A ’70s Kitchen Finds Its Groove

After years of renovating their Geelong home room by room, it was finally the kitchen’s turn. Mason and Belle wanted to bring back some of the retro warmth and character lost in earlier updates, while making better use of a dining area they described as “pokey”. Their solution was a built-in booth beside the dining table, now their favourite place to read, work and settle in with friends.

Using IKEA cabinetry as the foundation allowed them to invest in the finish they really wanted, Fliplab’s Flat profile in Natural Teak. The warm timber look flows from the booth along both sides of the galley kitchen, through the pantry and into the laundry, with grain-matched fronts creating a sense of continuity throughout.

We spoke with Mason and Belle about finding the right finish, making every part of the space work harder and deciding where to spend and where to save to achieve the kitchen they had imagined for years.

Pairing IKEA cabinetry with Fliplab fronts gave Mason & Belle the considered look of custom joinery, without the bespoke price tag.

After renovating the rest of the house, what was your vision for the kitchen?

We’d been dreaming about doing the kitchen for a long time. It’s such a central part of the house, so we wanted to give it the time and thought it deserved.

The house had been renovated before we bought it, but those changes weren’t really to our taste. We wanted to bring back more of a mid-century modern feel, along with the warm, natural tones we love.

How did you find the right timber finish?

We always knew timber would be central to the kitchen, but finding the right tone and texture took time. After exploring several options, we saw Natural Teak in a textured finish at the Fliplab showroom and immediately connected with its warmth and natural character.

Seeing it in person also confirmed our preference for a visible grain over a smooth surface. It gave the cabinetry the depth and texture we felt the house needed.

Textured Natural Teak fronts, carefully grain matched by Fliplab across the individual drawer banks, bring an elevated designer finish to an IKEA flat-pack foundation.

The booth has become the much-loved heart of the space. How did the idea come about?

The dining area was quite pokey and difficult to move around in, so we wanted to give that corner more purpose. The built-in booth created a comfortable place to sit beside the dining table, with storage underneath for everything we didn’t want cluttering the benches.

It has become our favourite place to gather. We use it to work or read, and when friends come over, they can settle in and chat while we cook. It allows everyone to be part of the kitchen without getting in the way.

How did you make the space feel more generous and connected?

The booth gave an awkward corner a clear purpose, while the storage underneath helped keep the kitchen benches free of clutter.

Creating continuity between the different areas was equally important. The same timber-look finish extends from the booth along both sides of the galley kitchen, through the pantry and into the laundry. The Fliplab Design Team suggested matching the grain across the fronts, giving the longer runs of cabinetry a more natural flow. They also recommended adding panels beneath the overhead cupboards, a subtle finishing detail we might otherwise have overlooked.

What led you to pair IKEA cabinetry with Fliplab fronts?

We considered custom joinery, but wanted to be thoughtful about where we invested our budget. IKEA gave us a reliable foundation, with standard cabinet sizes and readily available components we could plan around. That freed us to spend more on the finishes and details that would ultimately define the space.

With the grain-matched fronts and the finer details carefully resolved, the cabinetry feels cohesive from the booth through to the kitchen, pantry and laundry. Pairing IKEA carcasses with Fliplab fronts gave us the considered, custom feel we wanted, without the cost of fully bespoke joinery.

How did you find working with Fliplab while renovating from Geelong?

After getting in touch, we had a video consultation to explain what we were hoping to achieve. We then visited the Melbourne showroom to see and feel the finishes in person, which helped us make our final choice.

We worked through the details together, including different ways to use the IKEA cabinetry for the booth and other areas. The process felt easy, and working with a local company was important to us.

Belle with the large pantry Mason created by modifying an IKEA PAX wardrobe frame.

How has the new kitchen changed the way you use the space?

The booth has completely changed the dynamic of the room. In a galley kitchen, guests can easily end up crowding the cooking area, but now everyone has somewhere comfortable to settle while still feeling part of the conversation. It has made the kitchen much easier and more enjoyable to live in, especially when we’re entertaining.

The timber finish is what people notice first. We’re often asked if it’s real timber, which says a lot about the warmth and texture it brings to the space. After imagining this kitchen for so long, it’s incredibly satisfying to see how naturally it now fits both the house and the way we live.

Mason and Belle built the clever bench seating from IKEA METOD drawer units, finished with Fliplab Natural Teak fronts and plinth.

Back in its groove

With its warm timber finish, space-savvy booth and cabinetry flowing from the kitchen through to the laundry, Mason and Belle’s renovation feels at home in its ’70s setting and finely tuned to the way they live now. What was once an awkward dining corner has found a new purpose, while the kitchen has rediscovered the warmth and character they always knew it could have.

Planning your own kitchen renovation? Talk to the Fliplab team about creating a considered, custom look with fronts, panels and finishes designed for your cabinet system.

Fliplab Flat profile in Natural Teak AbsoluteGrain.

Geelong Customer Project Details

Profile: Fliplab Flat
Colour: Natural Teak in AbsoluteGrain
Products: Doors, drawer fronts and panels across the booth, kitchen, pantry and laundry
System: IKEA METOD cabinetry with an IKEA PAX base for the pantry
Photographer: Guy Lavoipierre

See more of our premium woodgrain finish options