Open Plan Kitchen with Island and Exposed Beams

This Wantirna kitchen was part of a larger open-plan renovation that connected the kitchen to the living and dining zones. The old kitchen was a closed galley with overhead cupboards blocking views to the rest of the home. We removed the dividing wall (engineer-certified non-load-bearing), installed a structural beam, and built a large central island in charcoal Shaker-profile cabinetry with a white stone benchtop. White perimeter cabinets line two walls with a full-height integrated fridge, built-in oven and deep drawer storage. The ceiling was opened to expose the existing roof beams, which were sanded, stained and sealed, adding character and over 600mm of headroom. Three rattan pendant lights hang above the island for warm task lighting. A stainless steel undermount sink with pullout mixer sits in the island, making it the primary work zone. The floor is a natural stone-look tile in a warm sand tone.