Out of the past

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This contemporary kitchen renovation combines an industrial look with a nod to the home's original 1890s aesthetic

View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, real estate, room, wood, wood flooring, gray, brown — View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, island with table that extends out, stainless steel benchtops, tiled backsplash, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, and lacquered cabinetry.

View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, real estate, room, wood, wood flooring, gray

View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, apartment, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, living room, real estate, room, wood, wood flooring, gray

View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, countertop, interior design, kitchen, property, real estate, room, gray

View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray

View of contemporary renovated kitchen featuring timber floors, countertop, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, wood flooring, gray

When introducing a 21st-century kitchen as part of a renovation of a classic villa, a single feature can be enough to connect the workspace with the home's rich architectural history.

The owners of this 120-year-old residence asked kitchen designer Natalie Du Bois to create a cooking space with an industrial look as part of a whole-house update.

"I designed a stainless steel rangehood to establish the look," says Du Bois. "This material is repeated on the benchtops and in a deep band on the front of the island."

Furthering the aesthetic, the backdrop to the kitchen is formed by a wall of concrete-look tilework, which also acts as the backsplash.

A breakfast bar provided the opportunity to reference the home's origins.

"Original wood floorboards were recycled and reused as the surface of a table that extends off the island and is used as a breakfast bar," says Du Bois. "The curved table legs play up the contrast between the old and the new, while the white surfaces bring a neutral influence."