An American Diner Inspires an Art Deco Kitchen in Australia
This kitchen goes all-out retro in color and style without crossing into kitsch
Rebecca Gross
December 13, 2016
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Decked out with chrome trim, streamlined curves and a sky-blue palette, this kitchen is as American as apple pie — except that it’s in a leafy suburb of Adelaide, Australia. Drawing on the nostalgic style and distinct characteristics of the classic American diner, Nathan and Ellen Wundersitz of SpaceCraft Joinery have created a bright, airy and inviting kitchen (and dining booth) to match the Art Deco style of the rest of the house.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Deborah Floyd, Bob Hawkes and their cat, Harley
Location: Hazelwood Park, South Australia, Australia
Size: 172 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: SpaceCraft Joinery
Deborah Floyd and Bob Hawkes live in a 1939 Art Deco home that they have meticulously restored over the past 20 years, decorating it with Art Deco and midcentury modern furniture and collectibles throughout. They did a quick renovation of the kitchen early on and then re-renovated it as the last project in their labor of love.
“It was an original retro kitchen but was obviously tired, had limited storage and lacked modern conveniences,” says Ellen Wundersitz. “We wanted to respect the era of the home and make it feel like it really belonged, even though it was brand-new.”
Who lives here: Deborah Floyd, Bob Hawkes and their cat, Harley
Location: Hazelwood Park, South Australia, Australia
Size: 172 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: SpaceCraft Joinery
Deborah Floyd and Bob Hawkes live in a 1939 Art Deco home that they have meticulously restored over the past 20 years, decorating it with Art Deco and midcentury modern furniture and collectibles throughout. They did a quick renovation of the kitchen early on and then re-renovated it as the last project in their labor of love.
“It was an original retro kitchen but was obviously tired, had limited storage and lacked modern conveniences,” says Ellen Wundersitz. “We wanted to respect the era of the home and make it feel like it really belonged, even though it was brand-new.”
The word “diner” comes from “dining car,” and most American diners from the 1920s to ’40s were prefabricated structures that reflected a railroad car’s shape and style: long and narrow with plenty of curves and chrome.
This kitchen is also long and thin, and its shape played a big part in how SpaceCraft designed the layout and maximized space without it feeling cluttered. Besides being true to the period, the color, curves and chrome elements accentuate the length of the room, which terminates in the bay window and built-in dining nook.
“The booth area in particular allowed us to create a cozy nook for entertaining without eating into too much precious floor space. It also created a visual connection with the delightfully lush backyard,” Wundersitz says.
Restored 1960s pendant light over center island: Fog & Morup
This kitchen is also long and thin, and its shape played a big part in how SpaceCraft designed the layout and maximized space without it feeling cluttered. Besides being true to the period, the color, curves and chrome elements accentuate the length of the room, which terminates in the bay window and built-in dining nook.
“The booth area in particular allowed us to create a cozy nook for entertaining without eating into too much precious floor space. It also created a visual connection with the delightfully lush backyard,” Wundersitz says.
Restored 1960s pendant light over center island: Fog & Morup
Fluid, sweeping and contoured lines and surfaces flow throughout Floyd and Hawkes’ kitchen, with countertops, booth seats and the dining table finishing with smooth curves.
In addition to curves throughout, the couple specifically wanted a diner booth, plenty of undercounter storage, and shelving on which to display and showcase the owners’ kitchen collectibles.
In addition to curves throughout, the couple specifically wanted a diner booth, plenty of undercounter storage, and shelving on which to display and showcase the owners’ kitchen collectibles.
Streamlined curves emerged in American design in the Art Deco era of the 1920s and ’30s, influenced by advancements in technology and transportation. They were an expression of the era — of speed and efficiency —and a symbol of modernity when used in the home.
New materials, such as plastics, chrome and linoleum, were also important elements in the Art Deco style. Chrome had both a glamorous and an industrial quality, and it showed off the streamlined curves of the era. In addition to the curvaceous cabinetry that is a feature of this kitchen, SpaceCraft Joinery used “lashings of lustrous chrome,” Wundersitz says.
New materials, such as plastics, chrome and linoleum, were also important elements in the Art Deco style. Chrome had both a glamorous and an industrial quality, and it showed off the streamlined curves of the era. In addition to the curvaceous cabinetry that is a feature of this kitchen, SpaceCraft Joinery used “lashings of lustrous chrome,” Wundersitz says.
The kitchen designers edged the counters and tabletop with aluminum stair tread, and installed a quarter-inch-thick tempered-glass backsplash. The contoured and studded chrome trim glistens when light hits it and highlights the kitchen diner’s fluid forms.
Lucida Gloss 292 countertops with aluminium stair tread: Abet Laminati; oven and gas cooktop: Neff; range hood: Whispair
Lucida Gloss 292 countertops with aluminium stair tread: Abet Laminati; oven and gas cooktop: Neff; range hood: Whispair
Although linoleum wasn’t a new material in the early 20th century, having been invented in the mid-1800s, its use in domestic settings was. Linoleum floors were cheaper, quieter and more resilient than wood or tile, and they were valued for their decorative and utilitarian qualities. A preference for streamlined, easy-to-clean kitchens in the 1930s made linoleum floors with cove moldings a popular favorite.
It’s not surprising then that linoleum was the floor covering of choice for Floyd and Hawkes’ kitchen, and SpaceCraft used commercial-grade Marmoleum vinyl. Along the floor’s perimeter, a black line mimics the form of the cabinet units. The cove moldings, or toe kicks, are painted in a black satin finish.
It’s not surprising then that linoleum was the floor covering of choice for Floyd and Hawkes’ kitchen, and SpaceCraft used commercial-grade Marmoleum vinyl. Along the floor’s perimeter, a black line mimics the form of the cabinet units. The cove moldings, or toe kicks, are painted in a black satin finish.
Pretty pastel colors were a popular choice in classic Art Deco homes. Accordingly, baby blue is the feature color throughout the room.
In the dining nook, the blue cushions are edged with black piping to match the linoleum and table legs, which were inspired by the metalwork on an original 1950s kitchen sideboard. The seats also have convenient storage underneath and an electrical outlet in the toe kick.
In the dining nook, the blue cushions are edged with black piping to match the linoleum and table legs, which were inspired by the metalwork on an original 1950s kitchen sideboard. The seats also have convenient storage underneath and an electrical outlet in the toe kick.
SpaceCraft designed and installed the cabinetry, and used lots of nifty methods for convenient and organized storage.
Cabinet paint: Hazy Daze in satin finish (fronts) and Brume in satin finish (frame): Dulux; chrome-plated handles and knobs: Galvin Hardware
Cabinet paint: Hazy Daze in satin finish (fronts) and Brume in satin finish (frame): Dulux; chrome-plated handles and knobs: Galvin Hardware
Curved corners and open shelving at the ends of the counter offer storage and display space for plants, books, wine and other collectibles.
Pots, pans, casserole dishes and mixing bowls are housed in a corner cabinet with drawers that slide in and out.
To keep everything in order, the cutlery and utensil drawer is organized with a Blum Orga-Line cutlery insert and knife holder.
Floyd and Hawkes’ kitchen may be retro, but it’s anything but kitsch. It’s calm and welcoming, light and fresh, and the ideal place to unwind, relax and socialize with guests.
“The owners love to cook and have enjoyed experimenting with the new appliances and [having] ‘everything in the right place,’” Wundersitz says. “Guests often congregate around the center [island] or have a drink in the booth, which is in daily use for eating meals. It’s also often the spot to catch up on the news, email, enjoy a cuppa or have a chat.”
More: Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts: What’s the Difference?
“The owners love to cook and have enjoyed experimenting with the new appliances and [having] ‘everything in the right place,’” Wundersitz says. “Guests often congregate around the center [island] or have a drink in the booth, which is in daily use for eating meals. It’s also often the spot to catch up on the news, email, enjoy a cuppa or have a chat.”
More: Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts: What’s the Difference?
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Ok for the record, this does not look like an American Diner. It is however, nicely done. I like the coolness of the light blue. The only thing I would try to improve upon is the table and seating area, it DOES look cluttered. A simpler rounded seating bench without the extra lines from the cushions would have been a better choice along with a larger table and some kind of lighting hanging down from the ceiling. The rest of the kitchen and all of its storage nooks is fabulous!
Nice!