Tour an Australian Home With a Gorgeous Blue-and-White Kitchen
Watch and read how a designer added fresh style and improved flow in a couple’s kitchen and updated two bathrooms
Mitchell Parker
June 24, 2022
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
At first glance, this couple’s kitchen looked fine. White cabinets and white subway tile gave it a light and bright appearance. And it had a large island. “Upon closer inspection, I could see that all the insides of the cupboards were falling apart,” says designer Danielle Bonello-Dunsford, who was hired by the couple to update the space. “And the white kitchen was not the right color for the space. Everything was a little bit too white and it wasn’t the right balance for the room.” Meanwhile, the large rectangular island impeded traffic flow for the couple, who often cook together.
To address the issues, Bonello-Dunsford, who used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, started over. She designed a new island with curved ends to smooth out circulation paths and gave it a muted blue that pops against light gray perimeter cabinets. A sense of symmetry delivers a calm vibe, and new French doors maximize views of the garden.
In an en suite bathroom, Bonello-Dunsford created a luxury hotel look with white tongue-and-groove wainscoting, powdery pink backsplash tile and a custom vanity. And she gave a powder room a wow factor with a vibrant botanical print wallpaper.
To address the issues, Bonello-Dunsford, who used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, started over. She designed a new island with curved ends to smooth out circulation paths and gave it a muted blue that pops against light gray perimeter cabinets. A sense of symmetry delivers a calm vibe, and new French doors maximize views of the garden.
In an en suite bathroom, Bonello-Dunsford created a luxury hotel look with white tongue-and-groove wainscoting, powdery pink backsplash tile and a custom vanity. And she gave a powder room a wow factor with a vibrant botanical print wallpaper.
“After” photos by Ess. Creative
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Designer: Danielle Bonello-Dunsford of Danielle Victoria Design Studio
Builder: Tranquil Renovations
Before: The former kitchen was functional, but the couple expressed to Bonello-Dunsford that they felt the style was outdated and uninspiring. “It was just time to be redone,” the designer says.
The appliance layout and large island created a tight setup for two people trying to cook together. And while the former French doors and windows on the left let in lots of light, they somewhat obscured views to the garden.
Watch now: See how a designer updated this Australian kitchen in the latest episode of Houzz TV
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Designer: Danielle Bonello-Dunsford of Danielle Victoria Design Studio
Builder: Tranquil Renovations
Before: The former kitchen was functional, but the couple expressed to Bonello-Dunsford that they felt the style was outdated and uninspiring. “It was just time to be redone,” the designer says.
The appliance layout and large island created a tight setup for two people trying to cook together. And while the former French doors and windows on the left let in lots of light, they somewhat obscured views to the garden.
Watch now: See how a designer updated this Australian kitchen in the latest episode of Houzz TV
After: “The first thing that you notice is that it’s very balanced and it’s symmetrical,” Bonello-Dunsford says of the updated kitchen.
She created harmony by positioning a concealed breakfast bar and pantry on the left side and a paneled fridge on the right, with the range sitting between them in line with the island sink. “That really set the tone and allowed us to create a very symmetrical design,” she says.
The new island features rounded ends that facilitate traffic flow. The base was hand-painted in a light blue. “If in five years’ time they feel like changing the color, then they can repaint it,” Bonello-Dunsford says.
Light gray perimeter cabinets and an arched concealed range hood add delicately stylish elements. “We transformed it into a very sophisticated, timeless kitchen,” the designer says. “And the palette is very soft. And really easy to be in. It’s very much an entertainer’s kitchen with that central muted blue island that’s perfect for entertaining and has plenty of storage.”
A super-low-profile contemporary light fixture over the island keeps sightlines open.
Find a kitchen designer near you
She created harmony by positioning a concealed breakfast bar and pantry on the left side and a paneled fridge on the right, with the range sitting between them in line with the island sink. “That really set the tone and allowed us to create a very symmetrical design,” she says.
The new island features rounded ends that facilitate traffic flow. The base was hand-painted in a light blue. “If in five years’ time they feel like changing the color, then they can repaint it,” Bonello-Dunsford says.
Light gray perimeter cabinets and an arched concealed range hood add delicately stylish elements. “We transformed it into a very sophisticated, timeless kitchen,” the designer says. “And the palette is very soft. And really easy to be in. It’s very much an entertainer’s kitchen with that central muted blue island that’s perfect for entertaining and has plenty of storage.”
A super-low-profile contemporary light fixture over the island keeps sightlines open.
Find a kitchen designer near you
Retractable pocket doors open to reveal the coffee and tea station with a handmade tile backsplash, light wood open shelves and rollouts and a Caesarstone quartz countertop that matches the counters used elsewhere in the kitchen.
Browse a curated collection of bestselling kitchen and dining furniture
Browse a curated collection of bestselling kitchen and dining furniture
White subway tiles have a subtle handmade look and are paired with white grout to virtually disappear and not compete with the statement island. “We wanted something that just blended into the background,” Bonello-Dunsford says. “You don’t want too many heroes, I think, in a kitchen.”
She kept the transom windows the same but updated the French doors and lower windows with glass inserts that maximize views. “This allowed us to really see the beautiful garden outside,” she says.
Watch now: See more of this refreshed kitchen on Houzz TV
She kept the transom windows the same but updated the French doors and lower windows with glass inserts that maximize views. “This allowed us to really see the beautiful garden outside,” she says.
Watch now: See more of this refreshed kitchen on Houzz TV
With the French doors open, the kitchen enjoys a near-seamless transition to the back patio.
Light wood flooring adds warmth.
Light wood flooring adds warmth.
The island ends feature curved cabinets that open to reveal shelf storage. Nickel hardware brings a classic, elegant touch.
Before: The homeowners also felt this former en suite bathroom needed some rejiggering in terms of style and layout. “The clients wanted the en suite to feel very luxurious and like a hotel,” Bonello-Dunsford says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: Bonello-Dunsford remodeled the floor plan to situate the vanity along a back wall. “It really opened up the floor space so you have a lot more room to move,” she says.
It also allowed her to add a large medicine cabinet mirror that spans wall to wall. “We added so much more storage,” she says.
She channeled a hotel feel with large-format floor tiles and a hand-painted vanity with custom door and drawer details and a slatted base for towels.
Soft pink backsplash tiles introduce a playful element, while white tongue-and-groove wainscoting adds beauty and texture.
It also allowed her to add a large medicine cabinet mirror that spans wall to wall. “We added so much more storage,” she says.
She channeled a hotel feel with large-format floor tiles and a hand-painted vanity with custom door and drawer details and a slatted base for towels.
Soft pink backsplash tiles introduce a playful element, while white tongue-and-groove wainscoting adds beauty and texture.
Before: A powder room also needed a refresh. “The clients said to me they wanted the powder room to be ‘wow,’ ” Bonello-Dunsford says.
After: The designer delivered on the request with more white tongue-and-groove wainscoting and a striking botanical print wallpaper. “It’s very dramatic,” she says.
Watch now: See more of how this remodel came together on Houzz TV
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Watch now: See more of how this remodel came together on Houzz TV
Shop now: Browse a collection of kitchen and dining furniture
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
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Fridge is concealed In right hand side cupboards
Love the kitchen. The blue is just beautiful and the curves make it very functional for traffic. Congratulations to the designers and builders.
Can you tell me the brand of the wall cabinets?