Simple Pleasures
Designer Jane Ledger rejuvenated a dated kitchen to align with a more modern way of living.
INTERIOR DESIGN Jane Ledger Interiors • PHOTOGRAPHY Jody D’Arcy • STORY Elizabeth Clarke
There is much sunlight and refined detailing in this Mount Lawley kitchen crafted by designer Jane Ledger.
Housed in an open-plan living space in the 1980s extension of a character home, it required modernising for its young family. It also needed to sit comfortably with the home's heritage.
The open-plan space, including living and dining, was vast and elongated with soaring ceilings, a red and cream colour scheme, several poorly positioned windows and very little sunlight. The designer's largest challenge, however, was to create dedicated interior spaces within the cavernous area that are by turns intimate, functional and contemporary.
Designing around the light and working within the existing wall structures, Jane "broke up" the large wall and ceiling expanses with new skylights, a generous double-hung window and a three-panel black framed stacking door that pulls in light, which she says changes constantly throughout the day. "Creating different moods within this generous zone has been one of the most fulfilling outcomes of this design," she says.
The kitchen rotates around a large island bench that houses a sink, bin and dishwasher, making post-meal cleanup a cinch. Its central location watches over the living zone, and its size and shape allow plenty of space for entertaining. Twin banks of cabinetry bridged by overhead cupboards on either side of the stovetop are beautifully illuminated thanks to a panel of horizontal glazing directly above.
One of Jane's most important factors when reimagining the space was: how will the family use it? The owners prefer stovetop cooking over using the oven; however, with two young boys, they knew an oven, combination steam oven and microwave were necessary. "With this in mind, I positioned two ovens in a separate bank of cabinetry along the western wall that allows easy placement of dishes and trays straight out of the oven and onto the island bench," says Jane. "A second cook can work simultaneously on the southern wall on the induction cooktop, and others can easily move, prepare and interact in the space."
The ASKO ovens sit sleek and discreetly alongside other fully integrated appliances, ensuring the space remains elegant, chic and uncluttered. Jane explored new and sustainable materials for joinery and surfaces, including engineered stone for the benchtops and Screenwood pre-finished boards that wrap around the island bench, imbuing elegance and interesting detail.
The home's original refined architectural vocabulary provided a springboard for Jane, who chose a palette of soft greys and cabinetry that references the traditional Shaker style for a sense of history. A luminous Jardan pendant together with black hardware and window frames act like punctuation points in the serene and timeless space. "The palette was kept minimal; it didn't need lots of colour and contrasting texture," Jane says. "The idea was to keep the design streamlined, sophisticated but welcoming. I think it holds its own in this generous space."
A large French-door refrigerator is seamlessly hidden within the cabinetry. The island bench sink makes a statement in black and the sink mixer features a brushed nickel finish. A moon-like glass pendant light from Jardan adds a soft glow to the space.
Matte black handles and a slim rail profile lend style and sophistication to the custom cabinetry.
The island bench is packed with functionality along with a breakfast bar with space for counter stools.
The original Jarrah floorboards have been patched, repaired and stitched to suit the new space. Black framed windows and rear stacking doors add definition to the kitchen’s subtle colour palette and pull in sunlight and fresh air. A large ceiling skylight makes a bright addition. The ovens and cooktop are discreetly integrated within the cabinetry.
Follow Jane’s projects @janeledgerinteriors
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