Describing a black and brown kitchen as bright and airy seems a bit contradictory, but that just happens to be our theme today. We recently came across this kitchen on the Design Files and were immediately struck by how successful the black floors and cabinets were in creating an inviting and warm kitchen.

This kitchen, recently featured in Australia's Green Magazine, belongs to Melbourne graphic designer Jessie Fairweather. Her home was built from the ground up with the help of a local builder that focused on sustainable building methods and the use reclaimed materials. The kitchen is designed around some reclaimed science benches from Melbourne University and Ikea cabinets while the floors are black cement.

Since the kitchen is open to the living area and receives a lot of light, this design works. If the kitchen had lower ceilings and was closed off to the rest of the house, it could feel too dark and crowded. Luckily that's not the case in this home. We love the use of the black and warm wood and how the exposed tresses on the ceiling tie everything together. This is definitely going in our inspiration file.

For more photographs of the Jessie's home, visit the Design Files: Daylesford Home - Jessie Fairweather.

(Image credits: Roma Samuel / Green Magazine)