Our 50’s Diner
Craig and Heidi Suddick are retrophiles, but they’re not rusted onto any particular era. Since 2003 they have lovingly restored their c.1900’s cottage, collecting furniture and decor to achieve a warm, retro-chic home. Right down to the 1937 Dodge Fargo parked out front.
The master bedroom features ornate pressed metal ceilings and romantic 1930’s furniture and the open lounge/living area has a 1950s feel with clean lines, bright colours and warm lighting.
When the time came to renovate their kitchen, Craig and Heidi were keen to continue the retro theme.
‘The original kitchen had a chimney and fuel stove, but these had been replaced in the 1950s. We had the red dining suite and that started the idea of a 50’s-style diner but it was difficult finding the right company to do the job,’ said Craig.
Urban Timber created a new and improved version of the original kitchen, keeping the quintessential 50’s design of curved countertop corners with matching shelving above and below.
‘The red and white colour combination is fun and vibrant. It really draws you into the kitchen,’ said Urban Timber’s Jeff Phillips. ‘And the high gloss finish on the cupboard doors looks spectacular with the black and white checkered floor.’
The kitchen features a two-door pantry with vintage port-hole venting, ribbed glass cupboards above the benchtop, and drawer/cupboard combinations below.
‘The solid timber frame, with panel front construction was common in kitchen design until the 1960s.’ said Urban Timber’s Shane King. ‘We installed solid timber drawers of Tasmanian oak running on waxed oak runners.’
The aluminium edged countertop, boomerang cupboard handles, and vintage design hinges add authenticity to the 50’s diner look.
‘Laminated plastic kitchen surfaces were new in the 50s and 60s replacing the solid benchtops common until the mid-nineteenth century,’ said Shane.
The kitchen is completed by cherry-red Smeg appliances and the Suddick’s carefully sourced collectables, not to mention their super-cute beagle, Tuji.
‘Urban Timber made our dream come true,’ said Heidi. ‘They went above and beyond in helping us and we are so grateful. Our kitchen is more beautiful than we had ever thought possible and our friends and family are amazed at its finish.’
Special thanks to Larry at IC Visual Photography.
My approaching Shane at Urban Timber all came about by chance I was purchasing some automative paint next door to his workshop in Ralph Black Drive and upon walking past I decided to have a quick yarn to see if he would be interested in taking on something different, a custom built Retro Kitchen. After a quick 5 min chat to Shane I walked away impressed and full of hope as I had 12 months earlier approached another cabinet making business who told me he could do it but that was as far as it got. Anyway I went home and told Heidi I think I have found someone who can build our dream kitchen Heidi was surprised and excited so I returned to see Shane I think the following week with my drawings and we discussed what we wanted to achieve and how we were looking to replicate the old style kitchen cupboards and draws and go old school 1950-60’s Retro. The thing that struck me was that Shane totally understood what we were about and and also enthusiastic to tackle something different. As with a lot of custom or one off stuff their is trial and error but nothing was ever a problem and Shane always portrayed an approachable demeanour which made us both comfortable with the task ahead. We cannot speak highly enough of Shane and his whole team whenever we went to the workshop or he sent his workers to our home they always displayed a professional, friendly and helpful manner and nothing was ever a problem even down to the smallest detail , I think the pictures speak for themselves but we are totally blown away by the end result the way it all came together and we had a lot fun during the process dealing with Shane and his team to reach the end result and it was even a little sad for the journey to end. Thanks again Guys and Pam
Thanks Craig and Heidi it was great working with you too and we are happy you’re so pleased with the end result .