tara’s kitchen
When we renovated a few years ago, our kitchen was the first room to be finished and continues to be my favourite places in the house. After an article on my home was published by The Australian Women’s Weekly, it’s clear others like it too as I receive so many enquiries asking about the colours and materials I have used. So here it is, a full materials and colour list just for you!
Images: Courtesy of The Australian Womens Weekly
1. wall colour
The lovely duck-egg blue walls are a constant hit – everyone loves them. I had the colour mixed especially by Murobond Paints in Sydney, they call it Tara’s Bowl. The finish is called Murowash. I love a fresh white ceiling and woodwork so for these I used Dulux Designer White
2. kitchen cabinet doors
The colour is called Parchment and is made by Laminex, the profile is called Heritage.
For the pantry, as well as a few other doors, we had stainless steel mesh inserts added.
I think this adds character - in a modern kind of way!
3. handles
Handles have an important role to play in supporting the overall look or theme of the kitchen. I kept them small and understated by using almond shaped brushed stainless steel
4. benches
For an unusual twist, we decided to use two bench materials rather than one. This not only adds interest but can also stretch your dollar further by combining a less expensive material with one that costs a little more. The colours were deliberately kept neutral and have been easy to live with, as well as maintain since they were installed a few years ago. The grey benches are Laminex in a finish called Eclipse and the rest are a synthetic composite called Azteque (also made by Laminex) in a finish called Ash Dust
5. drawers
To really maximise space, as well as keep everything within easy reach, we have used deep drawers throughout. This is where we keep our plates, cups and bowls, as well as bulky things like tubs and salad bowls. For my next kitchen I will definitely have even more drawers – and include some just for pantry items too!
6. tiles
For a kitchen, one of my favourite splash backs are plain white ceramic tiles. These ones are 100mm square which are really affordable and commonly available
7. shutters
Window treatments can be a problem in kitchens as they need to not only look good, but be easily cleaned too. For our kitchen we have used Plantation Shutters which are actually made of high grade vinyl. They never need painting and simply unclick so they can be taken outside for a good scrub
