Kitchen Tour: An Ocean-toned Island that Makes a Kitchen Sing
A teal island paired with oak and Arabescato marble forms a fabulous centrepiece in this reconfigured kitchen-diner
Vanessa Walker
13 October 2020
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to Cate Liedtke, founder and principal designer at Catherine de Meur Interiors, about the vision for this ocean-inspired kitchen and the challenges she faced in creating it for her client.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here? A woman and her groodle, Lulu
Location Lugarno, Sydney, Australia
Kitchen-diner dimensions 28 sq m
Budget Approximately $100,000 (around £55,000)
Designer Cate Liedtke of Catherine de Meur Interiors
Did you use Houzz for this project? I use Houzz for inspiration before beginning any project
Images by Maree Homer
Styling by Kerrie-Ann Jones
Answers by Cate Liedtke
Who lives here? A woman and her groodle, Lulu
Location Lugarno, Sydney, Australia
Kitchen-diner dimensions 28 sq m
Budget Approximately $100,000 (around £55,000)
Designer Cate Liedtke of Catherine de Meur Interiors
Did you use Houzz for this project? I use Houzz for inspiration before beginning any project
Images by Maree Homer
Styling by Kerrie-Ann Jones
Answers by Cate Liedtke
What was the brief?
This ‘before’ picture shows how the kitchen was originally tucked away in a confined corner of the home. The owner wanted to somehow make her kitchen larger and more central to the flow of the home. Interestingly, while she was very drawn to colour, she could not envisage anything other than a white kitchen.
This ‘before’ picture shows how the kitchen was originally tucked away in a confined corner of the home. The owner wanted to somehow make her kitchen larger and more central to the flow of the home. Interestingly, while she was very drawn to colour, she could not envisage anything other than a white kitchen.
The floorplan before works.
Would you like to revamp your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz.
Would you like to revamp your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz.
The floorplan after works.
What exactly did you do?
We moved the kitchen to what was the games room. We then removed all the internal walls between the existing kitchen, dining and living rooms as well as the wall between the living room and stairs to create one big, open-plan living area.
We also widened the walls between the family room and the existing games room to make that bigger as well. The window in the dining area was changed to French doors to create flow between inside and outside. It’s now the perfect entertaining space.
What exactly did you do?
We moved the kitchen to what was the games room. We then removed all the internal walls between the existing kitchen, dining and living rooms as well as the wall between the living room and stairs to create one big, open-plan living area.
We also widened the walls between the family room and the existing games room to make that bigger as well. The window in the dining area was changed to French doors to create flow between inside and outside. It’s now the perfect entertaining space.
What was your starting point for the look?
We took inspiration from the amazing colours in the Arabescato marble and channelled teal, neutrals and blush pink.
We took inspiration from the amazing colours in the Arabescato marble and channelled teal, neutrals and blush pink.
The owner was keen to incorporate her love of the ocean and the outdoors into the design. A keen cook, she tasked us with making the new kitchen highly functional, considering every detail, such as handle choice, cookbook storage and, most importantly, a spacious island for food preparation, serving and entertaining.
What were the key design aspects?
Colour palette As a nod to the ocean, we opted for a striking deep teal for the island cabinetry. This teal, combined with splashes of blush pink, satisfied our client’s love of colour in the kitchen without overpowering the space – it’s far from the white kitchen she had envisaged, but much better suited to her taste.
We offset the bolder teal with soothing neutrals – the muted Arabescato marble on the island, the chalky-white worktops around the perimeter, the earthy wooden cabinetry, and the pale grey stone flooring.
Colour palette As a nod to the ocean, we opted for a striking deep teal for the island cabinetry. This teal, combined with splashes of blush pink, satisfied our client’s love of colour in the kitchen without overpowering the space – it’s far from the white kitchen she had envisaged, but much better suited to her taste.
We offset the bolder teal with soothing neutrals – the muted Arabescato marble on the island, the chalky-white worktops around the perimeter, the earthy wooden cabinetry, and the pale grey stone flooring.
The kitchen before works.
Materials palette American oak, glass mosaic tiles, marble and brass accents.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings
Key pieces of furniture/fittings
- Arabescato marble slab on the kitchen island from Gitani Stone.
- Slimline oak and oak veneer from Farmers Doors.
- Fizi Ball 3 pendant light from Articolo Lighting.
- Vetro Lux Elon 1.6 x 3.2mm sheet tiles in Bianco on the splashback from Di Lorenzo Tiles.
- Fornel brushed-brass handles from Kethy.
- Zip HydroTap Celsius All-in-One Arc in brushed gold from Winning Appliances.
- Silver Shadow light honed marble 900 x 450mm floor tiles from Pacifico Stone.
- Kitchen island painted in Resene Beatnik.
Any challenges?
In order to successfully implement this new colour scheme, we needed to convince the owner to replace the existing terracotta floor tiles [seen here in this ‘before’ pic].
Rather than insisting up front that they needed replacing, we demonstrated the impact of a new muted stone floor by including it as an option within the new colour scheme. This collaborative approach gave our client a feeling of control over the process.
In order to successfully implement this new colour scheme, we needed to convince the owner to replace the existing terracotta floor tiles [seen here in this ‘before’ pic].
Rather than insisting up front that they needed replacing, we demonstrated the impact of a new muted stone floor by including it as an option within the new colour scheme. This collaborative approach gave our client a feeling of control over the process.
Why do you think this room works?
The open-plan space elegantly balances aesthetic and design to create the wow factor this home desperately needed. This space is now the perfect entertaining area.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite element of this redesigned space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The open-plan space elegantly balances aesthetic and design to create the wow factor this home desperately needed. This space is now the perfect entertaining area.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite element of this redesigned space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
What are you working on?
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I'm biased in favour of this because my own taste runs towards Teal/ Sandy beiges ... ! This will be a delight to look at every day and (I'm sure) a joy to work in ! And I"m not generally a fan of huge islands ! But this space can take it ...
I totally love the island, the colour is lovely. What is the size of the island please? A beautiful kitchen all round.
The island colour is gorgeous but I would have all drawers for accessibility