Houzz TV: Tour a Classic Blue-and-White Mosman Kitchen

At first glance, this couple’s kitchen looked fine. White cabinets and white subway tiles gave it a light and bright appearance. And it had a large island bench. “Upon closer inspection, I could see that all the insides of the cupboards were falling apart,” says designer Danielle Bonello-Dunsford, who was hired by the couple to update the space. “And the white kitchen was not the right colour for the space. Everything was a little bit too white and it wasn’t the right balance for the room.” Meanwhile, the large rectangular island impeded traffic flow for the couple, who often cook together.

To address the issues, Bonello-Dunsford, who used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, started over. She designed a new island with curved ends to smooth out circulation paths and gave it a muted blue that pops against light grey cabinets. A sense of symmetry delivers a calm vibe, and new French doors maximise views of the garden.

In an ensuite bathroom, Bonello-Dunsford created a luxury hotel look with white tongue-and-groove panelling, a powdery pink splashback and a custom-made vanity. And she gave a powder room a wow factor with a vibrant botanical print wallpaper.