This website uses cookies to improve your experience navigating our site. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK, I understand

Traditional Kitchens

Roundup

We’ve whipped up a collection of our favourite ‘traditional’ kitchens from the TDF Homes archive.

Think rustic, farm-house homestead vibes, with open shelving, well-worn materials and collections of much loved utensils, chopping boards and heirloom ceramics on display.

 

13th September, 2017

The Byron Bay home of Anna and Andrew Swain and their family. Kitchen and living area with French armoire pantry and factory pigeon holes in hallway. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Anna and Andrew use a pine pigeon hole storage solution sourced from Raw Vintage in Bangalow. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Behind the epic stove is a black-oxide rendered feature wall. The egg basket was purchased from an antique market in Burma. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dark and Moody

Kitchens often tend towards the white and bright, but the Byron Bay home of Anna and Andrew Swain showcases the power of a deeper palette.

The black-oxide rendered feature wall here is a striking focal point for stainless steel appliances and utensils, and is a robust, hard-wearing surface perfectly suited to the most high-traffic room in the house.

 

The Gippsland farmhouse of Tamsin Carvan and family. The kitchen was designed and handcrafted by Tamsin’s partner Allan. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

One of two oven/stoves in Tamsin’s kitchen.  Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Salvaged Surfaces

The Gippsland farmhouse of Tamsin Carvan and family is a firm favourite of ours!

Tamsin’s partner, Allan, is a talented handyman/ furniture maker who crafted all the cupboards and shelves from old Baltic pine floorboards, and made the workbenches from various reclaimed timbers.  This eclectic mix of reclaimed timbers lends a distinct homely character to this well loved, hard-working kitchen.

 

The kitchen of Matt and Lentil Purbrick in their Tabilk home in central Victoria. The recycled timber kitchen cabinets were designed by Matt and built by Jack Robinson, while the stool bases were built by friend Hugh Williams. Photo by Eve Wilson, styling by Stefanie Stamatis for The Design Files.

Kitchen sink and shelves with preserves by Matt and Lentil. Photo by Eve Wilson, styling by Stefanie Stamatis for The Design Files.

Produce on Show

The kitchen of Matt and Lentil Purbrick of Grown and Gathered is, of course, a gallery space for their craft: making preserves from the organic fruit and vegetables they grow on their Tabilk property in central Victoria.

 

 

Inside the Melbourne home of Amanda Henderson-Marks and Michael Marks. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The bright and airy space features eye-catching drop lighting. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room looking through the the kitchen. Amanda’s favourite upholstered mustard yellow chair with grey cushions in linen and wool. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Subway Tiles

One of the cheapest and easiest tiling solutions for a traditional-style kitchen (or bathroom) is the classic white ‘subway tile’, seen here in the beautiful Melbourne home of Amanda Henderson-Marks and Michael Marks.

The couple’s kitchen adopts the classic combo of white subway tiles with concrete bench tops made by Michael.  Above, floating shelves display Amanda’s much loved collections of chopping boards and ceramics.

The country cottage of Jess Wootten and Krystina Menegazzo in Gordon, Victoria. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The kitchen features vintage Salter scales from an antique store in Yarraville, hanging breadboard a wedding gift, Turkish copper coffee pot from Turkey, and many other thing treasured pieces! Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Compact but Clever

The country cottage of Jess Wootten and Krystina Menegazzo in Gordon, Victoria, incorporates a tiny, but perfectly appointed little kitchen.

Open shelving, with kitchenware and utensils all positioned for easy access make the compact kitchen a surprisingly functional, hard-working space.

The Macedon farmhouse kitchen of Elizabeth Barnett, Blake Byron-Smith and family. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production by Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Optimising Light and Vistas

The kitchen of Elizabeth Barnett, Blake Byron-Smith and family in Macedon is truly what farmhouse kitchen dreams are made of!

This beautiful, light-filled space is enviable for its generous scale, its classic materials palette (yep, more subway tiles), its boundless natural light and uninterrupted views out across the property.

 

The home of Natasha Morgan and family, Oak & Monkey Puzzle, in Daylesford. The mudroom houses Natasha’s preserves. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Alcove featuring Natasha’s adored woodstove. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Weathered Beauty

The home of Natasha Morgan and family, Oak & Monkey Puzzle, just outside Daylesford is a layered, eclectic farmhouse which brings together a great variety of original materials, aged patinas and textures.

The mudroom adjacent to the kitchen is almost entirely in its original condition, complete with rustic (and slightly wonky) weatherboards and a charming, impossibly narrow timber door.

Lynda Gardener’s ‘The White Room’, featuring a medical cabinet, industrial trolley and an eclectic collection of white-on-white kitchenware and accessories. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Inside Lynda Gardener and Mark Smith’s converted-warehouse home in North Fitzroy. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

White on White

Lynda Gardener and Mark Smith’s converted-warehouse home in North Fitzroy adopts Lynda’s signature crisp white-on-white palette, with antique and rustic details layered to perfection. This distinctive aesthetic defines each of Lynda’s design and decoration projects – and shows just how versatile and powerful a lick of white paint can be!

The White Room, pictured above, is actually the accommodation at the rear of Lynda and Mark’s home, and is available to rent.

Similar Stories

Roundup

Workshop Envy

In honour of 'Man Week', we revisit the most enviable craftsman caves from our archive!
Elle Murrell

Roundup

Solutions for Living Small

Cancel those extension plans; we're sharing a selection of clever ideas for beautiful and functional compact spaces from the TDF archives.

Roundup

Our Favourite Art Walls

Ideas from our archive to inspire your own in-home gallery!

This Week

On The Market

A Luxuriously Modern Home For Sale In Sydney's Forest Lodge

This new home has everything from smart-home features to solar and an electric car charger, alongside a dreamy outdoor entertaining area!
Christina Karras

News

Shop Zenn Design + Christopher Blank’s New, Must-Have Bedside Tables

It’s time to elevate your bedroom with this sleek new collection of solid timber tables.
Sponsored

Interiors

A Sunny Bondi Terrace Renovation With A Candy-Pink Bathroom!

The interiors of this family home now feature an all-pink bathroom and olive green features, inspired by the owners' personal style!
Christina Karras

Homes

A Victorian Coastal Family Home Inspired By A Famous Alpine Village

The Jan Juc family home of artist Ingrid Daniell and designer Clifton Daniell.

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life With A Rising Star In The Australian Ballet, Riley Lapham

We went behind the scenes with professional ballerina Riley Lapham as the company brings their 'Don Quixote' to the stage!
Christina Karras
  10 hours ago

On The Market

This Designer’s Family Home Hides A Rooftop Terrace, And It’s For Sale

The Melbourne house of owner-designer Dan Gayfer is on the market, but this Edwardian's sweeping extension is full of surprises.
Christina Karras

News

Find Timeless Timber Furniture At Mark Tuckey’s Workshop Sale

Australian furniture brand Mark Tuckey are holding their biggest clearance sale yet, with up to 60% off!
Sponsored

Design Eye

Creating A Timeless Interior, With Jean-Pierre Biasol

Melbourne interior designer Jean-Pierre Biasol reveals how interior spaces can outlive trends, thanks to careful furniture selections.

Shopping

Style Meets Sustainability In Armadillo’s New Melbourne Showroom

Melbourne design lovers will be happy to hear beloved rug brand Armadillo have opened a new showroom in Fitzroy!
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

The Sculptural Fabric + Metal Works Of Architect-Trained Artist, Annie Paxton

Melbourne based Annie Paxton creates mesmerising sculptural works made from silk, fabric, aluminium, steel and chain mail!

Interiors

Inside The Memo Co-Founder Phoebe Simmonds’ Family Home

Entrepreneur Phoebe Simmonds and builder Shaun Caton's 'contemporary Edwardian' Melbourne family home.

Stays

10 Retro-Inspired Motels To Book For Your Next Weekend Away!

Is there anything more nostalgic than a vintage motel with a dreamy pool? Here's some of the coolest ones to visit across Australia.
Christina Karras

Studio Visit

Di Lunedi’s Nostalgic Ceramics Serve Up A Slice Of Coastal Italy!

Step inside the Northern NSW studio of De Lunedi's Elise Eales, who creates one-off ceramic pieces inspired by her love of Italy's seaside.

Architecture

A Playful Renovation + Extension Of A 1910s Edwardian Weatherboard Cottage

This once lacklustre Edwardian cottage has been given new life thanks to a renovation and extension by Architect George Meek, of Studio Meek...

A ‘Little Big House’ Designed For The Whole Family

A Melbourne family home by Maike Design where the priorities of parents and children take equal billing.
Amelia Barnes
  2 hours ago

Similar Stories

Roundup

Workshop Envy

An edit of the most enviable craftsman caves from our archive!
Elle Murrell

Roundup

Solutions for Living Small

A selection of our favourite functional, compact spaces from the TDF archives.

Roundup

Our Favourite Art Walls

Ideas from our archive to inspire your own in-home gallery!

The Design Files acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

First Nations artists, designers, makers, and creative business owners are encouraged to submit their projects for coverage on The Design Files. Please email bea@thedesignfiles.net