Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Reader reno: A white, Scandi-style kitchen with a navy VJ wall

Reader reno: A white, Scandi-style kitchen with a navy VJ wall

10 of the best ideas for small kitchens

10 of the best ideas for small kitchens

This mum transformed her kitchen for $1500

This mum transformed her kitchen for $1500

Before & After: How an interior stylist renovated her own kitchen

Before & After: How an interior stylist renovated her own kitchen

{headline}

{headline}

Before and after: Tara transforms a kitchen for under $1500

Before and after: Tara transforms a kitchen for under $1500

Tara's industrial kitchen makeover

Tara's industrial kitchen makeover

10 of the best galley kitchen ideas

10 of the best galley kitchen ideas

{headline}

{headline}

The pros and cons of a timber benchtop

The pros and cons of a timber benchtop

8 new trends to try on your kitchen island

8 new trends to try on your kitchen island

10 inspiring kitchen island design ideas

10 inspiring kitchen island design ideas

How to save money with a DIY kitchen

How to save money with a DIY kitchen

5 things every outdoor kitchen needs

5 things every outdoor kitchen needs

Top tips for decorating a small kitchen

Top tips for decorating a small kitchen

Kitchen Benchtop Materials – The 11 Best Options

Kitchen Benchtop Materials – The 11 Best Options

  1. Home
  2. Decorating

Before & after: From dated dining room to stunning country kitchen

Check out the oven in the fireplace. - by Olivia Hart
  • 12 Aug 2020

Before Rochelle Dare moved into her new home in Tasmania with hubby and toddler, they decided to give the house a re-gig. Starting with the entryway dining room, they spent 10 weeks converting it into a farmhouse style kitchen, fit out with cabinets, an island bench, and a fireplace oven. 

WATCH: Tara and Adam makeover a laundry, kitchen and dining area

Before & after: From dated dining room to stunning country kitchen

What did your kitchen look like before the renovation?

The space wasn’t originally a kitchen, it was actually a dining and thoroughfare room that led through to the kitchen and adjoining laundry and sunroom. The original fireplace was covered in paint, lath, and plaster and we decided to move the entry to further down the hallway.

Before

Before: An outdated dining room

Rochelle Dare
Renovated kitchen with brick oven

After: A stunning farmhouse style kitchen

Rochelle Dare

What inspired your renovation?

The house itself, we saw so much potential in it. It had loads of character. We didn’t plan the entire reno before starting, there were a lot of spontaneous decisions along the way, but I wouldn’t change a thing! Initially, we didn’t even plan to put the kitchen where we first planned. It was my husband Wally’s idea to build the stove into the fireplace and we went with it! 

Empty dining room before renovation

Before: Empty dining room and fireplace

Rochelle Dare
An oven fitted in an empty fireplace

After: Gorgeous oven fitted in empty fireplace

Rochelle Dare

Have you done any renovations before?

We renovated our old home. More just aesthetics within the house and smaller projects. However, we did a lot to the backyard at our old property! We built in an entertaining area that took up half of our yard and did all the landscaping ourselves.

What kind of look were you after?

We wanted a farmhouse look that had contemporary touches like the integrated appliances and cabinets to the ceiling to give it a little something special.

Dining room renovations with fireplace stripped back

Early stages of renovation

Rochelle Dare
Kitchen renovation cabinet installation

Cabinets being installed during renovations

Rochelle Dare

What was the biggest challenge?

Definitely restoring the old fireplace for the stove. A lot of head scratching and elbow grease. We needed a brick layer to repair the fireplace, but none were available for months in Tasmania, so we flew my brother-in-law down from Sydney to complete it for us!

Renovated kitchen with inbuilt stove in fireplace

After: A contemporary kitchen

Rochelle Dare

Renovation process:  

  • Demolition.
  • Stripped all the lath and plaster in the space.
  • Replastered and moved the door.
  • Planned the layout/cabinetry.
  • Source another larger window second-hand for above the sink.
  • Stripped back the fireplace where we discovered it needed more brickwork.
  • Sanded the floor.
  • Plumbing and electricals ran.
  • Re plastered walls and ceiling.
  • Installed cabinets and benchtops.
  • Installed appliances.
  • Finished off plumbing and electrics.
  • Added cabinet doors and handles.
  • Painted fireplace.
  • Installed rangehood in the chimney.
  • Tiling.
  • Added the upcycled workbench that we turned into our island.

How long did it take you?

Around 10 weeks from memory, along with the rest of the house! It was a big challenge to have it completed before moving in!

Messy kitchen being renovated

Before: Close to the end of renovations

Rochelle Dare
Newly renovated kitchen with brick oven, farmhouse style cabinets and island bench

After: Transformed kitchen with a complete new look!

Rochelle Dare

Budget Breakdown

We spent roughly 35k on the renovation, including all appliances.

Cabinets and benches - 18k from Polytec

Integrated Appliances (Fridge & dishwasher) - Fisher & Paykel 

Stove – 10k including all appliances, stove is from Belling

Plumbing, electrical, and tiling - 5k

The island bench - $100 from Gumtree. We sanded it all back and added some new feet from the tip shop and covered the bottom bench with leftover Tasmanian oak floorboards.

Cheap island bench before being sanded

Before: Island bench bought off Gumtree for $100

Rochelle Dare
Vase of flowers sitting on island bench

After: A brand new kitchen

Rochelle Dare

Favourite part of your renovation?

My favourite part was seeing the cabinets installed, this was when I breathed a sigh of relief that it was turning out exactly how I envisioned. And also, getting to the end was great! Finally, being able to use all the new appliances. We have never had a dishwasher and debated about putting one in the new kitchen, but we are so glad we did! The Fisher & Paykel drawer washers are amazing!

You might also like

Before & After: How an interior stylist renovated her own kitchen

Before and after: Tara transforms a kitchen for under $1500

  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Kitchen Designs

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Reader reno: A white, Scandi-style kitchen with a navy VJ wall

Reader reno: A white, Scandi-style kitchen with a navy VJ wall

10 of the best ideas for small kitchens

10 of the best ideas for small kitchens

This mum transformed her kitchen for $1500

This mum transformed her kitchen for $1500

Before & After: How an interior stylist renovated her own kitchen

Before & After: How an interior stylist renovated her own kitchen

{headline}

{headline}

Before and after: Tara transforms a kitchen for under $1500

Before and after: Tara transforms a kitchen for under $1500

Tara's industrial kitchen makeover

Tara's industrial kitchen makeover

10 of the best galley kitchen ideas

10 of the best galley kitchen ideas

{headline}

{headline}

The pros and cons of a timber benchtop

The pros and cons of a timber benchtop

8 new trends to try on your kitchen island

8 new trends to try on your kitchen island

10 inspiring kitchen island design ideas

10 inspiring kitchen island design ideas

How to save money with a DIY kitchen

How to save money with a DIY kitchen

5 things every outdoor kitchen needs

5 things every outdoor kitchen needs

Top tips for decorating a small kitchen

Top tips for decorating a small kitchen

Kitchen Benchtop Materials – The 11 Best Options

Kitchen Benchtop Materials – The 11 Best Options

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!