Space To Grow

Featured Renovations: Mooroolbark

It was such a smooth renovation. I look at my kitchen and I’m still so in love with it. It feels like I’m on holiday when I’m in it.

Jess Pezzimenti, Mooroolbark

Renovating a house is challenging at the best of times.

But how would you feel if you were heavily pregnant with your fourth child - and the oldest of the other three was just six-years-old?

That was the prospect facing Jess and Domenic Pezzimenti after they bought their new home in Mooroolbark in Melbourne’s north-east.

The couple had a choice to make. Move in and endure a renovation going on around their young family, or live in rented accommodation until the renovation was complete.

The couple decided on the latter option, and Jess is glad they did.

“I can’t imagine what it would have been like doing all that work while we were living here,” she says.

The work included knocking down walls, laying new floors, painting the whole house and a transformative kitchen renovation.

The new kitchen from the team at Rosemount has turned a cramped and impractical space into a spacious entertaining area that’s perfect for this family’s busy day-to-day life.

“It was such a smooth renovation,” says Jess. “I look at my kitchen and I’m still so in love with it. It feels like I’m on holiday when I’m in it.”

There’s much more on this renovation below, and you can see the full specs here.

Need some inspiration for your project? Check out the photos in our kitchen gallery and bathroom gallery.

Want to get started or ask some questions? Call us on 1300 476 736 and we’ll be happy to help.

KITCHEN RENOVATION:

Finding Room To Renovate

Before - the old kitchen.

After - the new kitchen.

When Jess bought the house she knew the existing kitchen and dining room layout wouldn’t work for her family.

She also knew exactly how she wanted to transform the overall space.

The rear wall and window soon made way for bi-fold doors opening onto a new deck and the backyard. That in turn freed up space for the reworked L-shaped kitchen layout, with a new island taking centre stage.

Meanwhile, the adjacent dining room was turned into a large butler’s pantry.

“When we first saw the house we knew we had a big job ahead of us,” says Jess. “The kitchen was really old-fashioned and a lot smaller than what we have now. It just wouldn’t have worked for us.”

Rather than being overwhelmed, Jess and Domenic viewed the project as an opportunity to create a space that would accommodate their growing family.

“There’s plenty of space for the kids and it’s great for when we have people over,” says Jess.

“It’s such a massive difference to what was here before.”

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Jess didn’t just visualise a radical change in layout for her new kitchen.

Out went the dated timber cabinetry and floor tiles. In came profiled Polytec Blossom White Matt cabinetry, stunning Caesarstone Cloudburst Concrete benchtops and splashback - all complemented by new oak-style hybrid flooring.

Jess says she wanted a “showstopper” that was Hamptons in style.

“My previous kitchen had black cabinets and we just wanted this one to be more neutral and white, bright and open,” she says.

In a kitchen like this, the door and drawer profiles help to break up the large areas of white space - creating shades of colour and clean lines throughout the design. Without the profile, those white spaces might have appeared too stark in such a light space.

Showroom Inspiration

The couple’s choice of benchtop and splashback - Caesarstone Cloudburst Concrete - was inspired by a visit to our Nunawading showroom.

Jess saw Cloudburst in one of our display kitchens and immediately knew she wanted it in hers.

“As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have that in my kitchen,” she says. “I loved the pattern and also the feel of it too. It has a bit of a texture to it and it’s really beautiful.

“Domenic liked it too, so it worked out perfectly. Everyone who comes to my house comments on it.”

Sink In The Island Bench

Jess also decided to put her Blanco top-mount sink in the island bench.

It’s a long-standing debate in the kitchen design world - to have or not to have your sink in the island bench.

There’s no right or wrong answer - it’s entirely a matter of personal preference.

For Jess, it was also a super-practical choice.

“I wanted it there because it’s right next to my dishwasher and the bin,” she says. “It also means I can look up and see if the kids are in the backyard. I don’t have my back turned to them when I’m working in the kitchen.”

Spacious Butler's Pantry

A driving force behind the new design was turning the dining room into a butler’s pantry.

“I had a decent sized pantry in a previous house, and in the house we rented there was just one little cupboard,” says Jess.

“So when we bought this place I had my heart set on a butler’s pantry - it’s what I always wanted.”

From a practical perspective it’s a great use of the space.

“There was no point in me having a dining room because it just wouldn’t have gotten used,” she adds.

She also loves what most people love about having a walk-in or butler’s pantry - being able to “hide” appliances and other items out of sight, keeping the main kitchen super-tidy.

“I just like the kitchen area clean,” says Jess. “Nothing on the benches. Everything away, out of sight.”

So Much Storage

Aside from the “huge” butler’s pantry, the main kitchen has a remarkable amount of storage.

Floor-to-ceiling cupboards run along one wall. “I have all my kids stuff in there,” says Jess. “That's where I keep all of their lunch boxes. Everything is easy to just put away and take out.”

There are also an incredible 15 drawers under the benches, and cupboards above the main bench.

“It’s really useful. I have filled most of those spaces but it’s just great to have so much storage,” she says.

“Mat the project manager was saying he had done kitchens double the size that did not have the amount of storage we have.”

Working With Rosemount Kitchens

Jess and Domenic were referred to Rosemount Kitchens by friends and are thrilled with how straightforward the design and installation process turned out.

“The designer was great to deal with,” says Jess. “I knew what I wanted and she made that happen. Whenever I emailed her she got back to me straight away.

“The tradies were all really friendly. It was just a very smooth renovation. Not stressful at all.

“Rosemount really do take care of their clients.”

Rosemount listen to what you want and their process from design to installation is just really good. I would recommend them to anyone.