Thursday, February 25, 2010

My Creative Space

It's been busy busy busy at CurlyPops HQ, and now I'm adding family kitchen designer to my repertoire (with my humble apologies to real kitchen designers). My creative space is all about quantities and dimensions and kit codes and legs and kick boards and pencil round edges and face routings and hinges and so on ........today.


My mum is moving to a little cottage in the country very soon. To say that the kitchen has seen better days, is a slight understatement. It currently consists of a wood burning stove, a sink, and a bench.....


.....and lots and lots of yellowy pine on the walls and the ceiling!

I designed my old kitchen using basic flatpacks, so I'm using my tried and tested method again here. I've measured all of the existing spaces and designed the kitchen around them.


You have to use a little bit of imagination here:

Imagine lovely polished hardwood floors, the entire kitchen painted in Dulux Chalk USA (except for the beautiful wooden mantelpiece surrounding the wood stove), antique white cabinets, and a benchtop in soft browns and neutral tones.

There are three doorways, two windows, and the wood stove to deal with, so the best option was to create a cleaning zone - where the sink will be located (at the top of pic above), a pantry and cooking zone - with proper underbench oven and cooktop above (left side of pic above), and a storage zone (over on the right).

We're going to search for an old worn kitchen table and chairs for the centre of the room to create some rustic country charm..... but first, there's lots and lots of work to do!

The home of My Creative Space....

35 comments:

Rachael said...

I may need to borrow you in a few years when we do something here! Great job.

Vic said...

Well now, I know where to come when I need advice with my *ahem* 'kitchen'.

Is it sad to say that I would be pretty happy with your Mum's before kitchen....?!

But is sounds like the look/colours of her new kitchen are very similar to what I have in mind... when I win the lotto... ;)

Tanya said...

Ok, I want you at my place too! We have an old 'soldier settlement' house with an old, small kitchen (and a fantastic wood stove which I love). It gives me headaches, we have been here for 6 years and I still haven't come up with any magical solution. It's funny, because though I am creative in craft, I can not for the life of me transfer that 'visual thinking' skill to my house design. Embrace your skill, and value it highly- not everyone can do what you are doing, believe me!!

Kirsty said...

Excellent Cam...how lucky your mum is to have you to call on.

Jennie said...

Looks like its going to be another great one! That is one big job!!

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

We just did ours! well half of it... so many decisions... and oyu haven't even got to door handle yet!

MooBear Designs said...

Wood burning stove? No way. That's so country. I thought having a fire place here was country but your Mum wins lol. The new design sounds like a fairy tale... So exciting!! Is there a place for your Mum's daughters awesome tea towels? hehe

xo Steph

flossy-p said...

Well well well, you are handy in so many departments aren't you?!! It looks like good fun actually.

p.s. Thanks so much for your comments yesterday. They really helped.

Becky said...

Oh yes! I have put new kitchens in the last two houses my husband and I have had. If we move to the new block the little cottage has a neat (and very small) kitchen complete with wood stove that also heats the hot water. It will just need a coat of paint, I was thinking Dulux China Doll which is what I did in this house too. The last place was Dulux Antique White which is similar again.

Stacey said...

First comment: Thank you, thank you! You know what for. Gorgeous colour. Doesn't fit me very well, but too gorgeous to alter. Will keep just to look at!!
Second comment: Our kitchen had similar pine cladding on the walls. We painted them a milky off white colour as a temporary fix until we decide what to do with the old girl. The painted kitchen is so much lighter and brighter!
Your skills know no boundaries - you can now add kitchen designer to the repertoire!!

Leonie Guld said...

I kinda like the old one...but I will be looking forward to the new!!! I bet it will be FANTASTIC!! Oh...I checked back on your own kitchen....BRILLIANT!!! Fantastic work!

Irene MissyMinzy said...

oh boy. I like looking at the before and after reno pic on your old kitchen. I love having white kitchen! But..but I believe you will do a great job on the new one too! Looking forward to the end result! :)

Caroline said...

This looks like entirely too much fun, despite all those measurements and calculations and such. Great going so far.

Gina said...

Wow - it's a daunting task but so gratifying to figure it all out and do it. We've done a kitchen reno but not a flat-pack one, and good thing too because even the pros stuffed up due to uneven floor and wall measurements.

How great that you've been down this road before and can help out your mama.

michelle said...

you have a great canvas to work with. that swedish sauna look will be gorgeous covered in dulux chalk. can't wait to see the wip shots

Drewzel said...

You definitely have a knack for it Cam! Is the new housie for Mum in Clunes too?

Sally said...

Oh my! What a big task. We're looking to re-do our kitchen (fingers crossed) this year. Leaves a horrible feeling in my tummy every time I think about it.

Penny said...

Oh wow! The wood burning stove is so cool, but I would never in 1million years want to cook on it every day.

Good luck!

Michelle said...

Yellow pine walls and ceiling sounds like my kitcen, and our cupboards are too.

We have an old worn table and chairs but probably not what you are after, I think it is held together with dried weetbix.

Sandi said...

We had a wood-burning stove in the previous house. (it came with the house when we bought it) The first time we lit the stove up, the whole house was smoked out - there was an old parrot's nest in the flue.
Can't wait to see the finished kitchen makeover.

Unknown said...

i can't imagine how beautiful it will be. nothing like a new kitchen! good luck with it all! xo m.

teddybearswednesday said...

You are amazing, and truly one SUPERPOPS!!

Wendy said...

What a neat little space! looking forward to seeing what you make of it...

Unknown said...

Wow! What a fabulous project to take on and what a great kitchen! Can't wait to see it all finished and lovely.
Sophie x

Tania said...

See, I would have been impressed if you'd done something wacky like insert a zip. I'm beside myself with impressed now.

Olivia said...

What I fun project! Good luck.

Chasing Purple Dreams said...

ooohhh if you have a moment, we have a whole house to plan!

Mookah Studio said...

I too am planning on a kitchen renovation this year...and if it turns out anyhting like your old kitchen I'll be in heaven.

Swirlyarts said...

I quite like the old one (minus the nasty yellowy pine) but I can't wait to see what happens to it!

Sarah said...

you know a lick of pain ton the wood could transform the place! But I bet with all your creative flair you will come up with something just perfect!

If the stove is in good order - keep it there for the countryness of it, A bunch of dried flower and a few op shop bits could really make it a feature!

HAving said that - you can never beat a new kitchen!

Kylie said...

Wow! You are amazing! It looks so fabulous - I love your ideas and totally impressed with your where-with-all :)) K

Megan.K. said...

Honestly, you're a tad multi-talented aren't you Ms CurlyPops?!
x

Bron said...

goodness - it certaintly does sound like it is in need of an update! luckily it also sounds like you've got it all under control! good luck =)

Cindy said...

Excellent work Cam! Chalk USa - you can't go wrong I think. It is an interior design staple.

Jenifir said...

Well done! I am looking forward to seeing the finished kitchen. We have had two Ikea kitchens (in two houses): the first one with help from an on-staff designer but the second we were on our own as they no longer on staff. It was more rewarding to design it ourselves with the knowledge we learned the first time round.