The kitchen is possibly the most important room in any home, with its primary function being the place where we store our food and create our meals, but as we all know the kitchen is far more than that. It’s a place where we gather as a family after a busy day, where we catch up with friends, and it’s often the centre stage when it comes to entertaining. Both the kitchen and pantry require a lot of attention to ensure it suits our needs, whilst making the best use of the allocated space within our homes’ floor plan.

The perfect kitchen is a hard thing to define, James Treble has travelled to Milan for the International Fair of Interior Design many times and has fallen in love with plenty of amazing kitchens with high-end finishes, but that doesn’t mean these designs would be the ones he’d have in his own home. Despite its looks, the right kitchen is the one that is tailored to satisfy the needs of each home.

With this in mind, module 3 of James Trebles online design course covers all the fundamental elements of understanding and designing functional kitchens, including the finishes and surfaces options, the appliances, the layout and the style, so that you will be better informed when deciding which kitchen is in fact ideal for your home.

This article is a excerpt from Module 3 which will teach you how to design the perfect kitchen and pantry for your home.

A focal point is also useful to physically aim people’s attention towards a specific direction and maybe away from areas you don’t want to be noticed. From there the attention will span to the area immediately around it and then open to the rest of the room.

A focal point is created by using colour, pattern, size or finish, for example, like a striking art work on the wall in the living room, the textural cushions on the bed, the gold and marble floor lamp or a stand out kitchen tap in the middle of the kitchen island.

The focal point intends to visually attract people, drawing their attention and making them look where you want them too.

Introduction

In the heart of Moorooka, Brisbane, a suburb adorned with red double-brick homes from the 1950s and 60s, architect Matt Riley has seamlessly blended nostalgia with modernity in a breathtaking mid-century modern home renovation. Jimmy caught up with Matt to delve into the design philosophies and innovations behind this stunning project.

Upon entering the renovated home, Jimmy marveled at the massive void and highline windows that flooded the living space with natural light. Matt Riley explained the meticulous planning that went into maintaining the picturesque views and harnessing the northeast sun for energy efficiency. “Those windows serve a dual purpose. They also bring ventilation and light,” Matt emphasized.

In the living area, Matt’s strategic use of light, ventilation, and thermal mass became evident. Jimmy, seated on a bench seat, appreciated the peaceful living space created. Matt pointed out, “Part of what we try and do is subtly introduce elements which can guide the owners to use the space correctly.”

Introduction

In the picturesque coastal town of Anglesea, Victoria, the recently completed project by JM Homes Surf Coast has taken home design to new heights. Hosts of the Renovate or Rebuild TV show, Jimmy and Tam, sat down with builder Jamie Mills to delve into the intricacies of this stunning and energy-efficient dwelling.

The unique design of the house, blending Core 10 Steel with rusted steel, tilt panels, and Japanese landscaping, caught the hosts’ attention. Jimmy expressed his admiration for the blend of materials, stating, “It’s such a different feel, yet it all works seamlessly, from the front door to the Japanese-inspired landscaping in the backyard.”

Tam was drawn to the epic island bench in the kitchen, constructed with Caesar stone and a Luminex picture frame. Jamie explained the bold design, saying, “It looks pretty bold for a bold room really.” The design theme extended throughout the house, tying everything together from the front door to the farthest room.

Introduction

In the lush hilly suburb of Freshwater, nestled in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, lies a remarkable dwelling that defies the conventional notion of space utilization. Gavin and Amber, the proud owners of this extraordinary home, shared their journey with renowned interior design guru and Renovate or Rebuild TV show host, James Treble. Together, they unveiled the secrets behind their energy-efficient masterpiece on a mere 200-square-meter block.

Gavin says they discovered the block of land completely by luck – the vacant land became the canvas for their dream home.  “I had a little bit of money squirreled away, and I went and spoke with a real estate agent. We got to the end of the conversation, and I said, ‘Geez, if I had a magic wand, I’d find a bit of vacant land on the northern beaches and build something interesting,'” recalls Gavin.

In another lucky break, the previous owners’ had a design and secured the necessary approvals.  “Because the plans were already designed and approved, we were able to get going straight away. So we didn’t have to go through the whole process of designing and getting the approval. We could just hit the ground running and find a builder,” explains Amber.

Amber loves their warm and inviting kitchen and its clever storage solutions.  They stayed on budget buy doing clever things like buying surplus floor boards from other projects.

“There’s these great drawers that pull out over the top of the stairs. So they weren’t in the original design, but we built them in and found a little bit more space in our pantry,” says Amber.

Introduction

In the heart of Queensland, Australia, a stunning mid-century modern home has undergone a remarkable transformation, catching the attention of design enthusiasts and Instagram stalkers alike. Renovate or Rebuild TV show hosts and winners of The Block 2020, Jimmy and Tam, recently caught up with award-winning architect Paul Butterworth to uncover the design secrets behind The Honeyworks House.

What makes The Honeyworks House truly unique is that it is not a new build but rather a skillful renovation of a five-year-old structure. Butterworth elaborates on the process, stating, “We were lucky enough to salvage and draw on lots of materials and things from the original house that was here. So there was still a legacy of what was here before.”

Jimmy and Tam love the idea of incorporating salvaged materials into the new design. Jimmy notes, “One of the biggest things that stands out to me is that Y column. It’s the biggest nod to mid-century architecture, and it just works perfectly with this house.”

Discussing the sustainability aspect, Butterworth emphasizes, “The biggest thing I think is the fact that it’s probably 30 percent smaller than it was going to be. So it’s easily the most sustainable thing we did about the house. Nothing to do with technology. It’s just physically making it what it needed to be.”

Jimmy echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful design in creating sustainable homes. He comments, “I think that’s where people get lost when designing a home. Everyone wants a big, giant home, and then they don’t think about the heating cost, the cooling costs, the extra materials…”

A Split-Level Home They’ve Simply Outgrown

This episode we meet a lovely young family from New Lambton Heights, a suburb 9 kilometres west of Newcastle’s central business district.

Isobel and Dave purchased their home almost 5 years ago. Both grew up in the country but met in Sydney through work and university. It wasn’t long before love blossomed and they moved into a tiny two-bedroom apartment. Once daughter Gracie came along, they decided it was time to look for a more spacious home where they can settle down and raise a family without the Sydney price tag.

The couple has since had a second daughter Georgie, and the whole family loves their Newcastle lifestyle.

Nestled on the beautiful, sun-drenched eastern coastline of New South Wales, just over two hours north of Sydney, Newcastle is a vibrant city bursting with fun things to do for the whole family. The region has experienced its ups and downs, but the local economy is now booming with property prices increasing dramatically in the last few years to a median price of $1.1M.

“Ugh gross!”

Jess was clearly less than impressed the moment she saw the house.

“I can already tell it’s a rebuild. It looks alright but I hate everything about it”, she exclaimed.

Norm wasn’t convinced, thinking aloud that they might have some trouble getting a rebuild over the line since the house “isn’t actually too bad”.

Jess, however, insisted that the house is terrible, that the orientation is all wrong and will swelter in the summer. She unceremoniously threw Norm’s thong at the house to demonstrate her distaste.

As they walked inside, Jess and Norm decided that the poor orientation of the house would be their winning angle. Like Andy and Deb, they thought the rooms were tiny and we’re equally taken aback by the messy study. Jess said the room reminded her of both Norm’s car and her mindset when she’s hormonal – just everywhere!

They also felt the outdoor area isn’t functional.

After seeing the house they agreed that the house is “unrenovational” and that Team Renovate has got no chance. Knowing that budget could be an issue, they discussed the option of staging the new build.

While Martin worked on the designs, the teams and homeowners visited a number of incredible properties for further inspiration.

Norm and Jess took Isobel and Dave to see a “postage stamp” house in Freshwater Sydney that proves that a small house can still excel when it comes to style and function.

The house has been built on a small 200sqm block of land. Similar to Isobel and Dave’s block, it’s also a bit awkwardly shaped. Despite being hot outside, the interior of the home is cool without air conditioning thanks to the innovative Deceuninck uPVC double-glazed windows manufactured by Integra Windows that provide excellent thermal insulation.

Despite being small, the house feels big and spacious with high ceilings. The smart design takes advantage of every inch of space while still allowing a backyard.

Meanwhile, Roshan Ramnarain from Energy Matters took Andy and Deb to meet with Charles McGlinchey from SENEC Australia to have a look at a solar battery solution. Here, Roshan and Charles explained how solar batteries are the perfect complement to a solar power system, providing energy security during power outages. Solar batteries work by storing excess energy generated from your solar panels for use during blackouts or when the sun isn’t shining.

The SENEC B3 Hybrid is an all-in-one system, with a solar inverter and batteries in the one box. All you need to do is add solar panels, and you’re ready to go.

Knowing that the budget is tight, Andy and Deb asked Roshan how they might accommodate the cost of the solar solution for Isobel and Dave. Roshan suggested that they consider Payright’s “buy now, pay later” finance option available through many of Energy Matter’s solar partners. Payright allows customers to pay for their solar system in convenient bite-size installments.

Team Rebuild design highlights:

• Budget conscious approach, staged the works to control expenditure.
• Included everything in Isobel and Dave’s brief in stage 1 budget, with optional extras in the second stage.
• Transformed look of existing home, creating a modern play on the traditional house silhouette of two walls and centre-pitched roof with new site addition achieving a dramatic architectural design
• Starting from lower existing part of the home, retained the original garage which was already a great size
• Subfloor to the front of the block provides structure for new split-level layout above
• New set of internal stairs leads up through the centre of the home to new light-filled entry foyer which is the main link to each of the living and sleeping zones
• To rear of home is new master suite with two large separate built-ins and ensuite
• Large living area located to front of the block enjoying the height of the second set of raked ceilings

The two different solutions were judged by an expert panel on style, sustainability, and cost. The judges are real estate expert, Thomas Hook, building and property expert, Natalee Bowen, and interior designer, James Treble. Each judge will give a final score out of 10.

Ultimately the decision will come down to Isobel and Dave — will they renovate or rebuild? Their decision will add an additional two points to the final tally.

A dated home in a dream location

Dallas and Nick, a young couple from Queensland, are faced with the question of whether they should renovate their home or knock it down and rebuild.

They have been living in their family home in stunning Burleigh Heads for the past ten years. They are raising their three young kids and dog there, and it’s a location they absolutely love. With a one minute drive to Nick’s work, five minutes to the beach and breath-taking, uninterrupted ocean, bush and city views, the couple feel lucky to call Burleigh Heads home. There’s only one problem… the house itself leaves much to be desired!

Built in the 70s, the 3 bedroom home is a testament to the architecture of the time—lots of exposed brickwork, stucco concrete, arches, a sunken lounge room and minimal consideration of natural light, insulation or airflow.

Not only is the house aesthetically dated but it also loses out when it comes to functionality. With three bedrooms and three kids, their two boys need to share a room, the kitchen is small, and their pool and entertaining area are on completely opposite ends of the house. Worst of all, the house’s incredible views are completely obstructed thanks to its poor design and layout.

First impressions for Jimmy and Tam weren’t good at all. Jimmy called the facade “monstrous” with no street appeal. They noted the rotten timber, rusted gutters, crumbling pool walls and water damage throughout the home. In their opinion it was a no brainer –the house needed to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch!

As they walked through the home they commented on how hot it felt and didn’t like how there was no connection between the inside and outside for entertaining.

Like Michael and Carlene, they noticed that the laundry boasted magnificent views and said that the house has the best views on Gold Coast but the layout simply doesn’t take advantage of it.

Paul felt that the character of the house is strong but the design is dysfunctional. He said it is a challenging house to renovate, but could shine with the opportunity to be liberated.

Team Renovate design highlights:

• Modern, mid-century design celebrates existing building by reusing demolished materials, such as the bricks and roof tiles
• Demolished old carport and built a new carport and garage
• New facade creates a welcoming entrance that brought tears to Dallas’ eyes
• Removed Northern side of existing home due to structural concerns
• Opened up side of home to create an open space that blurs the line between indoor and out
• Added master bedroom, separate to other bedrooms
• New open plan kitchen and living zones with high ceilings that offer optimised airflow, natural lighting and uninterrupted view.
• 6.9 star energy rating and new Longi rooftop solar system

The two different solutions were judged by an expert panel on style, sustainability, and cost. The judges are real estate agent, Alex Jordan, building and property expert, Natalee Bowen and interior designer, James Treble.

Ultimately the decision will come down to Dallas and Nick — will they renovate or rebuild?