The Horley Kitchen, Dining and Utilty Room

The Design

When the owners of this modern home first moved in, the house was a new build, fresh, clean, and ready to live in. However, the kitchen had been designed without their input, and over time, they felt the space wasn’t quite reflecting their needs or personal style. Originally, the layout featured a separate kitchen and conservatory divided by doors, which created a fragmented and disconnected feel. After replacing the conservatory roof with a solid one, they saw the opportunity to unify the two rooms into one cohesive, open-plan space. Working closely with designer Rob, they created a bespoke, large unit in the dining area.

“A colleague recommended Herringbone, and after our discussions with Rob, we knew he really listened to what we wanted. His understanding of how to make it work was clear from the start, and he helped us think through all the details. We felt really confident we were in good hands. We really enjoy using the kitchen now. It flows so well, and we love cooking and entertaining in it. The four of us can sit comfortably at the peninsula, and it works brilliantly when we have guests too.

One of the more challenging aspects of the renovation was navigating the lighting differences between the two areas. The kitchen side had limited natural light, while the dining area was much brighter.

“Colour choice was tricky—there’s not much light on the kitchen side, but the dining area gets plenty. In the end, we chose two different but complementary colours, which we really like.”

The finished kitchen now includes a number of standout features that the family loves.

“We have a few favourites—the pantry, the bar, and of course, the large green unit. It’s hard to pick just one! The transformation hasn’t just been aesthetic—it’s fundamentally changed the way they live in the space. We really enjoy using the kitchen now. It flows so well, and we love cooking and entertaining in it. The four of us can sit comfortably at the peninsula, and it works brilliantly when we have guests too.”

One of the clients favourite features is the large green unit that they designed with Rob for the dining area. They felt one of the best things about choosing Herringbone was our ability to make use of all available space.

“Being able to design the large unit in the dining area with Rob allowed us to make great use of space - it’s a really functional but beautiful unit which has received many compliments. Being able to design that unit with Rob allowed us to make great use of the space—it’s really functional but also beautiful. We’ve had so many compliments on it.”

The Details: Colours, Handles & Bespoke Details

The client chose Herringbone Paints Cathedral Stone and Container Green for the cabinetry in the project, which work perfectly together! The handles are beautiful Armac Martin in Burnished Brass.

The client sourced their lights from Tiffany Lighting  and stools from a local store Collingwood Stores

We absolutely love how this project has all come together and wish the client a lifetime of happy memories in their new beautiful space. The end result is a warm, welcoming space tailored perfectly to the family's needs, proof that even new builds can be transformed into something deeply personal and full of character.