Strong lines and bold forms make the kitchen functional yet timeless. The softness of the stone and pale cabinetry set a light canvas for the Miele ovens from Winning Appliances to blend, while the Franke Bolero sink in stainless steel adds a minimalist feel, in keeping with the clean-lined countertop.
An inner-city coastal home uses natural light and a soft grey material palette to create a kitchen with timeless appeal.
In partnership with Winning Appliances
The atmosphere when stepping into this coastal home in Sydney’s Tamarama is instantly calming. Designed by Alexandra Kidd Interior Design founder and design principal Alexandra Kidd, the pared-back retreat perfectly embodies the laissez-faire lifestyle that makes Sydney so charming. A family sanctuary, the home balances form and function with effortless sophistication, drawing in the cliffs and landscape of the surrounding area.
Connecting to the air and sky, the house is designed with an openness to invite quiet. Within this mode, the kitchen is the focal point of an open-plan layout. The spaces extend from one to the other, blending each zone throughout the house and ultimately serving aesthetic and practical needs. “In open-plan spaces like this, where the kitchen is visible from the living and dining areas, it’s essential that the appliances don’t disrupt the clean lines and minimalist feel. Integration was key,” Kidd emphasises the importance of appliances that work in harmony with the overall design
Floor to ceiling cabinetry keeps the kitchen as clutter-free as possible, also allowing the Sub-Zero fridge to be fully integrated. Alexandra Kidd’s glass Mirabella Bud Vase adds a delicate touch.
Dissolving the barriers between inside and out, the kitchen and dining extend onto a planted balcony, bringing the coastal air in as a permanent backdrop.
A low-lying built-in cabinet extends the material language from the kitchen to the dining room, using the same Calacatta Blue marble. A limited edition, hand-blown glass Alexandra Kidd Atelier lamp adds effortless sophistication.
The selection includes sleek, black Miele appliances — all chosen from Winning Appliances for cooking—specifically a pyrolytic oven, combi-steam oven, warming drawer, and full-surface induction cooktop. A stainless steel Franke Bolero sink offers a minimalist addition. Behind the floor-to-ceiling matte greige cabinetry, a high-performance Sub-Zero refrigerator is hidden. Wine storage has also been accommodated with Vintec wine fridges also selected from Winning Appliances.
Though a highly functional workspace, the kitchen does not dominate the home’s interior. Instead, it integrates into the larger living area, with every element—from the appliances to the finishes—chosen to support the home’s overall vision of simplicity and tranquillity.
The whole house is a masterpiece of bespoke joinery, with sleek cabinetry accented by subtle black hardware. The statement piece here is the honed Calacatta Blue stone, with its smudgy black-and-white swirls blending to make flicks of grey. The stone forms a solid, rectilinear island bench, flowing out to a custom low-lying joinery piece in the dining room. The form dominates, but the tone softens, setting a framework for the integration of appliances.
Choosing the right appliances for such a refined space was crucial. Kidd notes that functionality could not be compromised for a busy family. But rather than allowing practicality to dictate form, every appliance was selected from Winning Appliances with an eye on maintaining the seamless flow of the space. “We focused on selecting integrated or concealed appliances that would allow the kitchen to remain uncluttered, blending perfectly with the joinery and contributing to the calm, clean aesthetic,” Kidd explains.
Light oak timbers and soft greys make for a muted and peaceful palette throughout the home.
“In open-plan spaces like this, where the kitchen is visible from the living and dining areas, it’s essential that the appliances don’t disrupt the clean lines and minimalist feel.”
– ALEXANDRA KIDD
Beyond the kitchen, the home extends its minimalist ethos into every corner, instilling a connection to the outdoors with every view. Large glass doors open onto a balcony garden, removing any obstructions that might interrupt the flow. This green space offers a sanctuary of its own, a retreat among the carefully curated greenery that contrasts with the home’s monochromatic palette.
The colour palette itself is timeless, with soft tones of grey complementing bold blacks and crisp whites. Throughout the house, the materials—limestone and timber—draw from the natural landscape, grounding the design in its environment. “We wanted the home to reflect its surroundings while maintaining a modern, minimalist feel,” Kidd says.
The Allied Maker Alabaster wall sconce in the bathroom.
Alexandra Kidd Interior Design’s expert touch is a study in balance. This home manages to be both luxurious and understated, practical and serene. The kitchen stands as the perfect example of this equilibrium—a functional hub that is visually composed, thanks to the careful selection of integrated appliances, bespoke joinery, and a timeless colour palette.
“We wanted the home to reflect its surroundings while maintaining a modern, minimalist feel.”
– ALEXANDRA KIDD
