Tour of an Aussie Minimalist Kitchen (Studio Series Pt. 1)

Meet the Aussie Minimalist Kitchen

A perfect blend of sleek, modern aesthetics paired with features that make it liveable for the everyday family.

While there will be lots of kitchen tours to come, we wanted to start by highlighting a few of the showstopper kitchens that we've installed directly into our Urbandale studio space. The steps of planning, designing, and building out these different zones has been a full creative process, and we've really been able to feature some secret and special details throughout each one.

But today, let's start with the kitchen that sits right at the front of our studio; bold, black, and minimalist. If you think black isn't really your style, I'd like to challenge you to think again. There's a level of sophistication and approachability when it comes to darker shades. Black is also one of those colors that will never feel outdated, regardless of how other trends will ebb and flow. It's a true classic, and can be surprisingly cheerful.

Aussie Kitchen Style Inspiration

In our space, this nook is the best place to bask in the sunlight that streams in through the front windows. Actually, I make a point every single today to drink my coffee while sitting at the white oak bench and table (from Leanne Ford Interiors) to make the most of the natural light. It's a few minutes to let in some calm and energy before moving onto my next project. It's my favorite place in the entire studio, but that's no surprise! I'm always a sucker for built-in sitting areas in a kitchen.

Designing the Hood

The hood in this kitchen is the biggest conversation piece! Having such bold and high contrast finishes led us to aim for a design that had more texture and softer edges, and so this hood was born. The material that we used is actually pole-wrap. I love that it's oversized and that it dominates the space in an aesthetically-pleasing way.

Cabinet has two sets of racks & shelving that tuck back into the corner.

If you're looking for an efficient way to do a blind corner cabinet, you can steal this trick we used and create a "magic" corner base. Although a little pricier, it is truly the best version of a blind corner that I've ever seen.

Back to the Future

We like to call these bi-fold cabinets the "Delorians", because they are giving us very serious Back to the Future vibes. As you can see, they lift, rather than swing to the side, which gives you more (and safer) headspace as you're cooking. If I could install them everywhere, I would.

Doors that reveal a secret

Our tall unit has a super fun hidden secret - the main doors actually pocket back into the unit itself, so you can opt for an open display or keep it closed for a cleaner look.

One practical use for these is to put something like your coffee maker in this type of cabinet. In the mornings, you can open it up and display all of your coffee wares, and by the time you're done, you can close it up and be done with it for the day. And voila, your counters are freed from yet another small kitchen appliance!

These types of features and details are the types of things that allow you to have a minimalist style while also having a space that's extremely liveable for a family.

View with the pocket doors closed

Pendant light by Andrew Neyer

One of our favorite parts of this space is the cantilevered wood table that is an extension of the island. In case you’re unfamiliar, “cantilever” means to fix a long beam only at one end. So, in this instance, the support under the table is only connected to the actual island.

We waterfalled the island itself down two sides, then we cantilevered a piece of white oak over the top of it and we created a barrel support that matches the hood with the same pole wrap, to bring that feature into another part of the overall design.

I'm all about functional design. So, while I love the modern aesthetic, the slab doors, and the really clean lines, it can seem unattainable when you have kids that put their hands all over everything. However, all the cabinets you see here are actually fingerprint-proof! You, or your littles, can touch them with your hands and there are literally no marks left behind. And if you're going to have a black slab kitchen like this beauty, that's going to be a must-have!

This kitchen is a great example of how you can still build warmth with dark colors and minimalist design, all while having the storage and space you need to keep the clutter at bay.

Please come by our studio in Urbandale sometime and see this beauty in person. We’d love to give you a tour.

-Sarah