Kitchen Renovation For Peta And Millie

Peta and Millie were doing a large-scale renovation, and as part of that, they wanted to renovate their kitchen, laundry and walk-in pantry.

Millie uses a wheelchair and had completed a food and nutrition course, so one of the big goals was creating a kitchen where she could enjoy cooking and be really involved in the space. The layout also needed to be more open and accessible, with easier movement through the kitchen for the whole family.

The result is a fresh modern farmhouse-style kitchen that feels beautiful, practical and really personal to Peta and Millie.

Open Plan Feature Kitchen

As part of the larger renovation, walls were removed to create a beautiful open plan feature kitchen with more room to move.

The old peninsula was replaced with two islands, which gave the room a much grander feel and turned the kitchen into a central part of the home.  It also allowed the layout to feel more balanced, with generous aisles around both islands so the space felt open, practical and easier to move through.

The two-island layout also helped separate the working zones of the kitchen. One island could become more of the cooking and preparation zone, while the other helped create extra bench space, storage and flow through the room. Instead of the kitchen feeling closed in by the old peninsula, the new layout gives the whole space a much more open and considered feel.

The roller door pantry was also designed as part of that flow, with easy access to ingredients while keeping everyday items tucked neatly away. So the result is a kitchen that feels open, practical and beautiful, while still being designed around the way Peta and Millie wanted to use the space.

A Fresh Modern Farmhouse Style

Peta and Millie came in with a really clear style direction. They had a folder full of inspiration images and ideas they loved, so it was about bringing those elements together and turning them into one cohesive space that felt personal to them. 

The finished kitchen has a modern farmhouse sort of style. It has that shaker profile and slightly heritage-looking handles, but done in a more modern way. It is cooler toned and fresh, with that lovely green feature.

For the cabinetry, they knew they wanted two pack with a Hamptons-style profile. The main cabinetry colour is Snowy Mountains Quarter, and the green is Dulux Kimberly Tree. Millie was heavily involved in choosing the colours as well, which made the kitchen feel really personal to them.

The gold handles and gold tapware bring in warmth and tie it all together. Painting the door in Kimberly Tree as well, to match the feature part of the island, was Peta and Millie's idea, and it came up absolutely gorgeous.

The cabinetry also goes right up to the ceiling. That definitely makes the kitchen more functional because you get that additional storage you wouldn't have if the cabinetry stopped lower. But it also elongates the cabinetry, making the ceilings look higher and helping the room feel more open.

Reworking The Layout From The Ground Up

Because this kitchen was part of a larger renovation, the design involved opening up the space and reworking the layout from the ground up. 

With the wall removal there were two load-bearing posts that needed to stay, which were worked into the island design. As part of creating the new layout, the plumbing was moved from where it originally was, which meant chasing through the slab and relaying the floors. We also added a 32 amp circuit to the second island for the induction cooktop. 

MKN fully project managed the builder and trades for the job, with Mike Washington from Building Results looking after the building side and our usual team of trades helping bring the kitchen together.

Clever Details That Make The Kitchen Easier To Use

There were quite a few clever design solutions in this kitchen.

On the right-hand side of the sink is a servo drive bin, so it opens by itself. You run your foot underneath the door and the bin opens, which makes it easier to use while cooking in the kitchen.

We also placed the bin on one side of the sink and the dishwasher on the other side, so when you're washing up, you can scrape, rinse and stack without having to move around the kitchen.

Peta also wanted tall glass display cabinets, so we specifically made them the right size to fit her Dutch ovens in.

The floating shelves with LED strip lighting underneath them also make a feature of the range hood area, and the brass lighting was chosen to tie in with the handles and tapware.

A Beautiful Kitchen That Works For The Whole Family

This kitchen has absolutely transformed the way Peta and Millie use the space day to day.

By opening up the layout, adding the two islands and creating a fresh modern farmhouse look, the kitchen now feels like a real feature of the home. It has that beautiful mix of colour, brass details, display cabinetry and practical storage, but it also has the room and flow needed to make cooking feel easier and more enjoyable.

The result is a kitchen that feels open, functional and really personal to Peta and Millie.

Features:

• 2pac satin finish Hamptons style doors in Dulux Snowy Mountains quarter and Kimberley Tree
• 40mm stone benchtops with waterfall end in Giusto by YDL Stone, expertly cut and installed by the champions at Alpha Stone Benchtops Pty Ltd
• Hendra handles in Champagne Gold by Barchie
• Zellige tiled Splashback
• Eurolight floating shelving in kitchen and laundry
• Brushed Brass filter tap by ABI Interiors
• Benchtop glass display cabinetry with LED lights
• Building works by Mike Washington from Building Results
• Many more fabulous features to mention

Thanks you Peta for allowing us to help with this incredible project.