Bold charcoal for a kitchen with impact

Kitchen ideas from Dish magazine

When experienced renovators Sarah and Jared Davey bought their 1930s house in Queensland, the kitchen, along with much of the house, was crumbling.

As part of a full renovation of the former worker’s cottage, the couple added 170sqm that became an open-plan kitchen and dining space connected to an alfresco area.

A bold charcoal kitchen

Paired with Resene Half Wan White and Resene Wan White, the dark charcoal Resene Double Foundry brings a richness to the kitchen.

With cabinetry painted in bold Resene Double Foundry against walls in Resene Wan White and a ceiling in Resene Half Wan White, the new kitchen is a bold and sophisticated-looking space. But top of the wish list for Sarah when it came to designing the space, was function rather than form.

“The kitchen needed to be large to manage our bustling, ever-growing family of five. That includes three boys who are always in the pantry, in the fridge, or in the cupboards rummaging for food.

“We needed space for all of us to move around fluidly without feeling cramped,” says Sarah.

Key to that was the island bench which has become not just a focal point for the kitchen, but an important gathering point for the family.

“We wanted an island bench which had ample seating for the three boys to sit at, so we could all communicate together while I was cooking dinner or making breakfast.”

Ample storage was also essential, so the spacious kitchen includes a butler’s pantry and plenty of functional cupboard and drawer space.

When it came to choosing a kitchen colour scheme, Sarah and Jared opted for the bold Resene charcoal they’d used in other areas of the house, including the garage and exterior weatherboards, as part of the renovation.

“We committed to bringing the colour into the house as well. It is a powerful, rich colour and we wanted to really make an impact in the kitchen.

“The deep charcoal really makes the other colours sing.”

Top tip: If you’re painting cabinetry, use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or Resene Enamacryl gloss for a hardwearing, durable finish. Or ask your kitchen supplier to use Environmental Choice approved Resene AquaLAQ, a fast-drying lacquer system for cabinetry, so you get the authentic Resene colour and quality finish.

In Sarah's words

Describe your cooking style.

Sarah: It varies on the time of the week and how I am feeling about cooking. Sometimes I am uber-inspired by food and want to be creative in the kitchen. With three fussy boys though, I am often trying to make something that actually pleases the whole family.

What is your favourite part of this kitchen?

Sarah: The island bench. It’s such a huge focal point for our space. There’s so much room for prepping food and it’s the hub for where we all gather in a more casual manner.

What recipe from this issue of dish would you like to cook and why?

Sarah: Quick Salmon Thai Red Curry because I absolutely love salmon and red curry is one of my favourites too. So put these together and you have the ultimate dish for me.