Meet The Owner: Stunning Black & Gold Kitchen Transformation in Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs
In our 'Meet The Owner' series, we sit down with Penny, a homeowner from Melbourne's eastern suburbs, to discuss her recent kitchen renovation with Smith & Smith.
‘ETON’, which was recently shortlisted as a finalist in the HIA awards is a perfect blend of style and practicality: white marble benchtops are beautifully contrasted by black and timber effect laminate cabinetry - all offset by pops of gold hardware.
With ample storage - such as deep island bench cupboards and hidden spice drawers, it's an ideal space for entertaining, while the warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it ideal for family life.
Homeowner and co-creator of ETON, Penny, shares her journey of transforming her kitchen into a functional and stylish space that her family adores.
Q: Why did you choose to renovate your kitchen?
Penny: "We chose to renovate because we needed a bigger space for our family. We wanted the kitchen to be a place where everyone could come together and enjoy a larger area. Our old kitchen was quite nice, but we wanted to make the space more serviceable and make better use of it."
Q: What were some of the key features you wanted in your new kitchen design?
Penny: "I really wanted to make sure we had plenty of storage. We have quite high ceilings, so overhead storage was a must—not necessarily for everyday items, but to make use of that space. A big island bench was important for the kids to sit around, and we wanted different appliances to make cooking and entertaining easier."
Q: What do you love most about your new kitchen?
Penny: "What I love most about the kitchen is the Zip tap. It does boiling water, sparkling water, chilled water—hot and cold—all from the one tap! I also love the island bench and all the storage. Even though it's white and bold, it still has black cabinetry and gold handles; everything just seems to work together. We used a bit of (timber effect laminate) in the cabinetry as well, which really brings it together. I still look at it every day and absolutely love it."
Q: How did you decide on the bold design choices?
Penny: "We got to the design we did because we consulted with our decorator and Tony from Smith & Smith. I also had a lot of ideas of what I liked. It was a very big open area, so we felt we could be a bit more bold with our choices. We incorporated elements like black cupboards, gold handles, and marble, making sure all the elements worked together without having too much black or white. Incorporating (timber effect laminate) softened the look, and we felt that because the area is quite spacious, we could get away with those bold choices."
Q: Did you find any part of the design process challenging, and how did you work through it?
Penny: "I found the most challenging part about the design was the colours. I wanted it to be harmonious—not too much black, not too much white. Even though we had this big space, we still wanted to make the most of it with storage. It was comforting to be able to talk through these decisions with the designer, which helped with a lot of the decision-making."
Q: How was your experience working with Smith & Smith?
Penny: "Our Smith & Smith designer came up with lots of little tricks and ideas to make use of the space in our kitchen. For example, I'm a keen cook, so he designed a custom spice drawer for me. We also didn't want the microwave on the bench, so he came up with a cupboard that opens up for easy access but keeps it hidden. The designer helped us with different ways of opening cupboards, such as touch-press ones and some with handles. These little things just make the space work for a family of five."
Q: How do you feel about your kitchen now?
Penny: "I love my kitchen. I love the fact that it took us a long time to get to where we did because I really wanted to make sure we had the perfect design and made use of the space. We had so much help to get there, and I love every drawer, every cupboard, the tap—everything about it. I just really, really enjoy all the appliances and everything that we have in the kitchen."
Penny's kitchen transformation is a testament to the impact a well-designed space can have on family life. If you're considering a kitchen renovation and are inspired by Penny's story, contact Smith & Smith to see how we can help you create your dream kitchen.
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