This Family Home in Melbourne Gets a Modernized Minty Kitchen

Lauren Jones
·3 min read

Flemington is a quaint and quiet neighborhood in Melbourne, Australia, filled with heritage homes that have been owned by families for decades. One such home, built in the 1940s and hovering around 1,000 square feet, was the owner’s great-great-uncle and aunt’s place, and he was looking forward to giving it a much-needed update.

Architect Lisa Breeze was hired in the spring of 2018 and quickly turned to the kitchen’s original minty tone, charming quirks, and glass cabinetry for inspiration.

Location: Flemington, an inner suburb of Melbourne

BEFORE: The tight, enclosed kitchen has become an open layout, a departure from how spaces were designed in the 1940s.
BEFORE: The tight, enclosed kitchen has become an open layout, a departure from how spaces were designed in the 1940s.

The before: Much of the home hadn’t been renovated at all. The kitchen, which was original, had received a few changes, but “overall it was pretty sad,” remarks the architect. While Lisa worked on the rest of the home too, the kitchen was the key focus in the early phases of the design. The decision was made to gut the back bathroom and kitchen and extend the layout slightly.

The inspiration: “It’s unusual for a client to be as attached to the features of an old house before a renovation like he was, but I saw it as an opportunity,” Lisa says. The original kitchen’s mint palette, curved corners, and sliding cabinets were some of its most beloved details, and she looked to pick up on those in a contemporary way.

Square Footage: 215 square feet

AFTER: At first, Lisa didn’t plan on expanding the kitchen, but as the process unfolded, it was the obvious choice. “That’s not unusual for a renovation,” she says. “Because it’s such a small house, it ended up feeling like a big renovation.”
AFTER: At first, Lisa didn’t plan on expanding the kitchen, but as the process unfolded, it was the obvious choice. “That’s not unusual for a renovation,” she says. “Because it’s such a small house, it ended up feeling like a big renovation.”
Cathy Schusler

Main Ingredients:

Paint color: Dulux Beckett in satin finish on the cabinets and Dulux Natural White in lowsheen acrylic on the walls

Countertops: Calacatta Statuario

Terrazzo flooring: Point Leo from Defazio Tiles & Stone, which features a mix of black, brown, charcoal, and other natural-toned chips

Table: Danish extension table in rosewood designed by Rosengren Hansen for Brande Mobelfabrik circa 1960

Chairs: 1950s Danish teak dining chairs designed by Niels Otto Møller

Armchair: Penguin Chair by Theo Ruth

Colorful artwork: After the Gold Rush by Esther Stewart

When it came to the new design, Lisa had to decide which details to pick up and which to leave, like the small cabinets and appliances. “Some were impractical for construction, but the wonderful thing about that era was that design was very unique,” she says.
When it came to the new design, Lisa had to decide which details to pick up and which to leave, like the small cabinets and appliances. “Some were impractical for construction, but the wonderful thing about that era was that design was very unique,” she says.
Cathy Schusler
Although terrazzo wasn’t included in the original house, the material was popular back then and today.
Although terrazzo wasn’t included in the original house, the material was popular back then and today.
Cathy Schusler
The minty look continues outside, where the planting design by Greenbits complements the vibe.

Most insane splurge: “The stone benchtop and backsplash were fairly expensive,” Lisa recalls. “We didn’t initially set out to design it with something as fancy, but the owner fell in love with the stone.”

Sneakiest save: When it comes to saving, working within a small footprint is automatically cost-effective. “There is so much packed into a small space for Australian standards,” Lisa says.

The best part: Who wouldn’t love mint cabinetry? Although the color is one of Lisa’s favorites, she also notes how beautifully the kitchen was executed, from the curves to the framing details and more.

What I’d never do again: Lisa has no regrets when it comes to the design of this small kitchen but would have done an island bench if the room allowed. “I always cater toward the space I’m working in,” she says. “I love an island bench, but it didn’t need one, and it wouldn’t have fit.”

Lisa even included a cat suite, using circular cutouts to hide the litter box.
Lisa even included a cat suite, using circular cutouts to hide the litter box.
Cathy Schusler

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest