Open-plan kitchen renovation in Wellington

Wellington Renovation Specialist Lia Boersma helped these homeowners to update their dated kitchen into a modern, open-plan layout

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This 1940s Wellington home had “good bones”, according to Renovation Specialist Lia Boersma, but its kitchen was in need of a modern update. Its space was limited, as was the natural light. So the homeowners met with Lia to discuss how they could modernise it with an open-plan layout.

An open-plan kitchen design

After meeting with the homeowners to discuss their ideas, Lia worked with them to develop a design. It was decided that the best way to achieve the couple’s ideas would be to swap the existing master bedroom with the living room so that that the kitchen, dining room and living room could be combined into one open-plan space. In terms of aesthetics, the homeowners wanted to achieve a “sleek, Scandinavian style” that would offer plenty of hidden storage.
Once the design was finalised and the costs approved, Lia took care of the project’s council consent requirements and then scheduled in the build stage of the renovation. The project required the expertise of builders, plumbers, electricians, tilers, floor installers, kitchen installers, painters and plasterers. Lia also worked with local suppliers to ensure that all of the project’s appliances, tapware, tiles, kitchen features and flooring would be available when they needed them.

Kitchen renovation

“We had a very tight timeframe to ensure the renovations were completed before the Christmas holidays”, explains Lia. “We had to work our schedule around the kitchen joiners to make sure we finished on-time.”
Under the management of Lia and her team, the project ran smoothly.
“The cabinetry was custom-built and uniquely designed to fit their home to help maximize storage space”, tells Lia. “One big victory was being able to salvage the timber matai flooring. This was patched-up and polished, which added depth to the area and complemented the Scandinavian kitchen. An existing Rimu timber door was also salvaged and transformed into a cavity slider. The bedrooms were enhanced with additional wardrobe space and insulation.”
The kitchen was updated with a simple white colour palette, but it’s the quality and detailing that makes it stand out. Unique splashback tiling, black accents and high-quality appliances and materials all work together to create a cohesive space.

The final result

“Fortunately, the whole project went to plan”, says Lia. “We finished on-time and on-budget. The homeowners ended up with a sleek new kitchen and living area with plenty of light and space. This was a major transformation from a dark and closed-in kitchen to open-plan living with lots of natural light.”