What's Cooking

They live and breathe good food and design, so this trio of professionals is only too happy to share winning ingredients from their home kitchens.

ADELAIDE BRAGG

Interior designer Adelaide lives in Melbourne with her husband Tim and sons Oliver, 13, Kip, 11, and Rupert, 10. She designed the kitchen as part of a rear extension. It was installed two years ago.

I love cooking and I do the majority of it in our home. My real love is baking cakes. I’ve been baking since before I could even reach the top of the kitchen bench.

When we renovated, the whole extension revolved around the open-plan kitchen. It’s the heart of our house. I wanted a large island unit where everyone could congregate, and a butler’s pantry with additional sink and dishwasher.

I wanted the kitchen to look good all the time as it is part of our sitting room, so there are large banks of cupboards. These house things like a breakfast cupboard with toaster, coffee machine and cereals, plus a mini bar with fridge and loads of china and glassware. A lot of everyday things are hidden away so the benchtops can be tidy.

A well-designed food cupboard and clutter-free benchtop areas are essential for a well-functioning kitchen.

We were given the copper pot holder for a wedding present. I had it in storage for 13 years, waiting for the perfect place to hang it. The kitchen was designed around the pot holder and it’s a focal point for the room, my favourite detail in the kitchen.

Another element I love is the large pot plants flanking the sink. They’re not very practical when washing up for large numbers, but they add a lovely detail.

I chose a fresh white palette as I wanted the copper pot holder and the decorative pieces to be the main interest. The island bench is rather large (3x1.5m), so I wanted it to disappear.