Originally built in the 1940s this character cottage on the Kapiti Coast has provided a sanctuary away from the pressures of the city for its current owners for several years. The original kitchen was accessed from the main living and dining area by a sliding door, with a window facing east and south and a utility door to the west. Closed off from the living spaces, the kitchen wasn’t conducive to entertaining and offered very little in the way of storage space. The client brief was to open the space up while not losing the charm of the original, and most important was the desire to retain the rimu timber panelling and windows in the new design.
Once we started onsite, we discovered the floor, and all the exterior wall framing was rotten. The kitchen match lining and windows were removed, treated for mould, and stored ready for renovation. The kitchen floor and two exterior walls were completely rebuilt, and insulation added and the timber wall lining, and windows carefully renovated and reinstalled.
With careful consideration for ensuring sustainable solutions wherever possible, the timber wall linings and windows were renovated and reinstalled, original lighting retained, and the new display shelving made from repurposed timber.
DESIGN FEATURES & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
The kitchen itself was designed to be completely made of plywood,
including the carcass and doors. We sourced the timber handles and designed the original dining room shelving to be repurposed and reshaped to create a new L shaped bookcase and display area. By installing a new beam, the wall between the kitchen, dining and living room was able to be removed to open the space up allowing fresh air and light to flood through the space and provide a flow between the spaces.
The walls were relined, the original windows retained and new display shelving back-to-back with the kitchen under the bench was an integral aspect of the design. A small breakfast bar for afternoon coffee was located by the west door onto the deck. A key feature of the new kitchen is the addition of ample storage. The stainless-steel bench while new, references the original era and the formica bench opposite is reminiscent of the original kitchen, clashed with plywood edging for a contemporary look.
Natural wooden floors and the use of white on the walls and cabinetry throughout exude warmth and light and provide the perfect complement to the rimu.