Houses: Kitchens + Bathrooms Issue 12

When it comes to making alterations and additions to houses with a distinctive visual style, we can fight the existing dwelling or we can embrace it. Of the fourteen projects in this issue of Houses: Kitchens + Bathrooms, twelve are renovations or additions. Each project has been conceived in a different way, but the common thread is a desire to respect the integrity of the original building while bringing a contemporary design sensibility to the process. Branch Studio Architects’ reworking of a 1968 Michael R. E. Feldhagen modernist house (page 42)doesn’t rewrite history but celebrates it through adaptation. In the kitchen, parts of the existing walls were removed to let in light and encourage social living, while a 1960s Jakob Rudowski pullout bar takes pride of place. The decidedly minimalist bathroom, with…

01 Convoy Premio pantry A pantry that slides right out into the kitchen, Kesseböhmer’s Convoy Premio is the latest in clever storage solutions. The unit’s shelves slide out with ease – no matter how full – providing access to food from three sides. Designed to operate silently, Convoy Premio is efficient and stylish. hafele.com.au 02 Sub-Zero French door fridge With its handsome lines, distinctive grille and sleek hinges this fridge offers both style and functionality. The two fridge doors allow for more open-door access, making it suitable for smaller kitchens despite its generous 420-litre fridge capacity and 200-litre freezer drawer. subzero-wolf.com.au 03 Thermoseal freestanding cookers Freestanding cookers have often lagged behind built-in ovens in terms of temperature control. Smeg aims to change this and has launched the first Thermoseal freestanding models with two fans. This “set and…

When it comes to making alterations and additions to houses with a distinctive visual style, we can fight the existing dwelling or we can embrace it. Of the fourteen projects in this issue of Houses: Kitchens + Bathrooms, twelve are renovations or additions. Each project has been conceived in a different way, but the common thread is a desire to respect the integrity of the original building while bringing a contemporary design sensibility to the process. Branch Studio Architects’ reworking of a 1968 Michael R. E. Feldhagen modernist house (page 42)doesn’t rewrite history but celebrates it through adaptation. In the kitchen, parts of the existing walls were removed to let in light and encourage social living, while a 1960s Jakob Rudowski pullout bar takes pride of place. The decidedly minimalist…

01 Jett shower screen hardware Stegbar’s new Jett hardware range for frameless shower screens is taking bathroom design back to black. Taking cues from Scandinavian and minimalist looks, the range incorporates shower handles, wall hinges and brackets. The pieces are suitable for 10-mm toughened glass. stegbar.com.au 02 Englefield electronic bidet seat Englefield – a Kohler company – has introduced a product that can bring a sense of European luxury to conventional toilets. The heated bidet seat is operated by a side-mounted control and can be fitted to many brands of toilets. It features an air dryer, deodorizer and an oscillating spray option. englefield.com 03 Artesserae Elba stone mosaics The first tile range developed exclusively by Artedomus, the Artesserae range is made from Elba stone, a fine dolomite known for its cool grey tones and soft brown markings.…

The past twelve months has been a destabilizing year for progressive thinkers – and if you’re reading this magazine that probably means you. As hostile as the wider world seems right now, the residential spaces germinating amid all this “crazy” have never been lovelier. In the post-truth, alt-right era, design is more of a gut reaction to the times than a reflection of them. It’s telling that the kitchens in this issue are designed in the spirit of gene-rosity. Couples, families and guests all cook together and in the case of Vokes and Peters’ Byron Bay House and Studio (pictured and page 112) and Freadman White Architect’s Tuerong Farmhouse (page 138), veritable strangers are invited into the heart of the home. Materials are tactile, honest and hospitable. To thesame effect, kitchen…

The bathroom is transforming from a safe haven to a full-blown escape. Unguarded by resale values and conformity, those featured in this issue don’t prescribe to any one style agenda but are united by a common adventurous spirit. Wowowa Architecture’s Casa De Gatos (pictured and page 68) is a case in point. Entering the small aqua and terracotta bathroom lands you somewhere down Mexico way. Architect Monique Woodward says this wild approach awakens the senses “like an unexpected punch in the face.” For Monique, bathrooms are best experienced for a good time, not a long time, and with this comes the freedom to unleash. As she says, “No-one ever walks into a colourful bathroom and feels disappointed it’s not white.” The powder rooms in these pages are particularly fearless. For Hecker Guthrie’s…