When life gives you lemons, the saying suggests you make lemonade. In Joel and Hayley’s case, the lemons were a burst pipe that flooded their new abode. And what did they do?  Seized the moment to renovate to perfection, with our help, of course.

Neither being fans of a run-of-the-mill kitchen design, an online search led them our way. We’re firm advocates of personalised styles.

They play their input down, given they were happy for us to make our own suggestions, but Joel and Hayley had some core wishes and wants that were as clever as they were practical.

I mean, who wouldn’t want a designated, out-of-sight spot for grocery bags right near the door. And every parent knows how grating the constant “I’m huuuungry” call can be. Placing the fridge out of main sight (in the pantry) delivers nice clean lines and is sure to keep those ice-cream cravings out of mind too – at least momentarily.

Other requests included a variety of subtle detailing and textural elements; a colour palette drawing on the surrounds – greens, terracotta and timbers; and maximum storage.

Joel had his heart set on a large kitchen bench without a cooktop or sink getting in the way. As he said, “there’s nothing worse than trying to cook up a feast in the kitchen and clambering for space”. We took his request and raised it some. More on that later.

Given the extent of the flooding, our designer, Beth, was tasked with creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that incorporated a mudroom/drop zone, a functional and adaptable kitchen, and maintaining that feel across the main bathroom into a highly functional laundry.

Buoyed by their desire for something unique that incorporated both colour and timber, she started planning. Joel, a building estimator by trade, prepared for his side role as renovation project manager.

So, about that kitchen bench… The cooktop and sink are nowhere to be seen, positioned instead along the back run, enabling maximum uninterrupted space. Beth took Joel’s request and raised it some, suggesting a lower table extension where the two kids, Alby and Sophie, can be kept busy drawing or crafting while dinner is prepped.

It’s not the only time she considered the kids, either. Softened edges (aka curved corners) were included throughout the design to look good and minimise the risk of injury to younger humans who tend to run through houses like Forrest Gump evading bullies.

Even the support for the kitchen bench was designed with little people in mind. Yes, the tiles link the island peninsula to the kitchen back run by matching the splashback, but they’re also durable for feet that are prone to kicking unpredictably. Its cylindrical shape ensured it aligned with the curved aesthetic, which Beth also incorporated in the open shelving to deliver softness as well as display space.

A narrow-frame shaker profile was used consistently in the kitchen, laundry and mudroom for cohesion throughout. Mindful of cost, Beth was able to introduce slightly different finishes and materials but match colours. The kitchen is 2Pac painted while the pantry is Laminex. She used white shelving in the pantry to help it feel bright despite its smaller size.

Beth created warmth with the use of American Oak Timber across multiple features, such as the smaller benchtop, overhead ribbing details on the rangehood and lighting, and open shelving. The wine rack beneath the main kitchen bench were a stroke of storage genius. Wherever possible, she prioritised drawers over cupboards to maximise usability and accessibility.

The timber is complemented by sage green joinery, and the kitchen drawers boast funky white handles, which are a fitting match for the main island benchtop and the tiling.

All of the appliance placement was strategic. The oven sits below the cooktop on the back run, and the fridge was perfectly positioned nearby modern-day friends such as the toaster, Thermomix, microwave and coffee machine in the pantry. They’re hidden yet easy to access – as is the bin drawer!

Beth included plenty of functional and concealed storage in the mudroom/drop zone. There’s open shelving plus hooks for bags and coats above a bench seat with shoe space. And closed elements to conceal bulkier items, along with Hayley’s coveted grocery bag location. Could Hayley tap into her policy advisor expertise to make the latter mandatory in all households? We hope so.

The sage green finish was carried over from kitchen to mudroom to laundry, where all the must-haves were included – the hamper drawer, a hanging rail above the bench for air-drying clothes, and tall storage for brooms, vacuum, and games of hide and seek (hint, hint – Sophie and Alby!).

Timber and white hues from the kitchen area reappear in the bathroom for a consistent feel right across the house.

Joel and Hayley sure made the best of a bad situation, and we’re so glad they had us along for the ride. A ride they described as “smooth and stress-free with some great ideas that we would never have thought of ourselves”.