Before & after: A jaw-dropping kitchen renovation

It’s no secret that we’re rather addicted to ‘before and afters’ around here but today’s is pretty impressive, even by our lofty standards. Located in Victoria’s Mt Eliza, the original kitchen was a cramped and dated 1970’s ‘mission brown’ delight before Kinsman Kitchens stepped in to create a bright, spacious and unrecognisable (in a good way!) new space.

“Our old kitchen was outdated, lacked cupboard space and it was very brown and small when what we really wanted was something open plan, minimalist and modern yet timeless and functional,” says the home’s owner Erin Burns.

First up, Kinsman redesigned the kitchen’s layout to create a more functional, open plan space. By knocking out an interior wall, the new design turned what was a pokey space into a spacious L-shaped layout that allowed for the inclusion of a large island bench that features large soft-closing drawers for convenient storage of crockery, pots and pans.

As for the colour scheme, the family wanted something modern and timeless. “We chose Kinsman’s Essendon White in satin and paired it with super matte black cabinetry and some timber for a modern touch and a hint of warmth,” says Erin.

There’s no denying that the change in flooring has had a significant impact – the lino was replaced with 12 millimetre laminated Australian blackbutt floating floorboards. A white subway tile splashback with contrasting grout, black accessories and black door hardware round out the stylish, monochrome mix.

AFTER In the new design, the dishwasher has been integrated into the cabinetry, hiding it away neatly under the sink.

The family also engaged Kinsman Kitchens to update their laundry. The former space was rather cluttered and is now more functional given it features plenty of enclosed storage plus a bench top for folding towels and clothing. For continuity, the clean laundry colour scheme mirrors that of the kitchen.