Homeowner Diaries: a thoughtful renovation of a character-filled kitchen

ArchiPro’s Homeowner Diaries series follows homeowners’ renovation journeys to discover the value of working with skilled professionals and finding the right products to bring their dream spaces to life.

Before renovations took place, Michael Murray’s kitchen was poorly designed: minimal prep area, no rangehood, minimal pantry storage and an oversized island bench that encroached into the dining space.

“There was only one set of French doors out to the covered deck area, which was located in the tight dining area,” adds Michael. “There was terrible flow to the outside.”

As the face behind the award-winning Michael Murray Studio, Michael knew exactly what to do to transform his petite kitchen into one that would function better, and honour the history of the villa home.

One of the must-haves in the new design was plenty of storage. However, with only so much floor space to work with, extra cabinetry has been added to the family area. A clever design that doubles as an entertaining bar, it’s a space Michael uses on a regular basis when entertaining.

“We knew we wanted to be as cost-effective as possible, so we didn’t do any major structural work to the space to keep costs down – we worked with what was there.”

Helping the kitchen space to feel uncluttered and seamless, all food storage – including the integrated fridge/freezer from Bosch Appliances – is hidden behind the cabinetry. The rangehood is hidden behind mirrored doors.

This design allows the stunning Tokyo Marble benchtops from Universal Granite to take centre stage.

“I have always loved natural stone for kitchens and bathrooms. Marbles are often dismissed early on in the design decision process – clients don’t usually want the maintenance that comes with natural stone and marble has the most maintenance of all the natural stones,” says Michael.

“I selected marble for my own home as I wanted to celebrate the uniqueness of the stone and embrace the way it would wear and patina. I love a space that is unique and the marble has definitely achieved this for me in my own home.”

The organic aged brass tapware from Plumbline is another product selected for how it will gracefully age over time.

“I wanted to add to the space a sense of timelessness that references things I have fallen in love with on travels to Europe, as well as creating a connection to the heritage of the home,” says Michael. “The house is actually the original Pukekohe Police Station that was on Manukau Road back in the early 1900s. It was moved to where it now sits in the 1960s. You can still see where the house was cut down the centre.”

Paint colours that would stand the test of time were also chosen by Michael for the space.

“I didn’t want to go too warm or too cool, as this is very trend-driven and will usually date the space,” he says. “I wanted to create a sense of calm – a space where day-to-day living becomes more enjoyable.”

With the philosophy that “homes tell you what they want you to do to them”, Michael selected a neutral palette of off-whites, beiges and warm greys to tie in with the tones that flow through the kitchen’s marble benchtops.

These colours also pair well with the villa’s original kauri floorboards, which have been refinished with a matte sealer to ensure their longevity.

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Also known for his work in designing bathrooms, the renovation of Michael’s home wouldn't have been complete without giving his bathroom a style upgrade.

Keeping to the same palette as the kitchen, plenty of character has been retained with the inclusion of the original shiplap.

The tiles that have been used – Quantum’s Unique Travertine tiles in ‘minimal silver’ – are textural and complement the neutral tones of the rest of the space.

Same as the kitchen, Tokyo Marble has been used for the vanity benchtop; aged brass tapware and an Artedomus bluestone vessel basin contrasts with the lighter tones, accentuating the marble’s dark veining.

While there were challenges involved in the project – such as trade shortages as a result of the pandemic – having a strong understanding of the renovation process helped Michael ensure the design’s success.

“It’s definitely stressful and testing at times, but I always tell my clients it will all be worth it in the end – I told this to myself daily during the renovation.

“Design has a huge impact on the way we live and feel within an interior space. Don’t underestimate the power of great design.”

Explore kitchen and bathroom products on ArchiPro.

Words by Cassie Birrer