A Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation in Marton, Manawatu: A light and bright transformation with modern finishes

Rob’s 1970s Marton home was a clash of colours, patterns, and dated features. From purple and green paint to questionable lino and retro chandeliers, the house had great potential, but it was hard to see through the chaos – and fluorescent lighting! Rob was keen to get the house on the market, but knew it needed attention to attract buyers and the best possible sale price. 

Rob got in touch with his local Refresh Renovation Consultant Wayne Gordon and told him that he wanted to upgrade a few areas of his home with a view to selling and was looking for ideas and inspiration. 

Advice and Planning

Office Manager Sarah arranged a free consultation for clients Rob and Ants at their home, where Renovation Consultant Richard Marshall met with them to gain an understanding of what their renovation goals were. For Rob and Ants, it wasn’t just cosmetic, they also wanted the home to feel more functional and to add value such as a bath, which they thought would be a hit with potential family buyers. They soon realised a complete overhaul of the kitchen, dining area, hallway, bathroom, and toilet would be needed to transform the stale 70s look into a modern family home.

Richard and his clients discussed the budget and timeline for the major project and, with Rob and Ants willing to move out during the renovation, a firm deadline of Christmas was established to have the work completed. This gave Project Manager Zoe Blease three months to make the magic happen.

The budget was also discussed in depth before any work commenced to ensure everything Rob wanted to achieve could be accommodated, and that there was clear understanding for both parties of expectations and outcomes.

Design

The house needed a major shake up to create a more open and functional feel. Rob (gratefully) said goodbye to the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room that featured a 70s serving window. The wall had made both areas feel small and enclosed, but once it was gone both rooms felt bright and spacious. The bathroom wall was shifted to create more room for a new free-standing tub, while yet another wall was moved to make the entry way smaller but allow for moving the toilet.

The wall removal required council consent, which was managed between Richard and Zoe as part of the complete end-to-end Refresh service, along with all design work, trades scheduling, and on-site project management. At times during a large renovation dozens of tradespeople are required on site, from builders, plumbers, and electricians, to painters, cabinet installers, concreters and more. Zoe expertly managed the entire project making the renovation simple and stress-free for Rob and Ants.

Aside from the structural changes, the rest of the design focused on creating a cohesive feel with neutral flooring and paint choices, and classic white cabinets and fixtures for the kitchen and bathroom. It would be a huge change from the current look which appeared to be a pick and mix of different lino, loud curtains, and a variety of paint colours.

Final Thoughts

Rob’s home is hardly recognisable after a stunning renovation by Refresh. Gone are the gaudy colours, mismatched lino, and closed walls – instead the home is bright and open with a modern, functional feel.

The bathroom boasts a luxurious, deep free-standing tub and rain head shower, with a floating vanity and new paint and flooring. The kitchen is now full of natural light (goodbye fluorescent tubes!) and instead of a serving window, there is a lovely breakfast bar and open plan dining area. 

Pendant lighting hangs above and adds to the modern feel of the slick white cabinetry. The original wooden windows and architraves have all been kept and painted white, which gives a lovely touch of character to the home.

Wayne and the Refresh Manawatu team are thrilled with the result:

“The home looks fantastic and has had such a transformation. The kitchen is open and full of light now, it has breathed new life into the home. A single paint colour throughout and new flooring has really tied the home together.”‍

Would you like to discuss your home renovation ideas?

Get in touch for a free consultation with your local Renovation Consultant.