Mooroolbark Kitchen Renovation

The Brief

Sometimes the most important brief is the simplest one: our Mooroolbark clients wanted more bench space. What sounds straightforward quickly revealed its complexities — an awkward kitchen layout, an existing tiled floor footprint to work within, and a slab foundation that ruled out relocating services. The challenge was to deliver meaningfully more bench space without the freedom to reconfigure the room from scratch.

The Design

The solution centred on the island. By extending the benchtop length into what had been a narrow, underutilised walkway at the window end, and finishing the opposite end with a elegant waterfall panel, the island was transformed from a modest work surface into a genuinely generous one. It's a great example of how a focused, intelligent design decision can resolve a brief entirely without requiring a full layout change.

The extra bench space was only part of the story. Purpose-built off-bench appliance storage using Blum Merivobox Inner Drawers keeps everyday appliances hidden and accessible, dramatically reducing bench clutter and making the new surface feel even more spacious in use. Pull-out twin bins are integrated neatly into the cabinetry, and feature LED strip lighting adds warmth and atmosphere throughout.

The material palette is cool, contemporary, and cohesive. Polytec Moss Grey joinery brings a sophisticated, modern tone to the kitchen, complemented by Touch Handles Vesio in Brushed Nickel — a pairing that feels current without being trend-dependent. Caesarstone Icon Symphony Grey benchtops, installed by Melbourne Marble & Granite, complete the look with a refined stone surface that ties the whole palette together beautifully.

The Result

A kitchen that does exactly what it needed to do — and then some. Our Mooroolbark clients now have the bench space they always wanted, a clutter-free environment that's a pleasure to cook in, and a kitchen that looks far larger and more resolved than the original footprint might have suggested possible. The only thing left to find? The perfect stools to finish the island.