A foodie’s double delight

Modern simplicity honours the heritage of this inner-city home.

When Becky Hitchfield and Dave Bowes decided to renovate their 1930s bungalow kitchen in Point Chevalier, Auckland, they wanted a design that was timeless.

A heritage home with a newly renovated modern kitchen

Resene Half Sea Fog on the walls of this kitchen and dining area frames a highly functional space that manages to be both modern and timeless enough to suit this 1930s bungalow.

For that they turned to award-winning designer Katie Scott of Sticks + Stones Design who created a highly functional, elegant space that is modern yet perfectly in tune with the home’s original era.

“We didn’t want something that was super-modern but would date quickly, and it needed to be in keeping with the style of the rest of the house,” says Becky.

The result is a beautiful, largely monochrome kitchen and dining area using Resene Half Sea Fog on the walls. With ceilings and trim areas in Resene Alabaster, the layered neutrals create the perfect backdrop for the showpiece waterfall benchtop on the island in Super White Dolomite. “We started with that benchtop, and then chose colours that would really make it the superstar of the kitchen.”

Project Description

The elegant bar uses the same Super White Dolomite as the benchtop and can be tucked away behind doors in one of the curved wall cabinets. The dining room wall is Resene Half Sea Fog and the ceiling is Resene Alabaster.

Two other key design elements lend the kitchen additional art deco elegance. One is the subtle curves – found on the end of the cabinetry units, framing the doorway and on the extractor fan; the other is the inspired addition of a bar area which repeats the use of the stunning Super White Dolomite as a backdrop and which can be tucked away behind the sleek cabinetry when not in use.

“We do usually keep those doors open though, because it looks so amazing,” says Becky. “And those curves really make the space. They’re both trendy and work with the 1930s art deco age of the house, and they just make the whole kitchen feel softer.”

Becky is thrilled with the finished kitchen. “There is lots of storage. I love the soft-close cabinetry with no handles, it looks so sleek and is really easy to keep clean. Even the Silgranit sink is amazing and so easy to keep looking good. I just love everything about the whole kitchen.”

In Jane Doe's words

What’s your favourite part of your kitchen?

Becky: Making the decision to have two ovens has been life changing. We’re absolute foodies; we love to cook and bake, and having that extra oven means someone can be cooking dinner in one, and you can be baking a cake in the other. If you have the chance to go for two, take it.

What’s your cooking style?

Becky: We really like to cook with fresh, in-season ingredients – and it’s even better if they’re local. I buy dish every month – I have some favourite recipes from older issues that I cook often, but I also really like to experiment with recipes I haven’t tried before.

The recipe I’m most looking forward to making from this issue of dish is:

Becky: The tray-baked Gochujang Prawns and Salmon with Green Beans because I like the simplicity of it. I like recipes that don’t need a million ingredients. It sounds delicious and would be perfect with just a salad on the side.