Family united in new kitchen for Mum

After sustaining the wear and tear of raising a big family, one West Auckland kitchen was in need of a total makeover. And thanks to Jag Kitchens, it now has a new lease of life.

For 44 years, Colleen McLeod washed the dishes by hand.

But with the passing of Colleen’s husband last year, it was time for some changes around the Te Atatu Peninsula family home, says daughter Tanya McLeod.

“We had never done the kitchen, never had a dishwasher. If Mum was going to continue living at the house, we would need a new kitchen.”

Through a recommendation, Tanya discovered Jag Kitchens in Botany’s Danske Mobler Home Centre.

“A friend of mine had a kitchen put in last year by Jag and I was really impressed with the quality, design, how good they were to deal with and, of course, cost.”

Meeting Jag Kitchens designer Megan Dyer, the McLeods talked about their vision and requirements for the space.

“Megan accommodated us really well. She considered everything Mum wanted and listened to her,” says Tanya.

Colleen wanted a breakfast bar and double door fridge which proved tricky in a long kitchen with a lot of windows and not a lot of wall space, says Tanya.

“We couldn’t figure out the placement but Megan came up with a design that worked and we were happy with it.”

Megan says removing the wall which divided the dining area and kitchen made a huge impact.

“It’s made the area more spacious and sunnier than it used to be.”

With less corners to deal with, the cabinetry lined up nicely together with all the other necessary components, she added.

“We also customised the height for the microwave so she wouldn’t have to bend down or reach up to take plates in and out of the microwave,” says Megan.

The result is a far cry from the former painted wooden kitchen with its textured ceiling and stainless steel bench.

A granite bench top in Angola black sparkles alongside white gloss cabinetry and an unusual tiled splash-back creates dimension.

“It was a lovely touch and I’m really stoked they went with the hexagonal tiles which have more depth and character than the traditional subway tiles,” says Megan.

Extending from the kitchen, the laundry area has also been
similarly revitalised with the same cabinetry and style.

Tanya says the finished product is stunning.

“Everyone who comes in says ‘this is so nice – it’s really got the wow factor’. It’s changed the house completely.”

Hosting Thanksgiving was a breeze for Colleen thanks to the openness of the kitchen, says Tanya.

With a kitchen so well-equipped for such family occasions, the mother of five and grandmother of 10 will hopefully be spending more time with her family and less time washing up.

Importantly, the experience was top-notch.

“Jag has been extremely great to deal with, they’re very user friendly and put their client’s needs first,” says Tanya.

“And they managed to deliver a kitchen that everyone was happy with!”

 

– Article courtesy of H&P Times