Perfection is a process

Designed by Carmen Hansberry Design

From the designer:

Home overview

This home was custom designed by the owners over a period of five years. 

Initially, it was going to be a lot larger with a lift and basement built into the ground but due to cost blow outs it was paired back and refined. The home itself, is situated on a corner block perched up on a hill with the most breathtaking views overlooking Port Coogee.

The owners commenced building early 2021 and contacted me in July 2021 to help them with their interiors and custom built-in cabinetry. 

Naturally, as the roof timbers were already going on when I was engaged in the project, much of the plumbing and electrical pre lay had already been set out along with walls built – so some constraints had to be accommodated, together with myself performing a miracle at the 11th hour with final plans submitted in December of the same year.

Project constraints and summary owner’s brief

1/ Kitchen space was to be well thought out/ eye-catching yet highly functional – the owners wanted the main interior space to flow seamlessly from inside out to the alfresco kitchen space and for the two to connect in terms of finishes.

2/ During the home design process, the owners had already had their building designer set out the kitchen cabinetwork. 

However, this was busy with too many heroes and dated features so, in consultation with the owners, I mitigated this design – less is always more.

3/ A structural column within the allotted kitchen space also had to be addressed.

4/ Meeting the owners' love of the ocean and boating, an aquarium also had to be incorporated into the mix.

5/ Then there were these must have considerations:

• To provide a seating space for a minimum of 4 people on island bench (the owners have two school age children).
• Fridge and freezer were to be situated where they had been initially designed to be (by the building designer)for ease of access inside and from alfresco space.
• Provide ample accessible storage (preferablye soft close drawers) for everyday crockery and cutlery.
• Island bench was to house a double under-mounted sink, large bin, and fully integrated dishwasher.
• A 900mm induction cooktop had to be placed on rear elevation with concealed rangehood (already purchased) above.

How brief was achieved and problems overcome

I developed a new design as well as presenting the design dictated by the house designer's layout and the owners went with the second, my own, plan.

Once the main elevation was pretty much there, I moved forward with designing the alfresco kitchen space. 

I suggested an island for improved traffic flow traffic while the leg of the island would mimic the kitchen wall finish. 

My revised kitchen elevation together with the alfresco space I presented achieved the seamless connection between the areas the owners had requested.

To further the indoor-outdoor connection, I positioned the aquarium so that it could be framed and sheeted flush in gyprock to blend in with the home’s house walls – this avoided a busy look and really made the aquarium stand out as the star. 

Designing the adjacent built-in television unit in the same finishes as the kitchen – adding in the smoked/ grey mirror to the base and top – contributed to the cohesion of the whole main hub. 

In terms of the required inclusions, it was a matter of plotting them out and ensuring the cabinetwork was the correct sizing for the installation of appliances, fixtures, and fittings.

The only concern I had had was to check that distance that the integrated fridge/ freezer door needed to clear to open internal shelving. 

In addition, the owners wanted sheer curtains to the doors/ windows in this space and I found by setting back the scribe this provided a perfect recess for the curtains to run back into.

Other design considerations I ensured 'just worked’ were that the overhead cabinets above the appliances finished in line, while at the same time allowing the ovens to sit at the correct height and similarly that the integrated fridge/ freezer fitted perfectly.

For the fully concealed door to the scullery I designed this to be the same width as the panels next to it – all while being a useable width, and ensuring that it wasn't too high – to ensure the door wouldn't bow.

I calculated the sizing, then further set out the framed walls that would need to be added, together with suggesting the use of the concealed flush framed door (Ezi jam inward swing) with concealed hinges so that the wall paneling could easily be affixed to it.

Designed by: Carmen Hansberry Design

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Joel Barbitta, Dmax Photography