A Kitchen Transformation

Dream kitchen takes shape

Scroll through the photos above to see how this space was transformed by the Rosemount Kitchens team.

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I just love this kitchen – it’s worked out perfectly.
Linda Donoghue

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Full story of this stunning kitchen project

Linda and Mark Donoghue are thankful they didn’t stick to the original plan for their kitchen renovation in Sandringham. “We wouldn’t have been happy,” says Mark, shaking his head.

The couple had decided to update their timber kitchen, which was cramped and separate from the main living area.

“We would have ended up with a nice looking small kitchen,” adds Mark. “But it would have been nowhere near as functional and inclusive as what we have now.”

A conversation with one of Linda’s girlfriends set the Donoghues on a different course. She told them about another friend who had renovated her kitchen with Rosemount – and they loved what they saw.

Discussing their options with Rosemount’s Mark Tonkin, Linda and Mark – both schoolteachers – decided to expand the scope of the project.

And the result is simply sensational. The back half of the beautiful home they have lived in since the early 1980’s has been completely renovated and extended – with a stunning open-plan galley-style kitchen at its heart.

“It’s a big kitchen but it fits in perfectly,” says Linda. “I just love it. Everything has worked out so well.”

Check out the photos above to see the remarkable transformation of Mark and Linda’s kitchen and home. Read the full interview below.

Mark and Linda Donoghue

What made you decide against simply renovating the existing kitchen?

Mark:

We tried a number of ways to fit what we wanted into the existing room. At one stage we were thinking about maybe knocking out a wall and making a bigger kitchen in the existing space, with a smaller lounge.

But it was too much of a compromise. We just weren’t achieving the effect we wanted, which was a big inclusive kitchen, with perhaps a smaller TV area, because most of our time spent entertaining is around the kitchen and the dining table.

Linda:

It was a timber kitchen, and it was very small and separate from the rest of the house. We tried to work with that space, but we wanted an island bench and it just wasn’t going to work.

We also wanted to make it bigger so it was more open, so we decided to put the kitchen on the other side of the house, and also extend the house.

As we can see from your photos, the result is a transformation.

Linda:

I love everything about it. From the pantry doors coming out, to the fact it’s now far more open, and the use of the yard with the house is definitely much better.

I love everything about the bench. We use it for breakfast every morning, and then there’s the social aspect. Before, I always used to be in the kitchen when everyone else was out in the lounge or the yard. That was great for keeping a mess “hidden”, but this new set up is just terrific. It allows for far more interaction when I’m cooking.

I also love the drawers – they’re terrific for storing things. We only had cupboards in the old kitchen, and in this one we also don’t have corner cupboards where everything gets lost. We had people here last week and they were saying: “Oh my goodness, where did you get the kitchen from.”

Mark:

I think it’s also important to say that it doesn’t have to be a new home to have a new modern kitchen.

Essentially this is an old style house, and we’ve created a modern space without compromising the look, feel or character of the home itself.

Key Features

2-pack high gloss cabinetry in Dulux natural white and black glass splashbacks:
Enhances the flood of natural light and complements the rich polished floorboards.
Expansive Caesarstone island bench:
Large uninterrupted space for preparing and serving, and perfect for entertaining.
Caesarstone benchtops in Ocean Foam:
Allow the backyard to be the “hero” through the new large bi-fold doors.
Pantry and Tandem Pantry:
Flexible state-of-the-art solutions, including the innovative Hafele Kesseböhmer range, that fully utilise the space but keep everything within easy reach.
Blum Soft-Close Drawers:
Work beautifully with the lightest touch and stand up to the heaviest loads.

Rosemount’s Mark Tonkin discussed the project with Linda and Mark for 12 months before the couple made the decision to go ahead.

This is an outstanding example of a kitchen that transforms a home – and how Linda, Mark and their family use the space. There were too many compromises in the old kitchen. To work with them and see what they have now is really satisfying.

Mark Tonkin, Rosemount Kitchens

Mark and Linda chat to Rosemount’s Mark Tonkin

How did you end up choosing Rosemount?

Linda:

It was one of my girlfriends, and she’d been recommended by another friend. So we went round there for dinner and she was really, really happy. The transformation of her kitchen was amazing.

Mark:

“We just got on the Rosemount website after that, saw the gallery and said, “well, this looks really good”. And then we made the phone call.

Your building and kitchen project took four months. How did everything go?

Linda:

It was fantastic. We had a builder working on the rest of the house and he couldn’t believe how well the kitchen was made and put in, and the after sales service from Rosemount was fantastic.

When Mark or anyone picked up anything that had a chip or something – straight away it was fixed. He arranged for people to come round to fix small issues we weren’t even aware of.

We’ve had a lot of people coming here who may not be getting a kitchen right now, but will ultimately get one, and they’ve loved it.

What advice would you give to others looking to renovate their kitchen?

Mark:

My auntie used to say: “You only pay for quality once.”

And I think that sums up how to do a kitchen renovation. If you go to Bunnings you will get something cheaper. But if you want something that’s going to stand the test of time and get really solid after-sales service, that’s what really sold us.

It’s the fact we just feel comfortable, we know Rosemount will be around for a long time and if we ever need anything done we just pick up the phone.