What do you first look to change or update when you start renovating?
There are two key aspects we focus on when starting a renovation. The first is the property’s street appeal. We always assess whether we can enhance the home’s exterior to make a stronger first impression. After all, a striking facade is essential for drawing people in and encouraging them to explore the interior! Once inside, the kitchen takes center stage. As the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and we believe it’s worth investing a significant portion of the renovation budget here. The kitchen is used multiple times a day and serves as the central hub for everything from cooking and eating to socializing and entertaining. It’s a space that needs to function seamlessly while also feeling inviting and stylish.
Can you tell me about the overall concept and design inspiration behind this project?
Being new to the coast we wanted to do a coastal inspired home to honour the relaxed feel you get when you are living or holidaying by a beach. At the same time we also wanted it to be high end/luxe, with a touch of organic and natural elements. We wanted people to have a textural experience when they walk in the home, wanting to touch and feel all the materials we incorporated. The kitchen is a perfect example of all these design styles in one space. We have used coastal timber and white grain cabinetry, (by Egger) luxe gold pops (with the Ms Wila tapware and gold laminex island strip), real travertine stone and we have had the range-hood and island rendered in an organic clay product (by Rockcote). To help us commit to all these choices we used a local interior designer (Two by Two Designs) to draw up our creative vision into incredibly life like 3D renders.
What was the collaboration process like with Hill Built Joinery on this project?
“If we had to give 2 words only – “without fault”
Working with Hill Built Joinery was an exceptional experience from start to finish. We truly couldn’t have asked for more from a company. The entire process was handled with incredible precision, yet always with a friendly, relaxed approach. Their “nothing is too difficult” attitude made the journey seamless and stress-free. From clear and consistent communication during the kitchen build to the meticulous care taken on installation day—every detail was considered. The team maintained a clean and respectful environment throughout, which was something we really appreciated. Even after the project was completed, Hill Built continued to follow up, checking in months later to ensure our kitchen was functioning perfectly and to see if we needed anything else. Hand on heart, we couldn’t be happier with the result. We would absolutely work with Hill Built again without hesitation.
Looking back at the completed project, what aspect are you most proud of, and why?
Taking the risk and going through the renovation journey. At one point for us, the temptation to abandon our ambitious renovation was strong. We were concerned about budget blow outs and we also doubted some of the bold choices and design elements we had picked. Fast forward 6 months down the track and we are proud that we took a risk with the creative selections and we are now ecstatic with the entire space! An example of one of the risks we took was our decision to incorporate multiple cabinetry colors in the kitchen. Initially, this was met with some hesitation, but the contrast between the tones has added depth and personality to the space. Equally bold was our choice of materials: the rendered clay island and the oversized rendered clay rangehood.
These elements might not have been the most conventional, but they have transformed our kitchen into a striking, one-of-a-kind feature. Now, as we near the completion of the project, we can confidently say that the risk was worth it. Our home feels truly unique, a reflection of our personal style and vision. It’s not just about the final product; it’s about the journey we took to get there—making tough decisions, learning to trust our taste, and ultimately creating a space that we love. In the end, we’ve done justice to our vision, and we’re proud to see what we’ve achieved.
Which Furnware Group products were used throughout the project, and in which spaces?
In the kitchen we used the Furnware Quality soft-close Harn Ritma drawer runners, Vauth-sagel soft-close bin drawer, the Vauth-sagel soft-close pull-out bottle drawer and 2 different style cutlery trays and we have found them to be easy to use, functional and of a high quality.
A huge thank you to Holly and Angie from the RenoGals and Matt and Tracey from Hill Built Joinery for sharing this project with us.
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