Hi Jody, to do this return cabinetry you need a minimum of an 1800mm wall, because if the fridge were a pantry accessing this corner would be fine as standard 600mm bench top depths are reachable, however fridges are ordinarily 800mm deep, making it difficult to reach past to shelving. It appears as though the Bec hypo that runs into that corner currently has a slight return, and perhaps a corner cabinet, so if the fridge moves down you could build shelves or a microwave appliance nook there, but again pushing it back into that corner with the fridge there will make it Lu possible for you to reach, I suggest a non structural change. Remove the nib wall which encloses the fridge, and extend the back wall the fridge is currently on, this extends the hallway, and allows you to build in an appliance cabinet after the corner, and then the fridge to follow. I would create a new island coming off that new wall, effectively creating an enclosed u shape kitchen rather than the L SHAPE and island you now have. Removing the nib wall and extending new stud wall from the existing will be easy and cost effective, even something that your partner could do. Tis way you can have an improved work area, and new overheads on the back wall, visually linking in with the new front bench. Tis gives you an opportunity to basically re style the kitchen with minimal changes. While you Re busy ordering overheads, a new island section, the cabinetmaker would be happy to also supply change over doors to the remaining sink length if cabinetry, thus giving you an entire new look kitchen. I do also like the idea mentioned about closing off that pantry for a study, it is AR to big for a pantry, and really wastes the fourth bedroom. It could bebetter utilized in many ways.

Thanks. I love my kitchen........have never seen one which works as well as this one. The cutlery and crockery is opposite the dishwasher. Three of us can cook at the same time without getting in each other's way. The pantry part is lovely and very spacious. It took me 17 years of saving, planning, sourcing to get it but I wouldn't change a thing.

Hi We have just created a Hamptons style kitchen ALL IN WHITE in an extension/restoration of a 100 year old home. It looks stunning. The cabinetry is all in shaker profile white semi gloss with Essa Stone 80mm bench tops and square posts at the corners. You don't need to have a different colour bench in order to do a Hamptons look... however the style needs to be complemented with the other items around it eg floor colour/style. Our floor is blackbutt floorboards stained with black japon (dark chocolate but light enough to see the grain) with semi gloss polyurethane. The white on it works very well. If you search for Hamptons kitchens you will find plenty in all white.

Basically , you are paying professionals to strip out 80% of everything , so $1000's , then other professionals to strip out wiring and plumbing , to end up with parts of a 50 or 70 year old frame , that suited a 2 bedroom layout but probably not a 4 bed ( that's what I'd aim for by the sounds of it ) . I'd suspect it would be easy to spend $50k to end up with a compromise ( think doors not exactly where you want , window holes that are too little or high , room sizes too small ) . And then you'll find a builder will only 'discount' you $5k for what is there , and then charge you $10k for all the mucking around . If it was adding on a couple of bedrooms and a bathroom , certainly worth costing it ; if swapping a kitchen and a bathroom , probably ; but when 80% of the rooms , which means 80% of the floors ; 95 or 100% of the roof ; every external wall and 90% of internal ones -- ask why ? If you had a 20 year old car that was a bit dinged , but its done you well , you'd probably go to the panelbeaters and spend $1k , maybe $2k . But if it was a bit dented , rusty around the bottom , motor smoky , gearbox slipping , paint faded , headlining fallen off and both front seats ripped and torn -- you'd head to the car sales wouldn't you ? Or if you had no $$ , you'd hope it lasts another 6 months . Most people wouldn't spent $20k or $30k on it unless it was extremely special .