The kitchen was always destined to be the heart of the transformation, bringing together functionality, style and connection within the home.
August 2026
PROJECT: Residential
The renovation of the 1920s house involved removing walls, reconfiguring spaces and introducing double glazing, creating a lighter, more contemporary home while retaining its connection to the original architecture. For the kitchen, Linda wanted something open, elegant and fresh – but, just as importantly, a space that would genuinely work for the way she lives.
Her builder, Boyd Construction, recommended bringing LivSpace into the project. Having seen the company's work on other renovations and knowing it was part of CARTERS, he was impressed – and Linda soon understood why.
Product description:
Verona Gold engineered stone brings warmth and sophistication to this kitchen, scullery and K-splashbacks, creating a seamless flow throughout the space. Paired with Melteca cabinetry in Urban Ash and Snowdrift Satin, Hettich hardware and Hafele Luxe Profile handles in Matt Black, the result is a timeless, functional design that combines everyday practicality with refined style.
Cabinet material: Melteca
Colour: Urban Ash and Snowdrift Satin
Benchtop material: Quantum Zero Engineered Stone
Colour: Verona Gold
Hardware: Hettich
Handles: Hafele Luxe Profile
Colour: Matt Black
“I had talked to two other kitchen companies, but LivSpace head designer Rowena Dooley really understood my needs,” says Linda. “Right down to not wanting cupboards I couldn’t reach.”
Rowena was brought into the project at a point when the existing kitchen was still defined by a partition wall separating it from the dining room, along with a load-bearing structure and post. Removing the wall and post and reworking those elements allowed the kitchen to open up and become part of a more generous flow between the dining and living spaces.
The redesign began with the practicalities. The sink was moved from the breakfast bar to beneath the window, while the layout was carefully considered around the natural progression from food preparation and cooking through to serving and cleaning.
“Every decision was about how the kitchen would work for Linda,” says Rowena.
“We discussed functionality and flow, but also how it should sit within the rest of the house.”
That sense of connection is evident in the finished space. Clean-lined white cabinetry creates a calm, minimal backdrop, while a dramatic marble-look stone wraps from the generous island benchtop up into the splashback. Choosing the same finish for both was a bold move, but one that Rowena believes was exactly right.
“It minimised the number of different finishes in the space and helped keep that elegant feel,” she says. “It doesn’t feel too busy.”
Finding the right white was equally important. Linda wanted something with subtle texture.
Small details add further interest, from the long linear handles and negative detailing around the cabinetry to the panelling beneath the breakfast bar, which ties the kitchen back to the wider design of the home.
Functionality is woven throughout. There are plenty of drawers rather than those hard-to-reach cupboards, while the pantry was cleverly relocated into the adjoining laundry, freeing up valuable kitchen space. From the main living area, however, it visually reads as part of the kitchen, maintaining a seamless look.
One of Linda’s favourite features is the glass-fronted cupboard and dedicated drinks area – designed so guests can easily help themselves. “Rowena not only included it smoothly into the design, but created its own bench for serving drinks,” she says.
At LivSpace, says Rowena, we have a project manager dedicated to every job. “We are there for the initial consult, we create the design, oversee the production, delivery and installation.
We combine experts throughout the process, include the best craftsmanship, to ensure a seamless process.”
For Linda this has meant she now has a kitchen that feels both highly considered and effortlessly liveable: a sleek, contemporary centrepiece for a beautifully reimagined character home.
