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Moving into a newly built, more compact home marked the beginning of a new chapter for the client. While the scale of the home had changed, the way she wanted to live had not. The kitchen still needed to feel generous and refined, with the capacity to support everyday life as comfortably as it welcomed family and friends.

The original architectural plan proposed a conventional U-shaped kitchen with an enclosed pantry. It was functional on paper, but it would have restricted sightlines, interrupted the relationship between the kitchen and adjoining living areas, and made the heart of the home feel smaller than it needed to be. Mint Kitchens Moonee Ponds saw an opportunity to reconsider the plan entirely, moving beyond simply fitting cabinetry into the allocated space to create a kitchen that could shape how the whole home was experienced.

Reframing the Kitchen as the Centre of the Home

The revised layout replaces the enclosed arrangement with an open, light-filled kitchen organised around a substantial central island. Positioned between the primary work zones and the adjoining dining area, the island becomes both a practical preparation surface and a social anchor. Its generous proportions provide room for guests to gather without disrupting the person cooking, allowing conversation to move naturally between the kitchen, dining and living spaces.

A deep charcoal finish gives the island visual weight within the otherwise light palette. It grounds the room, defines the kitchen within the open plan and creates a measured contrast against the soft white cabinetry and expressive natural stone. The result feels layered and established rather than overly pristine.

Mint Kitchens Group
Mint Kitchens Group

A Concealed Layer of Function

One of the project’s most resolved planning decisions is also one of its least visible. Beyond the integrated refrigeration wall, a concealed walk-through opening leads into the butler’s pantry. By absorbing secondary preparation, appliance storage and pantry essentials into a dedicated back-of-house zone, the design allows the main kitchen to retain a composed, uncluttered presence.

This separation is particularly valuable when entertaining. Everyday mess can be contained out of view, while the main kitchen remains open and connected to guests. Extensive drawer storage keeps frequently used items accessible, and the pantry’s uninterrupted work surface provides additional space for food preparation and smaller appliances. Warm timber-look open shelving introduces a quieter shift in tone, distinguishing the pantry as a functional interior layer while maintaining continuity with the timber flooring beyond.

Mint Kitchens Group

Timeless Detail, Carefully Balanced

The aesthetic takes its cues from the home’s Coastal Hamptons influence, interpreted with restraint. Shaker-style two-pack cabinetry establishes a timeless architectural rhythm, while layered cornices carry the joinery upward and help it feel integrated with the wider interior. Ribbed-glass overhead panels add texture and depth at the upper level, breaking up the expanse of cabinetry without introducing visual noise.

Natural stone is used across the benchtops and splashbacks, bringing movement and individuality to the predominantly neutral scheme. Rather than treating the stone as a decorative surface alone, its continuous use connects the cooking, cleaning and island zones, giving the kitchen a cohesive material language. Brushed metal hardware and pendant lighting contribute a subtle sense of polish, while the timber flooring brings warmth and prevents the palette from feeling cool or formal.

Every element plays a practical role. Deep drawers replace difficult-to-access lower cupboards; integrated refrigeration contributes to the calm elevation; dedicated cooking and cleaning zones support an efficient workflow; and the long island offers both preparation space and comfortable seating. The design’s luxury is felt through ease, proportion and the considered placement of each function, rather than through excess.

A Smaller Footprint That Lives Generously

Downsizing does not have to mean compromising on openness, hospitality or a sense of occasion. By moving beyond the limitations of the original plan, Mint Kitchens Moonee Ponds created a kitchen that feels larger through connection: connected to its supporting pantry, to the adjoining living spaces and, most importantly, to the way its owner wants to live.

The finished kitchen is calm and elegant, but never precious. It works hard behind the scenes while presenting a refined face to the home. This balance allows it to support quiet daily rituals, generous gatherings and the next chapter of life with equal confidence.

Mint Kitchens Group

About Mint Kitchens by Designwize

Mint Kitchen Group is a Melbourne-based kitchen and interiors company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke joinery. We create custom kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and interior spaces that are tailored to each client’s lifestyle, home and design vision. With a strong focus on quality craftsmanship, practical functionality and personalised service, our team manages each project from concept through to completion. By combining thoughtful design with locally made joinery and attention to detail, Mint Kitchen Group delivers beautifully resolved spaces that are made to be lived in and built to last.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This CPD session from Gaggenau shows how they design luxury appliances for domestic kitchens!

This is a CPD session that traces the evolution of the domestic kitchen—from its historical origins and changing social functions to its current role as the heart of contemporary living—and provides practical strategies for seamlessly integrating luxury appliances to enhance both form and function.

Lunch provided, please advise of any dietary requirements.

SBID Members earn 4 x CPD points for attending!

RSVP to attend

This CPD session from Gaggenau shows how they design luxury appliances for domestic kitchens!

This is a CPD session that traces the evolution of the domestic kitchen—from its historical origins and changing social functions to its current role as the heart of contemporary living—and provides practical strategies for seamlessly integrating luxury appliances to enhance both form and function.

Lunch provided, please advise of any dietary requirements.

SBID Members earn 4 x CPD points for attending!

RSVP to attend

This CPD session from Gaggenau shows how they design luxury appliances for domestic kitchens!

This is a CPD session that traces the evolution of the domestic kitchen—from its historical origins and changing social functions to its current role as the heart of contemporary living—and provides practical strategies for seamlessly integrating luxury appliances to enhance both form and function.

Lunch provided, please advise of any dietary requirements.

SBID Members earn 4 x CPD points for attending!

RSVP to attend

A townhouse in Notting Hill needed a kitchen that could do two jobs at once: look sophisticated and contemporary, while providing enough storage and space for informal family eating. For Ledbury Studio founder Charlie Smallbone, the brief also arrived with its material already chosen. The clients had fallen in love with Arabescato Nero marble and it became the starting point for the whole design.

Ledbury Studio

A clear brief

It’s the reverse of how most kitchen briefs start. Instead of working from a floor plan outward, Charlie was working from one slab of stone inward: the layout, the storage and the material palette elsewhere in the room all had to be resolved around a single decision the clients had already made.

“Our clients came to us already in love with the stone,” says Charlie. “That’s not unusual and it’s no bad thing, it’s actually a gift. It sets the ambition for everything else. Once you’ve chosen a material like Arabescato Nero marble, there’s no hiding behind a neutral scheme. The rest of the kitchen has to be as considered as the stone is dramatic.”

Ledbury Studio
Ledbury Studio

The marble: a dramatic centrepiece

Charlie made the marble the dramatic centrepiece of the room, wrapping it around an imposing pedestal base beneath the breakfast bar for maximum impact. A fabricated bullnose edge was specially designed for the effect, and the marble was honed rather than polished, for a softer, more understated elegance.

Book-matching, where two adjoining slabs of stone are cut and laid so their veining mirrors across the seam, has become one of the clearest signatures of a considered kitchen island. Rather than a run of stone broken up by a visible join, the effect reads as one continuous surface, and it’s increasingly the detail that separates a bespoke kitchen from an off-the-shelf one.

In the case of this kitchen, because the island sits on a suspended floor, its construction had to be carefully engineered to carry the weight of a 5.25-metre worktop, with two slabs of the marble book-matched at the centre for a seamless effect. It’s a structural question that comes up often in London’s period townhouses. Many have suspended timber floors, rather than a solid concrete slab, so for a large-format stone island the floor should be checked, and often reinforced, before the design can be finalised.

Ledbury Studio

Oak, fluting and quiet storage

Charlie chose natural oak for the cupboards, which was given a light finish, rubbed back to expose the grain and finished with a pigmented pale wash. Handleless base cupboards and specially designed recessed handles on the tall cupboards keep the design minimal and contemporary, with the wine cooler and oven sitting flush within the run rather than sitting as separate elements.

In addition, the wall cupboards and room-facing island cupboard doors were given shallow fluting, with the timber grain fluted horizontally rather than vertically, for a softer, textured finish. Pairing a warm, pale oak with a cool, heavily veined marble is one of the more enduring material conversations in kitchen design: the wood softens the drama of the stone, while the marble stops the joinery from reading as flat.

Ledbury Studio
Ledbury Studio

The final word

“A kitchen this striking still has to work every single day,” concludes Charlie. “The marble is what you notice first. But it’s the storage, the fluting and the way the oak sits against the stone that make you want to live in it.”

The result is a kitchen that is chic and understated, brought to life with the sophistication and drama that mark out a Ledbury Studio design. It’s a useful example of how a single material decision, made early and followed through with conviction, can shape everything else in a room: the cabinetry finish, the storage strategy, even the lighting, all worked out in relation to one slab of stone rather than added on top of it afterwards.

About Ledbury Studio Ltd

Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a mid-century kitchen design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Bower Interior Design.

Bower Interior Design was commissioned to design the interior of a newly built rear extension in Saltdean, East Sussex. The open-plan kitchen, dining and living space was created for a family of four seeking a timeless design with a mid-century influence. Rich walnut cabinetry, soft green tones and brushed brass accents were combined to bring warmth, depth and character. The result is a calm, functional and beautifully layered space that reflects the family’s lifestyle while nodding to the home’s coastal setting and their love of classic design.

Category: Kitchen Design

Design Practice: Bower Interior Design

Project Title: Coastal Mid-Century Living

Project Location: East Sussex, United Kingdom

Design Practice Location: Worthing, United Kingdom

Photographer: Bee Holmes

What was the client's brief?

The family wanted a home that would really bring them together at the end of each day, as well as a space to host friends and relax. They imagined a place to sit and read with a glass of wine, a generous dining area that could comfortably seat ten, and an open-plan kitchen where they could keep an eye on everything while the family gathered. Hosting was also really important to them — they loved the idea of the bi-folds opening out onto their beautiful gardens, creating plenty of space to entertain and throw parties. My approach was to zone the space carefully into kitchen, dining and living areas, so that each had its own purpose but also flowed seamlessly together. They wanted a contemporary mid-century feel — light and neutral at its base to maximise the natural daylight, but with layers of rich colour, from olive greens to ochres, alongside natural wood textures for warmth and depth.

Photographer: Bee Holmes

What inspired the design of the project?

The biggest inspiration was the house itself. It’s a mid-century property that looks out onto beautiful, sprawling fields, and it felt only natural to bring that sense of greenery and connection to the outdoors into the design. I used earthy tones, wood textures and tactile finishes to echo what was happening just beyond the garden. The family wanted something timeless, with enough wow factor to feel special, but still a home where they could kick off their shoes, put the kettle on, and feel completely at ease.

Photographer: Bee Holmes

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The project was smooth overall, but one challenge was ensuring the space would be properly heated without relying on underfloor heating. With so many large glazed areas and open walls, I had to think very strategically about where radiators could be placed — they needed to do their job effectively without dominating or disrupting the design. It took some careful thought to make everything work, but in the end it came together in a way that felt balanced and practical.

Photographer: Bee Holmes

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

For me, the highlight will always be my clients’ reaction when it was finished. They sent me videos saying they “couldn’t believe it was theirs,” which was such a moving moment. Seeing their joy and hearing that disbelief turn into pride made all the months of planning and decision-making worthwhile. It’s the kind of feedback that reminds me exactly why I love doing what I do.

Photographer: Bee Holmes
Photographer: Bee Holmes

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Honestly, I entered on a bit of a chance. I was really proud of the project, but I never imagined it would make it through to become a finalist.

Photographer: Bee Holmes
Natalie Johnson, Founder of Bower Interior Design

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Becoming a finalist has been such a dream come true. To be recognised alongside so many incredible designers is both humbling and inspiring. It’s given me a huge boost of confidence in my work and feels like a real milestone for Bower Interior Design.

Questions answered by Natalie Johnson, Founder of Bower Interior Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a sophisticated penthouse design, click here to read it.

What we now call Shaker-style kitchens started life in the early 1980s, when Charlie Smallbone launched the Original Hand Painted kitchen. Its single panel door in a frame with a hand-painted finish became synonymous with the simplicity and functionality of 18th century Shaker furniture. Since then, Shaker-style kitchens have become the characteristic of country-style kitchens and one looks much like another. As such, when Charlie founded Ledbury Studio, he was determined to evolve the story once again and to redefine Shaker furniture in a contemporary way, to suit today’s kitchens.

“Design shouldn’t stand still, as its very essence is to present something new and offer an alternative way of seeing things. I believe in staying open to new ideas and constantly evolving,” explains Charlie. “With the Shaker kitchen I took all the traditional elements and then added contemporary touches, such as variations on the frame and panel sizes of the doors, adding an oversized contemporary cornice and modern cast handles in aged and patinated brass. The result is our Ledbury Shaker range.” Here are three beautiful examples.

Single-panel furniture in Ash White is the perfect contrast to the textures and tones elsewhere in the kitchen design, in particular the aged zinc panels of the tall cabinets.
Bruton kitchen

Bruton kitchen

The Shaker-style evolution: Slim down the width of the door framing, add reeded cupboards and mix with aged and patinated zinc.

The result: The slimmed-down framing creates a contemporary feel, while the ribbed glass wall cabinets bring an element of lightness and texture that breaks up uniformity and enhances visual interest. In response to the client’s request for a neutral palette, the furniture is painted in Ash White, in stark contrast to the coffee making station and tall refrigeration cupboards, which are clad in in aged and patinated sheets of zinc. And again to bring this Shaker design bang up to date, instead of the usual small round knob handles there are tactile aged-brass ones, plus brass kickplates and fixtures throughout.

In the Hampshire kitchen, the show-stopping stainless-steel island is surrounded by hand-painted Shaker cabinetry, which can also be seen in the utility room.
Hampshire kitchen

Hampshire kitchen

The Shaker-style evolution: Add stainless steel into the mix to provide contrast to the minimal framing on the doors.

The result: Designed as part of a renovation of a country house, the Hampshire kitchen is a scheme that perfectly balances rustic simplicity with contemporary sophistication. At the heart of the kitchen sits a stainless-steel island, conceived as both a showpiece and a hardworking hub. It houses a Lacanche range cooker, has custom-cast stainless steel and brass handles and limestone worktop edged in stainless steel. As a contrast, allowing the island to take centre stage, Charlie designed the surrounding cabinetry in the Ledbury Studio Shaker style, using minimal framing to the single-panel hand-painted doors.

For the Muswell Hill kitchen, Charlie combined hand-painted Ledbury Shaker cabinets with metallic accents such as the aged-brass extractor hood.

Muswell Hill kitchen

The Shaker-style evolution: Add an over-sized contemporary cornice and brass detailing.

The result: The brief for the Muswell Hill design was to maximise every inch of storage space by pushing the cupboards as high as they could go. Charlie therefore designed the cupboards almost to the ceiling, introducing a large contemporary cornice with a lighting recess in between the cornice and the cabinets. This Shaker-style hand-painted kitchen achieves its contemporary resonance with the introduction of Ledbury Studio’s signature metals. Charlie added aged brass to the edge of the cooker hood and also used it for the plate rack’s supporting brackets, the hanging rails mounted on the splashbacks and the cupboard handles.

Prices for a Ledbury Studio kitchen start from £70,000.

About Ledbury Studio Ltd

Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

In an industry often focused on what is new, Yotam Ottolenghi's recently refreshed kitchen offers a valuable reminder of the importance of designing for longevity. More than a decade after its original installation, the Roundhouse kitchen remained so successful that the refurbishment focused not on replacing it, but on carefully evolving it.

Few compliments carry more weight than a returning client. When someone has lived with a kitchen every day, raised a family around it, cooked thousands of meals, hosted friends and relied on the space for years, choosing to return to the same designer speaks volumes about the success of the original project.

That is exactly what happened when internationally renowned chef, restaurateur and food writer Yotam Ottolenghi returned to Roundhouse to refresh the kitchen in his North London Georgian townhouse.

The original kitchen was designed and installed in 2013 using Roundhouse's Urbo collection. Defined by its understated aesthetic, practical layout and carefully considered functionality, the space was designed around the realities of everyday life rather than passing trends.

As Ottolenghi explains: "Roundhouse designed my kitchen 13 years ago, and it still works brilliantly. The refresh was not about changing the fundamentals, I wanted to build on a design that had already stood the test of time."

Roundhouse Design
Roundhouse Design

Designing for longevity

For interior designers and professionals, the project demonstrates how thoughtful planning, durable materials and adaptable layouts can significantly extend the lifespan of a kitchen without compromising aesthetics or performance.

Rather than embarking on a complete redesign, the refurbishment focused on enhancing a space that was already working exceptionally well. The original layout continued to support the way Ottolenghi and his family lived, while the material palette remained as relevant and appealing as when it was first installed.

"Everything is at my fingertips. The kitchen works intuitively, which makes cooking a pleasure," says Ottolenghi.

That simple observation highlights one of the most important measures of successful design. Beyond appearance, great kitchens make everyday routines feel effortless and intuitive.

Roundhouse Design

Introducing personality without redesigning the space

While the foundations remained unchanged, the refurbishment introduced carefully considered updates that brought new character to the room.

The most significant addition was a hand painted tiled splashback created by artist Cecilie Maurud Barstad of Gilles & Cecilie Studio. Inspired by family memories, favourite foods and shared experiences, the artwork introduced a deeply personal layer to the space.

"I wanted a kitchen that felt personal. The new splashback brought character and individuality that made the space my own," explains Ottolenghi.

For designers, the project serves as a reminder that personality does not always require dramatic intervention. Sometimes a single carefully chosen element can transform the atmosphere of a room while preserving everything that already works.

Roundhouse Design
Roundhouse Design

The role of thoughtful upgrades

Alongside the new splashback, a series of practical improvements helped bring the kitchen up to date.

Storage around the oven wall was reconfigured, appliances were upgraded and the kitchen transitioned from gas to induction cooking. A new suite of Gaggenau appliances and a Quooker tap enhanced performance while maintaining the familiarity of a well-established space.

One of the most notable aspects of the refurbishment was the decision to retain the original white lacquered cabinetry. Years after installation, it remained in excellent condition and continued to provide a calm backdrop for daily life.

As Ottolenghi notes: "A simple, calm backdrop allows everything else to shine. That's true in our restaurants, and it's true in my kitchen. The tiles designed by my dear friend Cecilie Barstad bring some fun and character to the space."

Roundhouse Design

The project also highlights the enduring appeal of restrained material palettes. White lacquered cabinetry, walnut interiors, and stainless-steel worktops create a timeless foundation that allows artwork, objects and ingredients to become part of the visual composition.

What designers can learn from the project

For interior designers, there is an important lesson in the way this kitchen has evolved.

Longevity is not simply about durability. It is about creating spaces with enough flexibility to adapt alongside the people who use them. The most successful interiors are rarely those that remain frozen in time. Instead, they mature, evolve, and accumulate character while continuing to support changing lifestyles.

By prioritising functionality, simplicity and quality from the outset, the original design created a framework that could be refined rather than replaced.

Roundhouse Design
Roundhouse Design

The project demonstrates that successful kitchen design is not measured by how quickly it is replaced, but by how well it continues to perform over time. By combining enduring design principles with carefully considered updates, Ottolenghi's kitchen continues to support the changing needs of its owner while retaining the qualities that made it successful from the outset.

In a profession often driven by the pursuit of the new, it is a refreshing reminder that thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship and a deep understanding of how people live can create spaces that remain relevant for decades.

Start your own design journey

Yotam Ottolenghi's kitchen demonstrates the value of designing spaces that can evolve over time.

If you are planning your own project, book a design consultation or visit a Roundhouse showroom to discover how thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship and carefully considered materials can shape the way you live for years to come.

About Roundhouse Design Ltd

Founded by architects, Roundhouse is a multi-award-winning British company, creating beautiful bespoke kitchens and furniture. Their stunning kitchen designs feature a signature understated aesthetic, influenced by contemporary and traditional design, using innovative materials, texture and colour. Each project is made to measure from a wide range of stunning finishes. Expertly crafted by skilled designers and makers in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Malvern, Worcestershire. Visit any of seven Roundhouse Design kitchen showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford & Cheltenham.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Frank Iaria, Kitchen and Interior Designer at Mint Kitchen Group, has given his insights into the industry.

My career in the industry began as an apprentice cabinet maker, which gave me a strong hands-on understanding of joinery, construction and detailing from the very beginning. After sustaining a back injury, I moved away from the physical side of cabinet making and into the design field. What started as a necessary career shift quickly became a genuine passion, and I found that I enjoyed the creativity, problem-solving and client interaction of design even more.

I went on to become a Certified Kitchen Designer and built my career around creating highly functional, detailed and beautifully resolved kitchen spaces. After working with major retailers and developing a strong reputation within the industry, I decided to go out on my own and open my own showroom. From there, it was a natural progression to expand into other areas of the home, as many of my clients were renovating multiple spaces at once. This led me to further study bathroom design, allowing me to provide a more complete design service across kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and whole-home joinery.

Entering industry awards became an important turning point in my career. In the first year alone, we achieved 10 awards, which gave me the confidence and motivation to continue pushing the design side of the business further. Year after year, we continued entering awards and collecting recognition, which helped strengthen our reputation and increase demand for our style of work.

As the business continued to grow, I formed a group with industry colleagues to create better buying power, greater exposure and stronger collective advertising. This became Mint Kitchen Group. Since then, we have continued to build on our success and are proud to have become one of the most awarded kitchen design groups in Victoria. Today, I operate two design studios with a team of six designers, and much of our work comes through referrals from existing and past clients.

I am very proud of the work we produce and the care we put into every project. For us, great design is not only about how a space looks, but how well it functions, how carefully it is detailed and how successfully it is executed. That commitment to detail, craftsmanship and the client experience continues to drive the way we work today.

Mint Kitchen Group
Mint Kitchen Group

Why did you want to work in the interior design profession?

I was drawn to interior design because it combines creativity with problem-solving in a very practical and meaningful way. My early background in cabinet making gave me a strong understanding of how things are constructed, but moving into design opened up a much broader opportunity to shape spaces from the very beginning. I enjoyed being able to think not only about how something was made, but how it would function, how it would feel, and how it would improve the way people live.

For me, the profession is about much more than selecting finishes or creating a stylish space. It is about listening carefully, understanding a client’s lifestyle, and then translating that into a design that is both beautiful and practical. That combination of creativity, functionality, detail and human connection is what first attracted me to the industry and continues to motivate me.

Mint Kitchen Group

Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most?

I really enjoy the process of taking a client’s brief and turning it into a resolved design that feels both beautiful and effortless. There is something very rewarding about working through the details — the layout, proportions, materials, storage, lighting, finishes and joinery — and seeing all those elements come together into one cohesive space.

I also enjoy the relationship-building side of the profession. Every client is different, and every project has its own story. Being trusted to help shape such personal spaces in someone’s home is a privilege. The best part is seeing the finished result and knowing that the design has genuinely improved the way the client uses and enjoys their home.

Mint Kitchen Group
Mint Kitchen Group

What has been your most memorable career highlight from the past year?

One of my most memorable career highlights from the past year has been the transformation of our South Melbourne Design Studio. We converted what was once a commercial office space into an apartment-style showcase, designed to feel like a real home rather than a traditional showroom. This allowed us to demonstrate the type of work we do across all areas of the home, from kitchens, bathrooms and laundries through to wardrobes, living spaces, custom furniture and detailed joinery solutions.

The studio was designed to help clients experience our work in a more personal and immersive way. Rather than viewing individual displays in isolation, they can walk through connected spaces and see how materials, finishes, storage, lighting and joinery details work together in a complete interior environment. It has become a valuable space for presenting design ideas, inspiring clients and showing the level of detail, craftsmanship and functionality that sits behind every project we deliver.

Mint Kitchen Group

What are your favourite types of projects to work on and why?

My favourite projects are those where we are able to create a complete design solution rather than looking at one room in isolation. Whole-home renovations, kitchens connected to living spaces, and projects with custom joinery throughout are particularly rewarding because they allow us to create consistency, flow and a strong design language across the home.

I also enjoy projects that require careful planning and detailed problem-solving. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundries can be some of the most technically demanding spaces in a home, but that is what makes them interesting. When a space works beautifully from both a design and functional perspective, the result feels seamless — and that is always the goal.

Mint Kitchen Group
Mint Kitchen Group

What are the most challenging aspects of working in interior design?

One of the most challenging aspects is balancing creativity with practicality. A successful design needs to look beautiful, but it also needs to be functional, buildable, durable and suited to the client’s budget and lifestyle. There are often many layers to consider, from design intent and client expectations through to manufacturing requirements, site conditions, lead times and installation details.

Communication is also critical. Interior design involves many people — clients, designers, suppliers, trades, manufacturers and installers — and every decision needs to be clearly documented and understood. The smallest detail can have a big impact, so maintaining clarity throughout the process is one of the ongoing challenges, but it is also what leads to the best outcomes.

Mint Kitchen Group

What do you wish you knew before working in the field?

I wish I had understood earlier just how much of interior design is about communication, documentation and decision-making. Many people see the creative side of the profession, but behind every successful project is a huge amount of planning, coordination and attention to detail. Good design is not just about the idea — it is about how clearly that idea is communicated and executed.

I have also learned that every project will evolve. Site conditions, budgets, client preferences and technical requirements can all shift along the way. Being flexible, calm and solutions-focused is essential. The ability to adapt while still protecting the overall design intent is one of the most valuable skills a designer can develop.

Mint Kitchen Group
Mint Kitchen Group

If you could give one tip to aspiring designers, what would it be?

My advice would be to learn how things are actually made. Understanding construction, manufacturing, installation and detailing will make you a much stronger designer. A concept may look beautiful on paper, but it needs to work in the real world. The more you understand materials, hardware, joinery construction, clearances and site limitations, the better your designs will become.

I would also encourage aspiring designers to listen carefully. Clients may not always know how to explain exactly what they want, but they will usually give you clues through the way they talk about their lifestyle, frustrations and routines. A great designer knows how to interpret those details and turn them into a space that feels considered, personal and practical.

Mint Kitchen Group

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

I think the industry will continue moving toward more personalised, lifestyle-driven design. Clients are becoming more considered about how their homes function, not just how they look. They want spaces that support the way they live, work, entertain and relax, with a greater focus on quality, longevity and intelligent storage solutions.

I also see technology, documentation and communication becoming even more important. Clients expect a clearer understanding of their design before it is built, while design and production teams need accurate information to reduce errors and improve efficiency. The future of interior design will still rely heavily on creativity, but it will also depend on strong systems, clear processes and better integration between design, documentation and delivery.

Mint Kitchen Group

What does being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer mean to you?

Being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer represents professional recognition and a commitment to maintaining high standards within the industry. It is an acknowledgment of experience, design capability and professionalism, but also of the responsibility designers have to deliver considered, ethical and well-resolved outcomes for their clients.

For me, SBID accreditation is also about being connected to a broader international design community. It reinforces the importance of continual learning, professionalism and striving for excellence in every project. It is a privilege to be recognised within an organisation that values design integrity, innovation and the ongoing development of the interior design profession.

About Mint Kitchens by Designwize

Mint Kitchen Group is a Melbourne-based kitchen and interiors company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke joinery. We create custom kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and interior spaces that are tailored to each client’s lifestyle, home and design vision. With a strong focus on quality craftsmanship, practical functionality and personalised service, our team manages each project from concept through to completion. By combining thoughtful design with locally made joinery and attention to detail, Mint Kitchen Group delivers beautifully resolved spaces that are made to be lived in and built to last.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Join us for an exclusive SBID Accredited Gaggenau CPD seminar, followed by a networking opportunity, as we delve into the design of luxury domestic kitchen appliances!

The presentation will explore the kitchen’s historical context, its role in homes, and its transformation to enhance modern living. We will cover various product categories, discussing dimensions, practical aspects, style and installation consideration.

Lunch will be provided.

SBID Members earn 4 x CPD points for attending!

RSVP to attend

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