Modern luxury kitchen renovation in Hurstville with butler pantry
We built a brand new kitchen in this home in Hurstville
A modern organic luxury kitchen with warm neutral palette, natural stone, timber grain cabinetry, brushed brass accents and handleless minimalism.
- Handleless integrated finger-pull profiles (impossible to replicate in flat-pack)
- Floor-to-ceiling upper cabinets built to exact ceiling height
- Concealed integrated rangehood within the cabinetry
- Built-in LED strip lighting recessed into cabinet undersides
- Full-height tower columns framing the kitchen run
- Contrasting darker cabinetry in the butler’s pantry
- Dramatic quartzite/marble slab with sweeping grey-green veining
- Full-height stone splashback as a single continuous piece
- Waterfall island end with raw face stone to the floor
- Matched benchtop across the entire length
Custom designed kitchen renovations in Hurstville
Our kitchen design and renovation scope of work
When the homeowners of this Hurstville residence came to us at Nu Trend, they had a clear vision: a kitchen that felt like it belonged in an architectural magazine — one that was effortlessly sophisticated, highly functional, and built to last.
What they didn’t want was anything off-the-shelf.
No flat-pack from Bunnings. No IKEA assembly line. What they needed was a kitchen designed and built entirely to their space, their lifestyle, and their taste.
The result is this stunning contemporary kitchen renovation complete with a dedicated butler’s pantry, a project that perfectly encapsulates what custom-made cabinetry and premium stonework can truly achieve.
A kitchen design with a modern organic luxury feel in neutral tones
This kitchen sits firmly in what designers are calling modern organic lux which is a style that has become increasingly sought-after in Sydney’s upper-end renovation market. It blends the clean, uncluttered lines of contemporary minimalism with warm, natural materials that bring texture and life to a space.
The hallmarks of this style are all present here:
- A warm, neutral palette — creamy whites, sandy beiges, and soft greiges that feel calm without being cold
- Natural stone as the hero material — dramatic veining that functions almost as artwork
- Timber grain cabinetry that grounds the space with organic warmth
- Brushed brass/gold hardware as an accent that adds understated luxury
- Integrated appliances and handleless cabinetry that keep visual noise to an absolute minimum
This isn’t a kitchen that shouts out loud, it whispers and commands attention because of its understanding elegance.
A kitchen with custom designed cabinetry
Doors and cupboards
Every cabinet in this kitchen — uppers, lowers, towers, and pantry units were designed, manufactured and installed specifically for this space.
The cabinetry is finished in a warm light oak timber grain laminate, running vertically to elongate the visual height of each panel.
The tone is deliberately soft: not orange-y pine, not cold grey, but a bleached, Scandi-influenced timber that speaks to natural warmth without dominating the stone.
Floor to wall cabinets
The upper cabinetry runs the full height of the wall, maximising storage while creating the illusion of an even taller ceiling.
The cabinetry boxes were built to the exact millimetre of the ceiling height.
You cannot do this with off-the-shelf carcasses, which come in fixed, standard heights and leave awkward gaps above.
Other unique features of this kitchen renovation design
The single most important decision in this renovation was the commitment to fully custom-made cabinetry, and the difference it makes is immediately apparent.
- Every door and drawer is designed with a precision-routed finger-pull recess integrated into the cabinet itself. There are no handles to catch on clothing, no hardware to misalign, and no visual interruptions to break the clean face of the cabinetry. This is only achievable with custom fabrication — flat-pack systems simply cannot deliver this level of detail consistently.
- A warm LED strip is recessed into the underside of every overhead cabinet, casting a soft glow across the stone benchtop. The wiring and housing for this lighting was incorporated into the cabinet construction itself — not retrofitted or added as an afterthought.
- The rangehood is completely invisible, integrated into the cabinetry above the cooktop zone. A custom-built cabinet housing conceals the unit while allowing it to function at full capacity. This is a signature detail of high-end custom work that simply cannot be replicated with pre-manufactured cabinetry.
- At either end of the run, full-height tower columns provide additional storage and frame the kitchen visually. These are made to the exact dimensions of the space, creating a built-in, architectural quality that gives the kitchen a permanent, structural feel.
Making the stone the star of the show
If the cabinetry is the structure, then the natural stone is the soul of this kitchen. A dramatic quartzite slab, with its soft grey-greens with sweeping white and taupe veining, was selected to run throughout the entire kitchen zone.
- The benchtop is a generous thickness, finished with a flat polished edge. The stone is seamlessly matched across the length of the run, meaning the veining flows as a continuous piece rather than misaligned sections — a crucial consideration when selecting and cutting premium stone.
- Rather than tiles, the decision was made to use the same stone slab as a full-height splashback from benchtop to the underside of the upper cabinets. This is a defining choice. It creates an unbroken, continuous visual sweep of stone that elevates the space dramatically. The integrated LED strip lighting at the top of the splashback illuminates the stone from above, revealing the depth of the veining and adding a warm, ambient glow in the evenings.
- The island bench features a full waterfall edge on one end, where the stone continues vertically from the benchtop all the way to the floor in a seamless, mitred wrap. The natural texture and veining of the stone on this panel is breathtaking — raw, sculptural, and dramatic. No painted panel, no cabinetry door. Just the full face of natural stone from ceiling height to floor. This is a detail that immediately signals a premium, custom renovation.
The island bench is the centrepiece of the entire kitchen and was designed to do everything. At well over 2.5 metres in length, it serves as a preparation zone, a social hub, a dining spot, and a functional cooking workstation but all at once.
- Set into the island is an undermount brushed brass/gold sink — a bold and increasingly popular choice that adds warmth and ties the metallic accents together cohesively. Above it, an elegant gooseneck mixer tap in matching brushed gold completes the look. The tap’s high-arc profile is both practical for filling large pots and visually graceful.
- Three boucle-upholstered bar stools with brushed gold frames line the seating side of the island. The soft, bouclé texture of the stool cushions adds a tactile contrast against the cool, smooth stone — another deliberate layering of materials that gives the Modern Organic Luxe style its richness.
- A flush-mounted dual power outlet is integrated into the stone end panel of the island — positioned discreetly but accessibly for small appliances. This kind of detail requires planning at the electrical rough-in stage and careful coordination between the cabinetmaker, stonemason, and electrician.
How a butler's pantry and make a kitchen more practical
Visible through the doorway at the end of the kitchen is the butler’s pantry that is finished in a darker, contrasting cabinetry tone (appearing to be a deep charcoal or graphite) that creates an intentional visual separation from the main kitchen.
The butler’s pantry includes its own cabinetry, shelving, a secondary sink and tapware, and dedicated storage for small appliances, pantry goods, and everything that doesn’t belong in the clean visual field of the main kitchen.
A butler’s pantry is increasingly considered an essential component of a serious kitchen renovation. It allows the main kitchen to remain visually pristine and uncluttered — everything is done behind closed doors. Prep work, appliance use, bulk storage, a secondary cleaning zone — it all happens out of sight, so the main space is always ready for entertaining.
How our renovation company designed and built this kitchen
A project like this is not a weekend job. It’s a coordinated, multi-trade renovation that typically spans several weeks from demolition to final handover. Here’s a breakdown of what’s involved from start to finish:
1. Consultation & Design
The process begins with an in-depth briefing — understanding how the family cooks, entertains, and lives. Measurements of the space are taken, and a design brief is developed. For Nu Trend, this is where the floor plan is developed, cabinetry layouts are drafted, and material selections begin.
2. Demolition
The existing kitchen is stripped back entirely — cabinets, benchtops, splashbacks, appliances, and any relevant flooring. Walls may be opened up, particularly where new plumbing, electrical, or structural changes are required.
3. Structural & Building Works
Where walls are relocated or openings are modified, structural work is carried out. Ceilings may be modified to accommodate flush-mounted air conditioning vents, recessed downlights, or any changes to ceiling height.
4. Plumbing Rough-In
Before any walls are closed or cabinets installed, the plumber relocates or extends water supply lines and waste to the new sink positions — both in the main kitchen island and the butler’s pantry. Hot and cold supply, as well as the waste drainage, must all be confirmed at this stage.
5. Electrical Rough-In
The electrician runs new circuits and conduit to supply power for the oven, cooktop, dishwasher, rangehood, island power outlets, and LED strip lighting. Recessed downlight positions are confirmed and wired. Data and USB points may also be installed.
6. Tiling & Stonework Preparation
Any changes to the floor are carried out prior to cabinet installation. In this renovation, large-format porcelain floor tiles in a warm cream/sand tone were laid in a grid pattern, contributing to the calm, open feel of the space. The substrate preparation for the floor and wall areas must be completed before cabinetry arrives on site.
7. Cabinet Manufacturing
While site works are underway, the custom cabinetry is being manufactured off-site in the Nu Trend workshop. This is where the real custom work happens — every carcass is cut, edged, drilled, and assembled to the specific dimensions of the space. Doors are cut from premium laminate board and profiled with handleless routing. Every detail is quality-checked before delivery.
8. Cabinet Installation
Once the site is ready, the cabinets are delivered and installed. This is a multi-day process: floor and wall cabinets are first levelled and secured, followed by tower units. Scribing and fitting around walls, floors, and ceilings is carried out to achieve a seamless, built-in result. The concealed rangehood housing is installed and connected.
9. Stonemason Templating & Installation
Once cabinets are installed, the stonemason attends site to template — creating an exact digital or physical template of every benchtop run, island, and splashback. The stone slabs are then cut and fabricated to these exact templates. Installation day sees the benchtops, island, splashback, and waterfall panels carefully positioned, mitred, and adhered.
10. Appliance Installation
The gas cooktop and electric oven are installed and connected by licensed tradespeople. Appliances are integrated into the cabinetry, and the concealed rangehood is connected and tested.
11. Electrical Fit-Off
The electrician returns to install all downlights, LED strip lighting, power outlets, and switches. Strip lighting under cabinets is connected and tested to ensure consistent colour temperature throughout.
12. Plumbing Fit-Off
The plumber returns to install the sinks, tapware, and any dishwasher connections. The brushed gold tapware and undermount sinks are fitted and tested.
13. Joinery Finishing & Snagging
Handles (or in this case, handleless profile adjustments), soft-close hinges, drawer runners, and any cabinet accessories are installed and adjusted. The full space is inspected for any touch-ups, adjustments, or defects.
14. Final Inspection & Client Handover
The completed kitchen is cleaned, styled, and walked through with the client. Nu Trend’s warranty documentation is provided and any questions about use and maintenance are addressed.
