Smith & Smith Kitchens Project 30

This kitchen is the perfect example of how to maximise space for a growing family. 

It belongs to a young couple with two active boys and before the renovation had one major pain point: there was not enough bench space where it matters. The client requested a proper run of bench between the cooktop and sink so that everyday cooking didn’t feel like a juggling act. 

The team started by opening the room up visually. The large corner walk-in pantry was heavy and closed the space in. It was replaced with a sleek pantry beside the fridge to open up the area. The newly free corner now features eye-catching floating timber shelves on a timber backing board. 

While the original look felt very 80s the new design focusses on shape, pulling in lines and curves. The client works in fashion, and she was brave and gutsy in her choices. The overheads to read as a horizontal, linear band, to counter the curve of the solitary shelf on the right. 

The wall space on the left stays intentionally quiet, punctuated by a round light. It’s that balance of positive and negative space that gives the whole kitchen its calm. 

The materials selected for the pace were muted, earthly browns to create a warmer and quieter atmosphere. 

Proportions had to be carefully balanced due to the space constraints caused by the air-conditioning unit above the back cabinets. There was no option to extend further into the room, so the team created a balanced design and let the proportions do the work.  

One detail you might miss, but one that totally changes the day- to-day is the floating shelves. They’re not just a styling choice. They’re genuinely handy, and they create space for the things that make a kitchen feel like home.