Modern Look for Dated Howick Kitchen

Howick couple Cherie and Steve Martin’s 90s kitchen has been invigorated with a classic look, a splash of colour and a practical new layout.

When Cherie and Steve Martin decided to renovate the kitchen in their Howick home in Spring, there was one catch.

“Steve wanted it done by Christmas,” says Cherie. “We’d lived here for seven years and it was a real 90s looking kitchen – all blues and yellows. It was dated, and we just wanted to modernise it.”

Original plans to simply update the look with a facelift were shelved when the Martins realised just what they could do with the redundant space in the connecting laundry.

“Because the kitchen itself was such a narrow space, initially we weren’t sure what to do. Once we realised we could remove the wall separating the laundry and incorporate that space, it became much more of a project as we had so much more room,” says Cherie.

“We then decided to renovate the whole area and another living room including installing a gas fire and moving the electrical switch board.”

The self-imposed tight deadline meant the couple didn’t have time to traipse around Auckland comparing different businesses, so Cherie checked out their local – Jag Kitchens.

“Jag was the most visible kitchen place in the area and one that I could simply walk into and have a look around. I instantly fell in love with one of their display kitchens. It was exactly what we wanted.”

After meeting with the Jag Kitchens design team, the couple were convinced that Jag Kitchens were the right fit for their project. “They could meet our deadline, it was within our budget and we knew they could deliver our dream kitchen, so we were happy,” says Cherie.

Jag Kitchens’ design included removing the wall separating the laundry, which was moved into a nook in the corner of the room and concealed with stylish cabinetry.

This allowed room for a large dining table to replace the previous square one. The high island bench was removed and replaced with a more functional breakfast bar complete with a curved, solid rimu benchtop which is now well used.

What’s more, opting for a burst of colour in the form of a teal splashback gives the kitchen a slightly retro feel that Cherie loves.

“The teal splashback ties in well with a large artwork and other accessories in the combined kitchen/living room area. The room is all Spanish white and as I am not a white person, it definitely needed some colour.”

A Hafele pull-out pantry and an on-bench pantry store the groceries previously stocked large corner cabinetry. A Mondo corner unit is the perfect solution for the corner cupboard, which is often prone to cluttering.

“The final result has really exceeded my expectations,” says Cherie. “I absolutely love our new kitchen, it has changed the whole room so much and guests are just blown away.”

Jag Kitchens specialise in custom-designed kitchens and has its own manufacturing plant. The staff also use a state-of-the-art 3D computer design programme to show clients beforehand exactly how their new kitchen will look.

Jag Kitchens has an excellent reputation for designing and building for all budgets and for providing an outstanding design service with sound advice.

Visit the Jag Kitchens Showroom, located inside the Danske Mobler building at the Botany Town Centre, for more information on a wide range of materials and design options or to see more kitchen examples.