Lovely Laura ‘the second’, is the second Victorian cottage we have designed a renovation for on this very same Brunswick street. The dear old 1885 single-fronted home was full of character but lacked functionality. She was a bit dark, needed to be updated for energy efficiency and past renovations were showing their age. Our clients Corina and Lorcan came to us for a renovation of the kitchen, bathroom and laundry that would feel timeless alongside the original elements of the home and preserve the charm and personality.
The kitchen sits at the rear of the cottage between the rest of the house the back courtyard, it needs to function as both a utility space and a thoroughfare. The layout was critical, as to not either block the connection with the outdoor space, or make the kitchen dysfunctional. To resolve it we put two galley-style elements in on opposing sides, each with a different purpose. One side it the workhorse side, where all the heat, water and mess is created containing the fridge, cooker, sink, bins and drawer dishwasher. This is really a self-contained small kitchen of its own right.
Corina had her heart set on a Belling Richmond Delux induction cooker, a beautiful high-quality cooker with a high-energy rating but at 90cm wide it takes up room. Additionally, Lorcan is an avid home brewer whose kegerator was also taking up a lot of precious bench space as well as contributing a “uni-house feel” (Corina’s words not ours!). A combination of open and closed shallow shelving on the opposite side is what gives this small kitchen extra amenity and allows the space to be inhabited fully. There is efficient storage space for pantry crockery equipment. A bench-height custom-made table is nestled in the shelves creating a dining spot, and extra food prep space for those bigger brewing and baking tasks. In between these elements, large french doors open to the back and fill the space with light.
We took inspiration from the cottage’s original colour scheme; sunny yellow, terracotta and warm timber are complimented with elegant warm neutrals creating a feel-good cohesion throughout the renovated areas. In the kitchen the under bench cabinets were painted a joyful Dulux Deep Sun. Wall tiles in textured beige each vary slightly in shade, giving a depth and handcrafted feel. The bathroom and laundry features the same palettes with yellow and white wall tiles, terracotta flooring and timber touches.
We selected fixtures and finishes that were both sustainable and high quality, ensuring durability. Installed in the kitchen and laundry are buttermilk stone bench tops in quartz, a non-toxic, eco-friendly material that feels timeless and is incredibly long-lasting. Tapware is low-flow and locally made in weathered brass; the handles will soon shine golden with daily use, blending it into the 138-year-old home around it. Cabinets were fitted with knrled knobs and pulls in bronze. Sinks in the kitchen and laundry are a brushed copper finish and the bathroom sink is a fine fireclay. Fireclay is long-lasting natural material stronger and less brittle than ceramic. Lighting fixtures feel fresh and tasteful. In the bathroom a locally made cloche light from Porcelain Bear and in the kitchen, a ceramic pendant light from Muuto.
In the laundry we fixed what was originally a kitchen problem, Lorcan’s Kegerator was taking up precious kitchen bench space, it now lives around the corner in the laundry, out of the way and out of sight.
Energy efficiency is important to Corina and Lorcan, they had already installed solar panels and had their rainwater hooked up to their sprinkler system. Continuing this good work we installed insulation, double glazing and ceiling fans. We also installed a drying rack in the laundry, low-efficient appliances were switched with energy-efficient replacements and maximised natural lighting.
Our clients were thrilled with the end result “Beautiful, homey and timeless, we wanted a renovation in keeping with our home and it’s just perfect”, says Corina. We think so too, by focusing on timeless design and materials that felt warm and joyful we gave this beautiful cottage an update that held true to the original while making it a more efficient and liveable space.