Striking Gold
A Winning Transformation in Dingley Village
Sat in a well loved kitchen, Monika, Dustin and their two young boys, Noah and Oliver, listened to The Christian O'Connell Show on Gold 104.3 over breakfast. During the broadcast, E&S announced its newest competition.
The prize? The chance to host the show in your own home and a brand new kitchen from E&S worth $60,000 (we’ll let you guess who would be designing and fitting it… 🧙)
The family had in fact recently redone their entire house themselves, intentionally leaving the kitchen last on the list. The (compact) reality was, there was only space to fit one person while cooking up a feast - less than ideal when the extended family from Slovakia wanted to visit. Tiles were slowly flaking, and an overworked oven was beginning to tap out mid-roast.
So, they entered the competition. It took 20 takes to get the right submission video, yet their perseverance proved it was meant to be (or perhaps it was the bird pooping on Dustin the same day that might’ve been the good luck charm they needed).
They won.
We took to Dingley Village and set to building the perfect space for the lucky winners. And the compact kitchen? Let’s just say it underwent a spellbinding transformation. Perched at the sparkly new benchtop, Monika and Dustin had a blast hosting The Christian O'Connell Show, and we wizards had the absolute honour of playing a part in making it happen.
A winning partnership
When creating exceptional spaces, working with the right companies and tradespeople is paramount. E&S has been a long-standing partner in all our work, and for good reason. They are phenomenal at what they do.
So when they wanted to collaborate on a competition to celebrate their 60th Birthday, we were all ears (and not just because it’s radio). We were thrilled to be involved in helping this family’s dreams come true. When you get the right teams together, that’s when the magic happens. Here’s what they had to say about our partnership:
“We could not be happier with the result and the unbelievable integration of our state-of-the-art appliances into this beautiful kitchen. It is so great to be involved in improving not just the home but also the lives of Monika and Dustin in even a small way.”
You see, a great kitchen reno doesn’t just improve how a home looks. It improves the way the people within it live. In short, the right kitchen can be life-changing.
Doubling expectations
It was an absolute pleasure working with both Monika and Dustin. They knew the problems they wanted to solve and trusted our recommendations, so we were able to really get to the crux of what makes a good kitchen, great.
As for our input, getting the plan right for them meant keeping an open mind. Literally.
Opening everything up was a game-changer. The number one hang-up in the beginning was lack of space. So, we transformed the layout to a new open-plan area, connecting the kitchen and living room seamlessly.
That means they can watch the kids whilst working in the kitchen, chat with friends whilst prepping drinks and finally fit more than one person near the cooktop to help Dustin’s mother make her signature Pork Schnitzel.
With this simple change, we quite literally made the kitchen double in size, double in storage and double in functionality.
We like to think we also doubled the expectations of this winning prize.
*Hot Tip*
When thinking about doing a renovation, you may feel reluctant to change the floorplan too much. But it’s important to keep an open mind. Sometimes, the smallest change can make a dramatic difference. Always get expert advice on your kitchen layout and think about the functionality of your home before anything else. That will determine how your DESIGN will play out.
Before & After
The need for ease
When you think of a brand new beautiful kitchen, you often get caught up in aesthetics. You might dream of stunning splashbacks and incredible islands. But what about the function? What about the cleaning? What about the ease?
One problem Monika and Dustin faced in their previous kitchen was a gloss finish that was not the easiest to keep spotless (especially with a 9 and 5 year old in the house).
So this time, we opted for something timeless and effortless to keep things squeaky clean.
With a home colour palette of blue and grey tones, the kitchen needed to be a part of that story. The Porcelain Factory TrendStone Crema Marmore was the perfect choice for the benchtops and splashback to do exactly that. Its delicate veining emulates the concrete-look floor tiles and brings an elegance to the space that is simply unmatched. Even the boys think it’s a privilege to sit there for afternoon treats.
Whether it’s snack time, dinnertime or cocktail time, the island acts as a central hub of activity, and the TrendStone is built for whatever spillages come its way. A slick swoop of a cloth, and it’s good as new.
Speaking of slick, we opted for handleless Polytec laminate cabinetry in Classic White. It looks timeless, keeping the kitchen aesthetic clear and uncluttered. Plus, Monika used to knock into the old handles often, so there will be no more unexpected bumps and bruises! Easing into this new space will be effortless, which is exactly how it should be.
*Hot Tip*
We very rarely work on just a kitchen. Although the heart of the home is our bread and butter, bringing a DESIGN together with additional rooms, cabinetry, and accents is where the magic lies. When looking at renovating your kitchen, always think outside the box and look for areas of the home you can elevate. It’s not only smarter to tackle more than one part of the home, but it’s friendlier on your budget, too.
A complete prize
Renovating a kitchen is just one piece of the home puzzle. You always need to bring all your spaces together to complete the picture. Since Monika and Dustin had already worked on the rest of their home, we needed to make the new space work with their vision.
Having already introduced VJ panels on the living room walls, we wanted to bring these through in a cohesive way. The perfect spot? Underneath the island. The Polytec Calcutta thermolaminate material was the right touch to carry Monika and Dustin’s style throughout their home and allow things to just flow. To bring further depth, Monika selected the colour Habitat, a wonderfully rich blue shade. It makes the space feel luxurious (not to mention truly stunning) and anchored the whole room.
Thinking smart with E&S
E&S isn’t just any appliance company. Their products, services and expertise are exceptional. That’s why we love working with them so much.
To make this kitchen a success, we needed to collaborate closely to find the perfect appliances and tech for the family’s needs. Taking into account a few different factors, the final result was an ideal space, for everyone.
Factor number 1. Dustin is tall. We opted for a wall oven at just the perfect height. The Smeg combination steam oven, microwave oven and induction cooktop were the perfect choices for maximum cooking control. Not to mention, they look the part.
The grey tones accompany the aesthetic seamlessly, and when Dustin and Monika fell in love with them in the E&S showroom, it really was a no-brainer.
Factor number 2. This family likes to cook. Whether it’s Dustin’s signature ribs or Monika’s delicious Slovakian family meals, we needed appliances that would make cooking a breeze.
The Bosch integrated fridge and freezer not only has stacks of space for delicious ingredients, but was just the right size for its docking space. And, of course, the Sirius rangehood was also a real game-changer, with its removable and easy-to-clean elements. Plus, better ventilation means you really can fire up your cooking.
Hiding away cupboard sundries has become a joy, with a huge pantry cleverly tucked away behind sleek Polytec laminate in Classic White that’s fit for a king (or, in this case, a King, Queen and two little princes).
Factor number 3. In a family with two young ones, keeping things clean and tidy is essential. The Fisher & Paykel Double DishDrawer dishwasher makes it twice as easy to clean up. Washing one drawer while you load the other is ideal.
While the Franke double-bowl kitchen sink and KWC tap are the perfect combo for easy rinsing and any larger dishes that need a little more elbow grease.
E&S provided all of these elements to create a kitchen that really works. A kitchen that wins in more ways than one. A kitchen that is a dream come true for this lovely family.
Last but not least, sweeping away the rubbish from meal prep is made easy with the Hafele Hailo Euro Cargo ST60 bin, plus, the Salsa Pro spice drawer tray and Blum TANDEMBOX antaro drawers make putting pots, pans and practically anything away, simple.
A winning streak
We’re proud to say that all our partners are with us for a reason. E&S always provide exceptional services and top-tier products. In this amazing transformation, you can see just how pivotal the right appliances are.
Every project we work on is different. Our designs diversify, and our creativity is always centred around each and every client. We work hard to make sure every single renovation is lovingly suited to the folks who call it home.
Your home is yours, so just like we did for Dustin and Monika, you have to come up with a space that has the right floorplan, storage, appliances and custom design elements for you. Only then will it truly win your heart.
For us? This one’s definitely a keeper.
Are you ready to make your kitchen the real heart of your home? Get in touch to book in your design consultation - we’re here to talk you through your ideas and help you make that dream vision, much more concrete. Call us on (03) 9557 2988 and let's get started.
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“From the moment we met Jordan at Wood Wizards, we knew we were in good hands. His professionalism and approachable manner set the tone for a remarkable experience. Our goal was an open plan with more storage and bench space. Wood Wizards delivered this and so much more. The renovation process was so smooth, and everything happened on schedule, transforming our space without the usual disruption. The team’s skill and friendliness made every step a pleasure. We wholeheartedly recommend Wood Wizards for their expertise, seamless process and outstanding results. They truly made our dream home a reality. Thank you to the Wood Wizards team and, of course, to E&S and The Christian O’Connell Show.”
Project Details
Price Guide
Kitchen Cabinetry $35,000 - $40,000
Kitchen Stone $8,000 - $10,000
Prices are an estimate for cabinetry only, including pull-out and installation. Please view The Budget Checklist for further details on the various elements involved in a kitchen renovation – we will quote your total investment including trades following your initial design consultation.
Products, Partners & Suppliers
Polytec laminate in Classic White
Polytec Calcutta thermolaminate in Habitat Smooth
Kethy Industrial Handles in White
The Porcelain Factory TrendStone Crema Marmore benchtops and splashback
Blum TANDEMBOX antaro drawers, ORGA-LINE container sets and knife holder
Hafele Hailo Euro Cargo ST60 bin, Salsa Pro spice drawer tray and strip lights