Remodelled kitchen with sleek timber cabinets by Krista Watterworth Design Studio

Contemporary kitchen renovation features sapele timber cabinetry, concrete and quartz benchtops, tiled splashback and bar stools

Sleek, streamlined and uncluttered this remodelled kitchen cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray — Sleek, streamlined and uncluttered this remodelled kitchen is everything the former Mediterranean-style kitchen wasnt. The new kitchen has not only introduced a calmer aesthetic, but also tripled the storage space. The design is by Krista Watterworth Alterman

The large island provides ample room for several cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, dining room, interior design, kitchen, room, gray

The splashback in this remodelled kitchen features light-toned cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, furniture, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, room, wood, brown, gray

Soft cream tones, a Moooi Random light and ceiling, chair, dining room, furniture, home, interior design, living room, room, table, wall, white

Plan of kitchen with square island - Plan angle, area, black and white, design, diagram, drawing, floor plan, font, furniture, line, line art, product, product design, structure, technical drawing, white

Sleek, streamlined and uncluttered this remodeled kitchen angle, area, black and white, design, diagram, drawing, floor plan, font, line, plan, product, product design, structure, text, white

Compromises are often made when you buy a property, but accentuating the positive and changing the negative can give you the home you always wanted.

The owners of this house loved the open, flowing layout of the interior, but they weren't keen on the heavy, traditional Mediterranean-style cabinetry in the kitchen, says designer Krista Watterworth Alterman.

"The existing kitchen was also small, lacked the required functionality, and there was no sense of symmetry," she says. "And even though large windows frame the room, it felt like a dark, cluttered space."

Alterman says her clients wanted a post-modern look, without sacrificing comfort. The kitchen needed to be fresh, vibrant and contemporary, and have plenty of storage.

Alterman's solution was to utilise every inch of space to make the kitchen larger. A multi-functional island was introduced, providing a generous work space, casual dining area and a place for family and friends to gather and socialise.

"We chose dark-stained sapele wood for the cabinetry, so the rest of the palette is light and airy," says the designer. "The doors are sleek and clean lined, as are the benchtops. Those on the perimeter feature low-maintenance engineered stone, but for the island we chose a stained concrete top, which provides the urban undercurrent the owners desired."