At Dan Kitchens, we specialise in custom-designed and uniquely built dream luxury kitchens for our clients. Although oftentimes, clients with smaller properties assume their kitchen space is too small to embrace a luxury kitchen design, but in reality, this thinking couldn’t be further from the truth at Dan Kitchens!
Sure, it is more challenging to efficiently design and install a luxury aesthetic into a small kitchen, but luckily at Dan Kitchens, we have expert designers who have successfully completed many small kitchen renovations.
Dan Kitchens has successfully implemented small kitchen designs into many of our clients’ smaller homes and apartments, from single wall spaces, U-shape rooms and many more oddly shaped luxury kitchen designs.
Ultimately our New Kitchen Designs save space and still incorporate all of the characteristics that make a full-sized kitchen useful, from high-tech appliances, plenty of easy-to-access storage and designated prep, cooking and eating areas.
But don’t just take our word for it – we interviewed the designer from a recent Dan Kitchens Luxury Kitchen Renovation to share some of his wisdom on how to maximise space and kitchen efficiency in a small but luxury kitchen renovation.
A ‘Chalk and Cheese’ Kirribilli Apartment Renovation
Designing a layout that fits a suite of appliances – usually found in a full-size kitchen – into an apartment kitchen is not an easy task. But designer Daniel Mazic and the Dan Kitchens team were up for the challenge in this Kirribilli apartment renovation.
Together we produced a contemporary and clean-lined luxury kitchen with a neutral palette that showcases a stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Now the magnificent Sydney views are perfectly complemented by the beautiful Contemporary Kitchen in this Kirribilli Apartment.
The clients were a middle-aged couple who used the Kirribilli apartment as a second home and a Sydney-side retreat.
The couple has owned the apartment since their university days, and more recently, the couple’s adult children used it while they were studying. But it finally came time to renovate the decades-old apartment, and the new kitchen design is ‘chalk and cheese’ from the original.
Utilising the Small Space
“The apartment was an absolute spaghetti junction,” Mr Mazic said. “There were so many internal walls that needed to come out.”
The team removed internal walls to create an easy flow through the apartment. Working in an apartment building with limited access also proved a challenge, but this was overcome with some creative thinking from the designers and installation team.
“The unique thing about the kitchen is the suite of appliances in it, which is typically something you would not find in an apartment kitchen.”
Even though another challenge the Dan Kitchens team faced was creating a layout to suit the large appliances the homeowners desired, this was again overcome by some creative thinking.
As a result, “There are all full-size, ultra-premium appliances including a 760mm Gaggenau oven, a Sub-Zero integrated fridge, a large cooktop and a Ducted Rangehood.”
“The clients were very open to the fact that all the appliances were not going to fit. But the day I presented the design to them, and I said, ‘all the appliances were going to fit’ was a happy bonus for them.”
“Effectively, we managed to get a full-size kitchen into quite a small space.”
A Luxurious Feel
Mr Mazic said this home would be the clients’ retirement nest egg, and he was in awe of the “spectacular view of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House”.
“The apartment is the perfect spot for anyone who likes to entertain,” he said. Mr Mazic said the kitchen was streamlined with slimline handles and a neutral colour palette made certain features stand out.
White cabinets with a bevelled edge were selected as a neutral backdrop in the luxury kitchen, exuding a crisp and clean feeling.
The clients picked a Natural Stone product called Dolomite, which looks like a combination of marble and granite.
“I took the opportunity to introduce the client to Dolomite,” Mr Mazic said. “They fell in love with the product after they looked at slabs.”
“We used it as the benchtops and splashbacks in their kitchen, and it is the feature that pops the most. Adding drama to the space because the patterns and textures are absolutely stunning.”
“We also made a display niche using an American Oak timber. The timber, which is also used on the breakfast bar, which gives the apartment warmth and invitingness, because otherwise the kitchen would have looked too sterile, white and harsh.”
Functionality is Key
Mr Mazic said the kitchen needed to be functional because the clients loved cooking and baking. As a result, the Contemporary Kitchen has the same number of drawers that would usually be found in the kitchen of a mid-sized house.
“There are drawers within cupboards, a full-size pantry, and the electrics are hidden in the cabinetry to give the kitchen a streamlined look,” Mr Mazic said.
The top drawers all have a minimal looking, slimline handle, while the lower drawers do not, but all are motorised so they can be opened with a simple touch.
“It is a good functional space. The preparation area is near where the natural light comes in. To the left and right of the cooktop is a lot of space for pots and pans and mixers.”
The breakfast bar area can also be used as a place to sit, as well as a servery and an additional preparation area.
A Challenge but Not Impossible
Designer Daniel Mazic said apartment buildings are notoriously hard to work with from a production perspective.
“We had to be smart about what we designed because the cabinets, for example, had to fit inside the lift,” Mr Mazic said.
The Dan Kitchens team also effectively hid a structural column inside the timber display niche. Mr Mazic said all challenges were overcome, and he was confident the clients were very happy with the end product. He can imagine them cooking in their new kitchen while enjoying the harbour view. Whether you need a large contemporary kitchen renovation in Hornsby or a small contemporary kitchen renovation in Mosman, Dan Kitchens ensures all contemporary kitchen renovations are on time and on budget.
Are you ready to get started? Why not speak to the expert kitchen design team at Dan Kitchens and get the premium designer look you desire, as well as all of the functionality you expect from a high-end kitchen.
Dan Kitchens have highly experienced Luxury Kitchen designers and manufacturers with an unrivalled reputation for expertly made kitchens and joinery in Sydney. Visit our Luxury Kitchen Showroom to see how the finest craftsmanship, coupled with high-quality materials and finishes, can transform your kitchen into a luxury oasis. We offer a fully project managed service, from an initial concept and manufacturing, right through to installation. Call us today on (02) 9624 2344, discover how Dan Kitchens uses Danish principles to design impressive custom kitchens.