Luke Interiors has reimagined a small 1920s homestead kitchen in rural New South Wales, turning what was once a secluded room into a light-filled, functional hub.
The original space featured only a single small window, offered little connection to the surrounding garden or the living areas, with limited storage and no scope for entertaining. In shifting the layout, a direct link was created between the kitchen, dining room, scullery and pantry that better serves the residence, while still honouring its architectural history.
The clients, passionate entertainers, requested a kitchen that blends practicality with original character. Luke Interiors responded with a design that balances traditional charm and modern functionality, complementing the 1920s Art Deco-era structure without overdoing period detail.
Repurposed materials form a key feature of the design. To achieve the blend of old and new the clients required, the designer had the original doors and windows restored and integrated into the new layout.
Stainless-steel surfaces flank the cooktops, ensuring easy cleanup for the inhabitants, while providing a durable work area for two cooks to work comfortably side by side.
In an eco-conscious move, a wood-burning oven with a water jacket was installed to heat the rest of the house, along with a convenient wood cupboard that makes keeping the fires burning an easy task. A cleverly designed water diverter also redirects excess hot water back to the rainwater tank.
Storage was a top priority given the property’s rural location, and the couple’s extensive cookbook collection. The renovation introduces generous cabinetry, large pantry space and smart fridge storage to meet these needs.
Access to the surrounding landscape has also been improved. Large openings now connect the kitchen to the verandah, dining area and family room, drawing in light and views to the creek, paddocks and garden, creating a sense of openness previously absent.
Luke Interiors has crafted a kitchen that is at once practical, inviting and sensitive to the homestead’s history. By combining repurposed materials with modern appliances and thoughtful planning, the project ensures the kitchen not only functions for contemporary life but also celebrates the character and story of the original 1920s home.
Designer: Elizabeth Luke
KBDi – awards category: KITCHENS PLUS NSW; TRADITIONAL OR THEMED DESIGN; AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Photography: Bernadette Binnie Photography
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