Are you dreaming of a new kitchen that stands out from the crowd? Of course you are! Then it’s time to embrace colour and texture just like this family.
As predicted, the Kitchen Trends for 2024 are definitely being influenced by nature. As seen in this recently completed project in Craigieburn.
This budget kitchen renovation is no exception, with a winning combination of our Spinifex colour Shaker cabinetry, white overheads and Duropal Natural Chalet Oak benchtops. All designed to create a sense of nature and connection to the home.
To gain an insight on how our clients journey developed we asked them a few questions.
Where did you start when thinking of your kitchen renovation?
Our clients said they needed to know how much kitchens cost first so they compared 6-7 kitchen suppliers around Melbourne. From IKEA, Kaboodle, Freedom and private builders they gathered quotes. They then looked at the quality, design and affordability options. This then guided them in crunching the numbers to know what they could spend on a kitchen and laundry renovation, and what they needed to achieve within that strict budget.
What convinced you Kitchen Shack was the best choice?
After their initial in-store design and quote at the Maribyrnong showroom, they knew Kitchen Shack was the perfect choice for their needs to suit their budget. As our client is an interior designer quality and trend was an important consideration. They were super impressed with the designer and the ideas and solutions he offered. The quote for the design and delivery of their assembled kitchen cabinetry was on budget and definitely on trend!
How easy was the process?
The design and quote process was surprisingly easy. It was clear the Kitchen Shack designer they worked with, had many years’ experience, and plenty of functional kitchen ideas. He was easy to work with and listened carefully to all their needs and concerns, addressing each one with solutions.
Within 90 minutes they had the layout, design and look nailed. All the frustrating issues of the old kitchen had been resolved. No more over-stuffed cupboards and cluttered benchtops!
The most challenging part was making the final decision on cabinetry colour. It was tight race between the greens and greys, but Spinifex Green came out on top with Oak laminate benchtops.
From the initial meeting through to the final install, they dealt with the one designer, making the process seamless and efficient. According to our clients when you are juggling jobs, young children, extended family and household budgets, seamless and efficient are a must.
How did you decide on the design of your kitchen layout?
To keep the cost of the renovation down, the kitchen was designed within the original layout, rather than moving plumbing and electrical fittings. The old mini island bench was scrapped and they worked with a U-shaped layout and a peninsula breakfast bar.
This new improved layout gave them more bench space and improved storage. By replacing the old awkward cupboards with larger drawers, they can now access pots and pans, and stacks of dinner plates with ease.
Our clients now also prefer this layout with young children, as it is much safer, not allowing them to enter the cooking area from both sides.
Did it make sense to do the laundry at the same time?
The laundry was desperately in need of an overhaul. The old one was squeezed into a narrow hallway, with an external door at the end. There was no bench space for folding, just an old-school laundry trough in the corner.
By removing the external door, they were able to add a new sink, bench and overhead open shelves. The washing machine and dryer were replaced with a stack able version, and the old broom cupboard was converted into a much needed pantry. As the laundry is directly behind the kitchen it made sense to have the pantry in this space and the family now refer to it as their ‘butlers pantry’!
Renovating the laundry at the same time as the kitchen saved the couple both time and money, and the headache of re-booking trades and creating more mess.
What do you love most about your new kitchen
A definite highlight of the new kitchen is the clever features, such as; the double pull-out bins, the spacious corner cupboard, and the hidden storage under the breakfast bar for platters and glassware. The best part though – easy entertaining!
Since finishing the renovation they have hosted lunch for 12 people and their son’s birthday party, plus numerous impromptu gatherings. The new layout keeps guests out of the work zone and allows space for food prepping and serving from the breakfast bar.
Is there anything you would do differently?
As far as design and colour choice go – “we nailed it”. The next thing on the couples list when the budget allows is to add a skylight above the kitchen, to increase the amount of natural light. Our Craigieburn couple are thrilled with the finished result. They got exactly what they envisaged and it was delivered on time ready to be installed by our recommended installers.
If you’re ready to bring your kitchen and laundry up to date, then now is the perfect time to book a Free In-Store Design & Quote at any one of our 5 Melbourne Showrooms.
