EVERGREEN Kitchen室内设计改造项目丨澳大利亚墨尔本丨Chan Jacqueline

EVERGREEN Kitchen: an interior design transformation that proves small can be mighty

By Chan Jacqueline

An interior design transformation that proves small can be mighty

If you’ve ever thought a compact kitchen can’t be high-functioning and beautiful, meet EVERGREEN—an interior design case study in how thoughtful home improvement turns constraints into clever features. My client works in hospitality and bakes for fun (and therapy!), so functionality mattered as much as the mood.

The brief: maximise bench space, design smart storage for daily appliances, and keep the layout to avoid big plumbing and electrical changes. The vibe: warm, plant-friendly, low-maintenance, and just a little bit cheeky.

What looks like a joyful orange-and-pink palette is really a carefully engineered system underneath—meticulous joinery, appliance planning down to the last plug, and micro-adjustments that add up to a dramatically better cooking experience. This is interior design at its most useful: a space that looks good, works hard, and supports an eco-home lifestyle for years.

EVERGREEN Kitchen– interior design transformation

Project snapshot

Location: Melbourne (inner suburbs)

Scope: Kitchen refresh within existing footprint (joinery redesign, island rework, benchtops, splashback, colour + materials, power planning)

Client priorities: Bench space for recipe testing and baking; dedicated places for rice cooker, toaster, mixer, air fryer and microwave; easy cleaning; warm, plant-friendly palette

Non-negotiables: Keep services in place; retain general layout

Design ethos: Natural, low-maintenance materials; durable finishes; minimal demolition for a lighter eco-home footprint

The problem (and the opportunity)

The old kitchen wasn’t terrible, but it felt cramped, cold and awkward to use. The clients liked the overall layout but the details were off: a too-small sink, inefficient bench depths, and not enough storage for the small appliances that lived permanently on the counter. The result? Constant clutter and zero room to bake.

Rather than forcing a brand-new plan (and blowing the budget on trades), I treated this as a surgical interior design exercise: keep the bones, refine the ergonomics, and let colour and joinery do the heavy lifting. That’s where true home improvement shines—precise changes that dramatically shift how you live day to day.

EVERGREEN Kitchen– interior design transformation

My approach: function first, then feeling

1) Storage designed around real life

I started with a cabinet-by-cabinet audit. We listed every everyday item—rice cooker, toaster, mixer, air fryer, microwave—and where it needed to live in relation to its work zone. From there I designed joinery to fit the items exactly, including clearances, tray heights, and power access so nothing has to be dragged across the bench.

Island appliance station: The island now has open shelving with power points at the back. Everyday appliances slide in, plug in, and slide out—no extension cords, no visual mess.

Dedicated pull-out for rice cooker & toaster: Heat-tolerant and easy to wipe down.

Spice drawers: On 1 sides of the cooktop for for everyday spice, super easy access.

2) Micro-shifts with macro impact

We didn’t move walls, but we did tweak dimensions:

Bench depth extended from 600 mm to 700 mm on the cooking side—this allowed a slim, concrete-look ledge above the splashback for oils, salt and herbs. It’s like a bench extension that keeps prep easy and the main surface clear.

Island depth increased from 900 mm to 1000 mm—the extra 100 mm created storage at the back (under the seating overhang) and a larger work surface. Bakers, rejoice.

Sink + dishwasher refinements:

I switched to a single-bowl sink that suits their workflow and shifted the dishwasher closer. That subtle move unlocked a spice drawer & skinny cabinet for baking trays, chopping boards flanking the cooktop.

3) A colour story that feels natural (and plant-friendly)

With new flooring in warm yellow tones and pink already flowing through the bedrooms, the home was asking for a complementary hue. Enter a deep, clay-like orange on the upper cabinetry—optimistic, energetic, and stunning against indoor greenery. The rest of the palette is a gentle conversation: light timber, soft pink joinery, white mosaics with orange grout to rhythmically repeat the accent without visual noise.

Materials & finishes (aka why it stays looking good)

Timber benchtop with pencil edge: Warmer to the touch than stone, kinder on glassware, and easier to refresh over time—a smart eco-home choice because you can maintain and re-oil rather than replace.

Joinery in pink + orange laminate: Durable, wipeable, and consistent colour across panels.

Splashback: Small white tiles with orange grout—character without chaos.

Shelf/ledge: Caesarstone concrete-look to echo the floor’s warmth and provide a practical landing zone.

Timber handles: Tactile, soft and timeless.

This material mix isn’t about trend chasing; it’s about longevity. In interior design for real homes, low-maintenance equals more joy—fewer harsh cleaners, fewer headaches, and a calmer daily rhythm.

Why this kitchen now works (and keeps working)

Everything has a home: From the rice cooker to the stand mixer, daily tools live within arm’s reach—but off the bench.

Baking without the chaos: A bigger, clearer island top invites mixing, rolling, cooling and decorating without playing Tetris.

Easy clean: Seamless joinery fronts, a simple mosaic pattern, and finishes that hide everyday life well.

A cohesive home story: Pink from the bedrooms, the warm floor, and the green of the plants all meet in the kitchen—making the whole living zone feel intentionally designed.

The design details you don’t see on Instagram (but you feel in real life)

Workflow triangles, not just “work triangle”: Hospitality pros don’t move like textbooks. We mapped small task loops—brew, bake, prep, plate—so each activity has a clear flow without cross-traffic.

Power planned early: I placed GPOs where appliances live, not where a plan said they might. That single choice is a game-changer for bench clarity.

Proportions that calm the eye: Repeating lines—the shelf, tile grid, handle spacing—makes the small space feel grounded.

Warmth balanced with rest: Orange is bold. Pairing it with natural timber and white mosaics gives your eyes somewhere to exhale.

Before vs after (same footprint, different life)

Before: Cold, monochromatic surfaces; undersized sink; appliances camping on the bench; no real baking zone; visual clutter competing with plants.

After: Warm timber, joyful colour, and clear zones. The footprint didn’t grow, but usable space did—because the design now matches how the clients actually cook.

This is the heart of interior design: you don’t need a bigger kitchen; you need a kitchen that understands you.

Evergreen, by design: why the name fits

Although the cabinetry says “orange”, the feeling is undeniably evergreen. It plays beautifully with the clients’ indoor plants, the colours are grounded in nature, and the materials are chosen to age well. It’s an eco-home move, too—refine rather than rebuild, maintain rather than replace, and specify finishes that can be refreshed instead of ripped out.

EVERGREEN Kitchen– interior design transformation

Professional tips if you’re planning a similar home improvement

Audit first, design second: List what you use daily vs weekly. Design storage for the daily items within arm’s reach.

Add depth where you can: Even 100 mm extra on an island or cooking run can unlock storage or a ledge.

Power with purpose: Hide outlets at the back of shelves or inside appliance garages.

Repeat your accent colour quietly: Orange grout, a painted edge, or a single bank of coloured doors goes further than you think.

Timber on timber works: Don’t force an exact match—aim for harmonious tones, like nature does.

Choose maintainable materials: Oilable timber, durable laminates, and practical tile texture make everyday care easier.