Kitchen Renovation Opens Up a 1990s Home in Palmerston North

Project Overview

After successfully renovating two bathrooms and their laundry with Refresh Renovations, the owners of this Palmerston North property returned to tackle the last major area needing attention: the kitchen.

The 1990s two-storey home is an investment property occupied by the owners' daughter, while the owners themselves live in Auckland.

They already had a clear vision for the new kitchen and wanted a team they trusted to bring it to life. Having enjoyed their previous renovation experience, they approached Refresh Renovation Consultant Andrea Yeatman and the Manawatu team again.

The project involved more than replacing cabinetry. Removing an internal wall, updating the windows and extending new flooring into adjoining spaces would help create a more connected and contemporary interior.

Design & Planning

The homeowners had engaged an external designer in Auckland to develop their kitchen layout.

Refresh worked with Reform Architecture to prepare the structural working drawings needed to remove the wall between the kitchen and hallway.

Council consent was required for the wall removal and new bracing elements. Other improvements, including plumbing, window replacements and insulation, were completed as exempt building work.

The design included two new double-glazed sliding windows, a distinctive green gloss hexagon splashback and new vinyl plank flooring extending through the kitchen, dining room, hallway and entrance.

The homeowners were comfortable investing in their preferred design rather than making significant compromises to meet a fixed budget.

Project Execution

Project Manager Karl Renshaw coordinated the builders, tiler, painter, GIB stopper, electrician, plumber, flooring installer and joiner involved in the renovation.

The existing kitchen was stripped back, including cabinetry, fixtures, wall linings and ceiling finishes. Suitable timber trims were carefully removed for reuse.

Temporary load-bearing walls were constructed before the internal wall was removed. The team installed a new structural timber member and joist connections, along with the required bracing.

The team also adjusted internal door openings, straightened existing framing, added R2.8 wall insulation and installed new plasterboard linings.

Outside, the original kitchen windows were replaced with double-glazed aluminium units. The surrounding roughcast plaster was repaired to accommodate the new flashings and window details.

New Rhino Premium LVT flooring created a consistent finish across the connected spaces, while the green hexagon mosaic splashback introduced a striking feature.

Resene Rakaia was selected for the walls, complemented by Alabaster ceilings and trims.

Challenges Overcome

One of the main challenges was managing the renovation while the homeowners were based in Auckland.

Decisions that would normally be discussed face-to-face required carefully prepared emails and phone calls, particularly when confirming construction details and variations.

The externally designed kitchen also required close coordination between the homeowners, Refresh's local team and suppliers. Some specified products, including the splashback tiles, needed to be sourced from suppliers outside the team's usual network.

Despite these additional coordination requirements, the team successfully translated the supplied design into the finished space.

For Karl, the most rewarding part was: “Seeing the overall detailed design become reality – exactly as it looked on paper.”

Client Experience

Having already worked with Refresh on their bathrooms and laundry, the homeowners were familiar with the team's approach and confident about undertaking another renovation remotely.

Andrea and Karl kept them involved in important decisions while coordinating the construction locally.

The original contract value was $122,151.03, with a further $13,282.78 in agreed variations. These covered additional living room repairs, fence replacement, a gate switch, electrical changes and pantry door variations.

The original build programme ran from 6 July to 24 August. Following the additional work, the practical completion invoice was issued on 9 September.

The finished kitchen delivered the detailed look the homeowners had envisioned.

Andrea was particularly pleased with one design feature: “I love the splashback tiles, they look awesome!”

Final Thoughts

This renovation has given the Palmerston North home a fresh, more open interior while preserving the design details that mattered most to its owners.

The structural changes have improved the connection between the kitchen and hallway, while the double-glazed windows, consistent flooring and updated finishes bring the adjoining spaces together.

The green mosaic splashback adds personality to the kitchen, completing a transformation that closely follows the homeowners' original vision.

Planning a kitchen renovation that involves structural changes or a complete interior refresh? Explore what's possible for your Manawatu home and contact Andrea today to discuss bringing your ideas to life.