Interiors

Why You Should Renovate Your All-White Kitchen

You buy a house with a relatively new kitchen, and it’s perfectly fine, just…not you.

This is a common conundrum in Australia where homes are frequently renovated ‘for sale’ and stripped of their personality in the process.

The following two projects in Adelaide are examples of how to bring colour and character back into your kitchen.

Both renovations were designed by Spacecraft Joinery to better reflect the style of the owners, the architecture of the home, and improve the kitchens’ functionality.

See before and after images of both kitchens below!

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

Justine and Bryan’s kitchen. Photo – Bri Hammond. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

 

Laminex Pillarbox melamine on the overhead cabinetry provides a pop of colour reminiscent of original mid-century kitchens. Photo – Bri Hammond. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

Blackwood veneer and timber maintains the consistency of timber species throughout the home and adds warmth to the space. Photo – Bri Hammond. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

The only structural work involved in Justine and Bryan’s kitchen was adding floor-to-ceiling joinery, typical of the mid-century era, to divide the kitchen and living area. Photo – Bri Hammond. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

What Justine and Bryan’s kitchen used to look like!

‘Infusing personality into your kitchen allows you to express yourself, making everyday activities more enjoyable.’

- Jessie Stevens, designer at Spacecraft Joinery

Brent and Vanessa’s kitchen. Photo – Jonathan Van Der Knapp. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

This kitchen features timber veneer cabinetry overhead with bold kiwi green melamine underneath. Photo – Jonathan Van Der Knapp. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

‘It meets our quirky retro style, is so functional and a joy to live in. It’s changed how we spend our time in meaningful ways, bringing the family together,’ say Brent and Vanessa. Photo – Jonathan Van Der Knapp. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

The Spacecraft Joinery team hope to see more homeowners choosing daring colour and pattern schemes for their kitchens, with these projects serving as inspiration. Photo – Jonathan Van Der Knapp. Styling – Rachel Leppinus

The before shots of Brent and Vanessa’s kitchen!

Writer
Amelia Barnes
24th of June 2024
Interior design
Builder

Urban Plumbing (Brent
Vanessa)

Location

Eden Hills, SA, Kaurna Country (Justine
Bryan)
Coromandel Valley, SA/Peramangk Country (Brent and Vanessa)

Interior design trends and the increase in renovating solely for resale value has seen a decline in unique kitchens.

Instead, when walking through most Australian houses for sale, you’ll often be greeted by a generic all-white kitchen with glossy benchtops and tiled floors.

That was the case for Adelaide couples Justine and Bryan, and Brent and Vanessa, who both came to Spacecraft Joinery to bring colour and character back into their kitchens.

Brent and Vanessa wanted a more eclectic space reflective of their vibrant family, while Justine and Bryan sought a kitchen that better matched the wider architecture of their mid-century home.

Spacecraft delivered on both briefs, not only bringing personality into the kitchens, but also improving their functionality.

‘Infusing personality into your kitchen allows you to express yourself, making everyday activities more enjoyable,’ says Jessie Stevens, designer at Spacecraft Joinery.

The only structural work involved in Justine and Bryan’s renovation was adding floor-to-ceiling joinery — typical of the mid-century era — to divide the kitchen and living area.

Brent and Vanessa’s required a complete redesign, with walls removed in the kitchen, dining, and living areas to create a spacious and light-filled environment.

The materials used in both renovations reflect the taste of the owners and the wider existing palette of their homes.

Blackwood veneer and timber in Justine and Bryan’s kitchen maintains the consistency of timber species throughout the home and adds warmth to the space.

‘We added a bespoke glass display cabinet that used a clear cathedral glass which was an iconic feature of the mid-century era,’ says Jessie.

‘This provided the separation of kitchen and dining spaces, while also allowing ample light to filter through.’

Laminex Pillarbox melamine on the overhead cabinetry provides a pop of colour, again reminiscent of original mid-century kitchens.

The materials in Brent and Vanessa’s kitchen are similarly retro inspired, balancing blackwood timber veneer cabinetry overhead with bold kiwi green melamine underneath, and orange geometric tiles on the splashback.

‘It meets our quirky retro style, is so functional, and a joy to live in. It’s changed how we spend our time in meaningful ways, bringing the family together,’ say Brent and Vanessa.

The Spacecraft Joinery team hope to see more homeowners choosing daring colour and pattern schemes for their kitchens, with these projects serving as inspiration.

Jessie says, ‘Be confident and have fun with it. Your kitchen should be a place that inspires and delights you every day.’

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