Kitchen Renovation Planning: Our Finished Kitchen Reveal (Part 3)

The Finished Kitchen (A Calm, Timeless Space)

There’s something very special about standing in a space that once felt difficult… and seeing it transformed into something that truly works for your life.
After months of planning, demolition, and rebuilding, this is our finished kitchen.
What was once a small, impractical space is now a light, calm, and welcoming kitchen—one that has served us beautifully for over ten years.
And if I’m honest… I still love it just as much today.

A Kitchen Designed for Everyday Living

From the beginning, the goal wasn’t just to create a beautiful kitchen—it was to create one that felt easy to live in.

A space that could handle everyday life, but also feel warm and welcoming when entertaining.

The soft white palette, shaker-style cabinetry, and simple finishes gave us that timeless foundation. Nothing feels overly styled or trend-driven—just calm, practical, and quietly elegant.

One of my favourite features is the glass-fronted cabinet. It offers practical storage while allowing me to display some of the pieces I love, which adds a personal and lived-in feel to the space.

Appliances We Chose (And How They’ve Held Up)

When we were in the kitchen renovation planning stage, we spent a lot of time researching appliances—choosing pieces that would last and suit how we actually live.
Dishwasher
We chose a dishwasher from Miele, and it has been exceptional.
Ten years on, it’s still going strong. One of my favourite features is the cutlery tray (instead of a basket), which keeps everything clean and organised. We don’t pre-rinse dishes, and it still performs beautifully.

Sink (A Practical Decision)

The sink is one decision where practicality won over aesthetics.
I originally loved the look of a farmhouse sink, but we chose a stainless steel option instead for durability—especially with the amount of entertaining we do.
We went with a large sink from Versastyle, which has been incredibly functional.
That said, if I’m being completely honest… this is one decision I might revisit one day. It has been wonderfully practical, but I do still love the look of a farmhouse sink.

Freestanding Oven

One thing I knew from the very beginning was that I wanted a 90cm freestanding oven.

We chose an oven from Ilve, and it has been one of the best decisions we made—especially for entertaining. The extra space makes such a difference when cooking for a crowd.

We opted for a model with a teppanyaki plate, but in truth, it hasn’t been used very often. If I were choosing again, I would likely skip that feature.

Aside from replacing the elements recently, it has been incredibly reliable over the past ten years.

Refrigerator

For the fridge, size was the priority.
We chose a side-by-side refrigerator from Westinghouse, which at the time offered one of the largest capacities available.
It has served us well overall, with only a couple of minor repairs over the years. For a busy household, having that extra space has been invaluable.

A Kitchen That Has Stood the Test of Time

Fifteen years on, this kitchen still feels like us.

It blends beautifully with the rest of our home and continues to be a space where we cook, gather, and entertain with ease.

The open-plan layout has made such a difference to how we live. It allows everything to feel connected—kitchen, dining, and family spaces flowing together naturally.

Entertaining has become something I truly enjoy, rather than something that feels stressful.

And that, more than anything, makes the renovation worthwhile.

Products & Finishes We Used

For those planning your own kitchen renovation, here’s a simple overview of the finishes and materials we chose:
Cabinetry: Shaker style, 2-pac finish in Dulux Natural White
Trim Colour: Dulux Lexicon Quarter
Benchtop: Caesarstone Ice Snow
Oven & Rangehood: Ilve
Dishwasher: Miele
Refrigerator: Westinghouse
Lighting: Beacon Lighting
Tapware: The English Tapware Company
Flooring: Engineered timber floating floor

See the Full Kitchen Renovation Journey

If you’re planning your own kitchen renovation, you might find these helpful:
👉 Kitchen Renovation Planning Guide (Part 1)
👉 From Demolition to Installation (Part 2)
These posts walk through the full process—from early planning through to installation and lessons learned.

A Final Thought

Renovating a kitchen is no small task.
It takes time, patience, and a fair amount of decision-making along the way.
But when it’s done well—when it truly reflects how you live—it becomes more than just a kitchen.
It becomes the heart of your home.