Chalk one up

With a few deft touches your kitchen project can take on the comfortable ambience of a smart streetside cafe.

This renovation by architect Craig Rossetti anchors an open-plan extension at the back of a Victorian-era house. With a simple palette and minimalist style, the new kitchen blends easily into the area, doubling the living space. The design was inspired by cafes where the daily special is posted on blackboards above the counter, says Rossetti.

Dominating the kitchen are large blackboards which cover the doors of the pantry and refrigerator. MDF boards with blackboard paint were applied to the doors, and handles were made by leaving a slight overhang to grasp. On the refrigerator the panel is in two pieces, so the freezer door can be opened separately.

"The blackboards are a bit of fun," Rossetti says. "They are an unusual feature in an otherwise minimalist kitchen."

The black panels contrast with olive-toned cabinets and the white Corian benchtop. A toughened glass splashback has a reflective quality that adds depth to the space.

"To enhance the sense of openness, the design includes details that give a lightness to the elements," says Rossetti. "For example, concealed illumination above and below the upper cabinets makes them appear to float on the white walls. Extending the cabinets slightly beyond the boundaries of the kitchen into the hall and dining areas adds to the illusion, as does negative detailing on the lower cabinetry."

The dropped ceiling also seems to float above the room, creating continuity with the rest of space. Skylights around the edge of the space maximise the natural light.

Glazed sliding doors open to the exterior courtyard. Polished concrete, used for the floor both inside and out, strengthens the connection between the spaces.

Story by: Lori Nims