A Certain ‘Je Ne Sais Quoi’
From family lunches to a warm cup of tea before bed, the kitchen is called the heart of the home for good reason. Interior design in kitchens, much like other areas of the home, have undergone numerous design evolutions over the years, but what about vintage-style kitchens? Join Melbourne Kitchen + Bathroom Design’s Stef Grinberg as she chats to Justin C, managing director of Shoreham Cabinets about the design and build process behind distinctive, historical kitchens.
As the sunrise paints the sky with shades of orange and pink, a new morning begins and with it, the promise of a new day.
But the morning really starts in the kitchen, from a routine centred around a shot of espresso to cooking a hearty breakfast, each day begins the moment you start your routine. With so much time spent in the kitchen, surrounded by countertops and cabinetry, it’s important that the design speaks to you and aesthetically aligns with the rest your home.
“In the beginning stages we take many factors into consideration … the client’s vision and ideas, layout … material,” explains C.
He would explain that the style and era play a role in deciding which kind of kitchen to go with, but to plan a renovation or new build, the first step is to look at what surrounds the space to ensure a cohesive finish.
THE DRAFTING STAGE
Preparing the design of your kitchen can be compared to the rough sketches before a painting or the act of preparing meals for the week ahead. Each step you take in the beginning makes it easier to continue onto the next.
C is a sole trader, working with homeowners every step of the way, from the first consultation until the day the kitchen is complete.
“I work one on one with my clients through every step of a renovation so there’s no middleman … us[ing] the latest 3D design planning software … clients fully visualise and comprehend every little detail of a job,” C says.
Mood boards and photos make all the difference, “the old saying is ‘a picture tells a thousand words’ and from these … we can start to conceptualise,” he says. When building, renovating or designing a kitchen, showing rather than telling makes all the difference in communicating your exact wants, needs and aesthetic choices to the person who’ll make it happen. With an image to look at, you can identify individual design elements that speak to you, better understanding of the design that you want. Say for example, the façade of your home is deeply inspired by the classic and rustic French Provincial era of the 18th and 19th century. Naturally you would decide on elements that communicate and match this aesthetic, rather than a more contemporary Hamptons style kitchen.
CASE STUDY: THE FRENCH PROVINCIAL KITCHEN
Defined by refined, elegant and understated design elements, the French provincial style, as the name suggests, is deeply influenced by the provinces of France.
Antique tapware, hooks and rails paired with stone benchtops and wooden cabinetry are the pillars of the aesthetic, adding to the rustic-inspired atmosphere that this style provides. When asked about the process behind designing a vintage-style kitchen, C would confirm that “communication and visual imagery are essential.”
With such distinct features, each detail must be meticulously planned and executed, with the cabinetry details “pulled from multiple inspiration images,” said C.
In this kitchen, C would emphasise the beauty of the defined crown moulding but would say that “the pièce de résistance has got to be the custom rangehood!” For this project, full-size two-dimensional replicas of the moulding was used to “achieve the correct curve and moulding shape,” he says, continuing “it was honestly great fun to work with a level of craftsmanship you don’t get to use every day to create a one-off custom piece.”
DESIGN AND DELIVER
Paying close attention to the needs of the homeowner is integral to producing such an intricate and functional design outcome, “in terms of storage and workflow we always consult with our clients on the layout … staying close and connected with our clients is key,” he said. Ensuring that a rustic, classic kitchen can be balanced with modern amenities is a delicate task. Prioritising functionality and durability with design relies on a skillset able to align each of these factors with precision. Without such precise dedication the finished kitchen risks missing the harmonious feel. “I think the historical accuracy along with a client’s vision for the overall look … comes very organically and naturally,” he said.
The real magic of each project relies on the smallest, most intricate details throughout the space. Custom joinery, especially in a French provincial style kitchen plays a big part in elevating the space.
“This [custom joinery] is no doubt my favourite aspect of being a quality tradesman … I personally get amazing job satisfaction from creating projects with fine detail,” C explains, continuing, “shout out to my former boss Mark Stone at R.M Clayton Joinery in Wangaratta, he taught me … [how to] go from being a ‘tradie’ to being a craftsman,” he said.
As a ‘one man band’ C collaborates with other contractors throughout the building process of a project, he would say “the build process is quite easy if all the trades and contractors are on the same page … I supply my cabinetry plans to all of the electricians, plumbers, tilers etc.”
Consistent communication between tradesmen during the build process “make[s] sure the project goes to plan as smoothly as possible,” C explained. For those who enjoy the design, aesthetic and refined elegance of a French provincial kitchen, C says “I’m not a lover of playing it safe when renovating for the possibility of re-sale down the track. If you love a style … it’ll be timeless and you’ll love the feeling of living in something you’ve created.”
