Light, space and visual connections are served

Designed by Anna Klimova of Studio Urbo & Rage Design Cabinetmaking

From the designer:

It was the easiest project for me, and at the same time, it was the most difficult one as I designed and restored this house for my family and myself.

We fell in love with this period timber cottage at first glance and were ready for the challenge of restoration and adaptation of the house for modern family life – the original owner built the house in 1899. 

We kept and restored the front part, including the original bedrooms and living room, but we had to change the original kitchen and the bathroom. 

They were too small for our family to spend time together – as we enjoy cooking, we wanted a spacious benchtop and storage space. 

We also visualised a room filled with sunlight, connected to the surrounding garden and well ventilated. 

Plus, I had in mind our tight budget.

Rather than building a huge enclosed space, I came with the idea of using bi-folding doors to have an option of combining the kitchen with the deck.

Thermal comfort was also important to us and lots of glazing can make a room hot in summer and cold in winter. 

In response, we employed an environmental consultant to verify the performance of the space. 

The solution was to introduce double-glazed windows, deep eaves and a polished concrete floor. 

Double-glazing has good insulation properties and deep eaves protect from the summer heat while the concrete floor acts as a thermal mass during winter.

This approach created the most comfortable space in the house, filled with light, cool in summer, and warm during winter. 

As a result, we seldom need to use the air-conditioning.

The bi-fold doors and timber terrace on the same level allowed us to double the space when we have guests. 

The garden's connection creates a beautiful area and makes the kitchen look very spacious, even when the bi-fold the doors are closed.

To keep the project within the budget, I used the same Raven finish for the benchtop as for the kitchen cabinet doors – overall, it looks impressive and durable. 

Also, it will be easy to replace the benchtop in future. 

Storage cupboards with invisible doors blend with the wall, make the space simple and bold. There is also a small open shelf for cooking books. 

The long window above the top cupboards gives plenty of light in the morning.

In addition, the kitchen has a visual connection with our home office.

I love my Bora cooktop with a downdraft extractor built into the cabinetry below the benchtop – the ventilator is very efficient and easy to clean. 

Also in terms of appliances, the Miele steam oven is a useful addition to the kitchen. 

The storage space is plentiful.

We enjoy our kitchen, which is functional, beautiful and we spend lots of time there.

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Paul Worsley