Kitchen design & layout in Canberra.

What the design stage delivers.

Before any demolition, we resolve the things that are expensive to change later: the layout and work flow, where the plumbing and power go, how much storage you actually get, the lighting plan, and the look. You see it in 3D so you can stand in the kitchen before it exists. Then the renovation follows a clear plan instead of being figured out on the fly.

The work triangle & zones.

The classic work triangle — sink, cooktop, fridge — still matters: keep those three points tight and unobstructed and the kitchen is a pleasure to cook in. In open-plan and island kitchens we extend this into zones: a prep zone, a cooking zone, a cleaning zone and storage, each with the bench space, power and drawers it needs where you reach for them.

Designing for Canberra homes.

A huge share of Canberra renovations involve opening up a closed 1970s–80s kitchen (Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Woden) to the living area. That often means a load-bearing wall, which brings structural work and likely ACTPLA building approval into play. Newer Gungahlin and inner-north homes more often want a premium reconfiguration or a butler’s pantry. We design for what your home and budget actually allow, and flag approvals early.

Storage, lighting & finishes.

• Storage planning — drawers over doors where it counts, corner solutions, pantry sizing, bin and recycling integration.
• Lighting — layered task lighting under overheads, ambient and feature lighting, switching that suits the zones.
• Finishes — cabinetry colour and texture, benchtop material and edge, splashback, tapware and handles, coordinated as a scheme.
• Appliances — sized and positioned correctly, with ventilation and clearances planned in.

Compliance designed in from the start.

Good design accounts for compliance, not just looks. We plan plumbing runs to AS/NZS 3500, electrical and lighting to AS/NZS 3000, and any adjoining wet-area waterproofing to AS 3740 — all delivered by ACT-licensed trades under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004. In pre-1985 homes we also factor in asbestos checks (the ACT’s Mr Fluffy loose-fill legacy runs 1968–1980) so the program is realistic.

Why we don’t cut corners.

The most expensive kitchens are the ones designed badly and fixed mid-build — a sink in the wrong spot, not enough power, a fridge that blocks the walkway. Spending the time on design up front is what keeps the renovation on budget and on program. We’d rather get it right on the drawing than rework it on site.