One of the top priorities for Christopher and Natalie was having a large enough space to host, as they love to have friends over. This meant that the kitchen had to be opened up, visually expanding the area and freeing up enough space for a generously-sized dining table. The table they bought measures a whopping 2.8 metres in length – made from solid timber, it was shipped over from Australia and cost the couple about $7,000.

With the resulting open space, Chris was also able to put in a matching 2.8m kitchen island. The couple had requested more counter space, with a coffee corner since Christopher is very much a coffee lover. The island even contains a special feature – a weighing machine that’s embedded into the surface for him to precisely measure out the beans. A niche, specially built to accommodate his Nespresso machine and coffee grinder, completes the look.

The other end of this extra-long island is a breakfast nook for the couple. Flooded with natural light and enlivened with dusty pink Hafary tiles forming the backsplash, this cheery corner is where Natalie and Christopher can enjoy a cuppa or a light bite when relaxing.

In fact, the entire home feels bright and airy, thanks to the nearly full-height windows in the living room and Chris’s use of Silhouette window shades from Hunter Douglas, which create a soft diffused light. For the palette, they went with a very pale grey instead of white, for a cosier feel that permeates the house.

To streamline the look, Chris incorporated a curved ceiling – an astute design choice that not only conceals beams and lighting, but also enhances the cosiness of the space. The lights are tucked away on each end of the curve, with one side above the kitchen island and the other above the shoe cabinet area.

The bedrooms were reconfigured to make space for a larger master bedroom that had distinct rest and dressing areas.

The remaining two rooms are the guest room and the study, which husband and wife share. In pride of place is a full-length pegboard wall which showcases the couple’s interests, with Natalie’s handicrafts taking up one side and Christopher’s audio equipment on the other. “This pegboard lets them move things around and set up shelves as they need,” explains Chris. “It really lets them express their creativity.”

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