Light-filled kitchen remodel with glass-faced upper cabinets

Replacing its original dark, galley feel, this renovated kitchen now has a light spacious air, accentuated by suspended, see-through cabinetry

This reinvented kitchen forms part of a whole-house ceiling, dining room, estate, interior design, living room, real estate, table, gray, brown — This reinvented kitchen forms part of a whole-house renovation by designer Kevin Cozen of Classical Progression. Together with most non-structural walls in the home, the wall between the kitchen and living spaces was taken out and the original upper cabinetry removed, optimising views, light and a sense of space for the Mid-century Modern home. The peninsula island was moved out towards the dining area by a few centimetres, taking up the area the wall had occupied. This move provided valuable extra floor space for the once narrow kitchen.

On this project, a 1950s light found on ceiling, daylighting, estate, interior design, living room, real estate, roof, window, gray, brown

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As an important part of this remodel, ceilings cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, estate, hardwood, home, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray, brown

On this remodel project, most kitchen surfaces are ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, brown, gray

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It's a smart kitchen remodel that hangs onto the essence of a 50s home even when the plan, look, functionality and materials are transformed for 21st century living.

Part of a whole-house transformation by designer Kevin Cozen, this light-filled kitchen replaces a narrow, dark workspace that was walled off from the living area.

Cozen says he wanted to add light and a sense of space to the reinvented interior. Part of his approach was taking out the wall and raising door frames to meet the newly stripped back original wood ceiling.

"In terms of the layout, we used the extra space gained from the removed wall to push the under-counter cabinetry half a metre out widening the kitchen footprint. A cantilevered countertop accommodates stool seating on the living room side.

"We were mindful to keep the kitchen as simple and monolithic as possible to retain the home's welcoming Mid-century Modern sensibility," Cozen says. "To this end, the cabinetry forms are strong and unadorned and the reworked kitchen's material palette is intentionally restricted."

Just as the old kitchen footprint was modest in line with 50s priorities, so too had the pine cabinetry been a pragmatic choice. This was another area where Cozen was able to add more light and a sense of space. First, though he removed the upper cabinets and extended the window in front of the sink from one metre wide to three.

"With the inner wall gone and window greatly expanded, we still needed more cabinet space. My solution was to design floating upper cabinetry, suspended on steel bracketing. The front and back of the cabinets are glass letting light shine right through. They also have concealed lighting top and bottom so are features of the wider open-plan space at night as well."

The under-counter cabinetry is walnut with a contrasting matt white lacquer.

"In another move to visually optimise space, we stepped some lower cabinets out, thus avoiding the long, narrow lines synonymous with a galley-style layout."

To complete the scene, Cozen found a '50s lamp in bits on site and restored it this is now a centrepiece over the dining table.