Compact Mid-Century – Bowden Kitchen Renovation

Our clients sought us out for a kitchen renovation for their mid-century Bowden home. They yearned for accessible storage, bigger benchtops and improved organisation of the different zones within the compact space available.

As busy professionals, they were after fresh ideas and expert guidance, and our all-inclusive service was a perfect fit for them.

We got to work on designing a new kitchen that would suit their lifestyle and needs perfectly. Together with our clients, we created a functional design that drew inspiration from a vintage aesthetic.

The home owners found their original kitchen dated and increasingly hard to use. One of the aspects they disliked most was the corner storage, which was difficult to access. In addition, the kitchen didn’t have a dishwasher, and the fixed shelving in the pantry meant many ingredients were awkward to reach. As a result, the couple’s cooking experience was less than enjoyable.

The owners wanted to increase their benchtop space to improve meal preparation time. However, they were restricted by the fact that their kitchen footprint was limited due to a large external-access sliding door and attached window. With some clever redesigning, we overcame this problem. We expanded the capacity for kitchen cabinetry by replacing the original combination door and window with a smaller, single-hinge door.

The resulting additional space allowed us to move the oven and cooktop from their original location and gain even more valuable benchtop area.

To address the lack of accessible storage, our designer ensured the tricky corners in the kitchen were used to their best ergonomic potential. An appliance garage – its pull-down tambour door matching seamlessly with the cabinetry colour – was fitted in the corner. We also installed Hafele Le Mans Swivel pull-out shelving below the main benchtop to provide easy access to deep cabinets.

When considering pantry options for this small kitchen, we decided that a space-saving solution would be ideal. That’s why we chose a Space Tower unit by Blum, which offers ample storage in a reduced footprint. In addition, the new pantry also houses the microwave, freeing up the benchtop for cooking and serving food.

To make this kitchen even more functional, we included task lighting above the benchtop for an easy cooking experience at any time of the day.

Our clients’ love of mid-century modern interior styling is reflected in the cabinetry, which features Polytec finishes: soft greenish-grey panels with a grooved profile paired with walnut details.

We added open shelving in the top corner above the remaining window to make room for the owners to show off some vintage collectables and beloved cookbooks.

The dishwasher was integrated behind panels with finger-pull cabinetry for a sleek look. Likewise, the large black Lo & Co Isla Pull XL handles on the pantry doors are a stylish touch that mirrors the black sink and appliances.

We painted the original 1980s aluminium window trims to complement the new glass splashback and wall colour.

Our clients are delighted with the result and love spending time in their freshly renovated, mid-century-inspired kitchen. They find it remarkable how much function and form we could pack into such a small space!

Cooking is now more relaxed with the uncluttered surfaces, smart storage solutions and enhanced lighting. They are also very happy with their new appliances, especially the induction cooktop.

What our clients have to say:

“Thank you all for delivering a kitchen that is tailored to our specific needs and looks great! It’s been a pleasure working with you.”

Key elements

Handles: Lo & Co, Isla Pull XL

Benchtop: Stone Ambassador, 20 mm stone in Crystal

Cabinetry: Polytec, thermolaminated in Calcutta (profile), Pallido Smooth (colour)

Open shelves: Polytec, thermolaminated in Prime Oak