Photography: The Palm Co / Styling: Sarah Yarrow
When the owners of this beachside home in Sydney’s south decided to renovate, they asked their daughter, interior designer Sarah Yarrow, to guide them through the process of creating a modern white kitchen, which was completed in just 12 weeks in 2020. “They had inherited an early-2000s kitchen and were keen to modernise it, but in a tailored and classy way reflective of their existing style and furnishings throughout the rest of the home,” says Sarah. “Functionally, the space lacked storage which was a big consideration in the tiny footprint as the kitchen couldn’t be extended.”
Are white kitchens still trending?
White kitchens are always a classic but to make them feel modern, look at easy kitchen updates such as new tapware and light fittings. The white-on-white palette was chosen to give the illusion of space, as were integrated appliances. The farmhouse sink and tapware from The English Tapware Company were decided on as the hero pieces of the new modern white kitchen, and the rest of the design was built around these pieces. “Given the very small space, we kept colours and material variation very simple to avoid visual clutter,” says Sarah. “The cabinets and walls are the same shade of white, but we added interest with the shaker-style profile on the cabinetry doors.” Finally, loose sheer Roman blinds were added to provide subtle pattern and colour.
The existing hardwood floors were sanded and re-polished in a clear matte seal, and the white kitchen cabinets were custom-designed for the space by Sarah, then constructed by Yarrow Build. The benchtops are Frosty Carrina from Caesarstone, paired with tapware and sink from The English Tapware Company. The lighting is by Light Co, blinds and curtains are from Northside Window Coverings and the handles are by Hepburn Hardware.
SHOP THE LOOK
In the connecting laundry, the existing floor tiles were kept and Yarrow Build constructed the new custom cabinetry. Caesarstone benchtops were paired with tiles from Tile Bazaar, with tapware from Winning Appliances. The once-dated spaces have been transformed into a fresh white kitchen and adjoining white laundry.
Design tip
“The laundry is connected to the kitchen but my parents wanted it to be ‘invisible’. I added bi-fold doors that can be closed to neatly hide away everyday mess. We also wanted to keep the design consistent with the kitchen, so despite it being a utilitarian laundry, it still has the elevated, timeless look we strived for in the kitchen,” says Sarah.
“Don’t try to add too many ‘hero’ or feature pieces into the space otherwise you’ll lose the effect … we used the fireclay sink and tapware as our hero.”
Sarah Yarrow, interior designer
Source book
Interior design: Sarah Yarrow, Sarah Yarrow Interiors, (02) 8581 5286, sarahyarrowinteriors.com.au.
Builder: Tim Yarrow, Yarrow Build, (02) 8581 5286, yarrowbuild.com.au.
