Harrison Court Kitchen Upgrade

Client Story
Valie and Debbie moved to this lovely part of Clive to downsize and enjoy a more relaxed pace of life. They’re natural entertainers — family gatherings, friends, community events — so a practical and beautiful kitchen was at the top of their list.

Their home still had its original blue kitchen with grey benchtops and tiled splashback, plus a wall dividing the lounge from the kitchen. Together, we came up with a plan to open up the space and create something that felt inviting and social — a kitchen that really worked for how they live.

Our Approach
We started with a full kitchen strip-out, including the flooring in the lounge, dining, and kitchen. The wing wall was cut back to line up with the hallway, creating one large, open area that now flows beautifully.

The kitchen drain needed to move, which meant cutting into the concrete — but with a bit of teamwork, that went smoothly. Debbie worked alongside Sharon Coates, the kitchen consultant at PlaceMakers, to design a stunning handleless, premium kitchen layout.

Once the cabinetry arrived, we assembled and installed it, coordinating the electrical work for new switches, the hob and oven wiring, downlights, and a feature hanging light over the island. Hawke’s Bay Laminate then measured and fitted the engineered stone benchtop and backsplash from the same slab — a detail that really ties the whole space together.

To complete the transformation, we laid engineered vinyl planks throughout the kitchen, dining, and living areas — grounding the space and complementing the cabinetry tones perfectly.

Highlights
The seamless stone splashback and island are definite standouts, along with the rich flooring that completes the look.

Outcome
The result is a warm, welcoming space where Valie and Debbie can cook, host, and enjoy their new chapter.

“Overall a great experience and I'm very proud of the work done!”
— Debbie, Harrison Court

“Perhaps the impromptu Friday lunch with all the tradies in our makeshift garage kitchen — a nice time of community!”

  • Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, white marble backsplash, black appliances, and a kitchen island with white stools. There are plants near a window with blinds, and various kitchen items like a red teapot, knife holder, and coffee maker on the counters.
  • Kitchen with blue cabinets, white tiled backsplash, dishwasher, microwave, oven, stainless steel range hood, and beige countertops.
  • Modern kitchen with a white marble island counter, gray cabinets, built-in oven, large black refrigerator, open shelving, and bar stools.
  • Open kitchen and living room with dining table, chairs, armchair, bookshelf, and large windows in a bright, modern home.
  • Modern kitchen with gray cabinetry, white marble island with a wooden cutting board, open shelves with bowls, a bowl of fruit, and a sink, adjacent to a living area with a TV and wooden furniture.
  • Living room with beige sofas, dark pillows, wall art, and large sliding glass door leading to a backyard patio with outdoor furniture and greenery.