the underbench cabinetry carcasses were kept and enhanced with Shaker profile door fronts and panels in Dulux Currency Creek. They match new symmetrical overheads and were teamed with brass knobs from Lo & Co Interiors. “A touch of sheen balances the warmth of darker-toned benchtops and splashbacks, for a contemporary twist,” says Jess. The metallic accents are an ABI Interiors ‘Elysian’ mixer and an Oliveri brushed brass sink.

“THE POCKET DOOR PANTRY AND BAR CUPBOARDS REALLY TRANSFORM A STANDARD KITCHEN INTO A CONSIDERED ENTERTAINER’S SPACE” ~ JESS, INTERIOR DESIGNER