Jason and Nicki knew they needed a new kitchen in their Coogee apartment. So they called on Dan Kitchens in January 2016 to transform their small, dark and uninviting kitchen into a modern space complete with a large island. The project was finished in February 2017 and the couple now have a crisp and clean kitchen that they love.

The apartment kitchen was remodelled so it would become the focal point of the apartment. The couple also wanted to entertain more, have family and friends at their place, especially their daughters’ friends who would visit more during the teenage years.

“We wanted a kitchen that would accommodate a group of people to sit comfortably and socialise,” Jason says, in our old configuration, food was frequently taken to the couch because the kitchen was too small. The new kitchen is so practical – we can cook, eat, drink and socialise. The party is now drawn to the cook. The cook is no longer in a rush to join the party” he says.

The practical features and design

The couple and Dan Kitchens designed a galley-style kitchen, which allowed them to take full advantage of the width of the space and install a 2.6 metre long island bench. One end of the island is completely open without cabinetry underneath. “We chose this approach to make that end of the bench the focal point, complete with stools,” Jason says, “once you are attracted to that end, the ocean views can be enjoyed. This seating area is also in close proximity to the Sub-Zero integrated fridge and freezer and Sub-Zero integrated wine storage.”

Jason says one of the standout features was the smoked mirror glass splashback, which he describes as “really complimenting the white cabinetry”. He says the reflection made the apartment feel larger.

“LED cool white lighting was installed under the island bench top and at night it creates a great ambient light,” Jason says.

“All the VZUG appliances have to mentioned. We installed a combi-steam oven, pyrolytic oven, induction cooktop and dishwasher. The appliances are a dream to operate. Even though they (VZUG) are relatively new to the Australian market, Dan Kitchens seamlessly integrated them into the design.”

The couple’s benchtops are made of a new material called Dekton. It is a “sintered compact surface”, similar to porcelain but stronger. Dekton is incredibly stain-resistant, chemical-resistant, and heat-resistant. “The heat-resistant specifications of Dekton were very appealing,” Jason says, “although we can feasibly put hot oven trays on the bench tops, we do not but it is comforting to know that if something hot were to find its way to the benchtop then we do not risk any damage.”

The couple also installed a Franke sink with KWC Zoe tap. Jason says the tap looks ostentatious on its own but once installed in the kitchen, it compliments the size of the space.

All roads led to Dan Kitchens

The couple trawled the internet until they found a company that had designed kitchens similar to their tastes.

“We were particularly struck by the reviews that had been posted online,” Jason explains, “on most occasions, a person is motivated to post a review because they are unhappy with a service. We could not find anything but positive reviews. Nonetheless it was still a scary decision to make given the capital outlay.”

During the initial design process, Dan Kitchens provided a concept picture that matched the couple’s tastes and they knew they had found the right company. “We had in our hands a lifelike photo of what we could expect to be delivered,” says Jason, “The similarity between the concept picture and the finished product is astounding.”

Like most people, the couple had unpleasant experiences with builders in the past, however, that was not the case with Dan Kitchens staff. “From Daniel in the design stage, to Greg in the final measure and schedule implementation, to Matt and Mitch installing our kitchen – they all delivered within the timeframe and to the quality they promised,” he informs.

“Dan Kitchens staff and contractors will be there when they say they will but the client needs to facilitate the smooth running of the process. For a small management fee, Dan Kitchens will engage and co-ordinate their tradesman including the electrician, plumber and plasterer” says Jason, “these tradesmen were highly experienced and left the apartment fully functional after they left.”

Jason confesses there was nothing he or his wife would do differently in their kitchen.

“Using experts like Dan Kitchens ensures that you are unlikely to dwell on what you could or should have done in hindsight,” he says, “for example, during installation, we thought the island was too big for the area. This was because it was a big shock to move from such a small kitchen to a feature so commanding in the apartment. After a few days of adjustment, it was clear that Dan Kitchens designed the island’s proportions relative to the rest of the kitchen. Had we been in control, half way through the installation we probably would have panicked and reduced the size of the island. That would have cost money and most importantly, it would have been a big mistake” explains Jason.

“We placed our trust in Dan Kitchens and we could not be happier, Jason reflects, “they are now producing our entertainment cabinets and we entered that process with no angst, just excitement.”