Rex Hirst
OWNER & Managing Director
Certified Kitchen Designer
Rex is a ‘Certified Designer Member’ of the Kitchen & Bathroom Designers Institute (KBDi)
A professional designer since 1972, Rex studied advanced kitchen design in America. Upon returning to Australia in 1982, he personally founded, and served as the first President of the original governing body of the Australian Kitchen & Bathroom renovation industry.
In 1992, it was merged into the Housing Industry Association, (HIA), and was known as “HIA Kitchens & Bathrooms”. From 2002 to 2011 he served as a committee member of HIA Kitchens & Bathrooms, and was an outspoken advocate for the proper training, registration & certification of designers in this field.
Through 2004-2006, Rex was an integral part of the setting up of a new National body, the Kitchen & Bathroom Designer’s Institute, (KBDi). KBDi was formed with sponsorship & support from HIA, government, industry, and the cabinetmaking community to identify, teach & accredit qualified designers. KBDi is now well established with chapters in all states. Rex was KBDi President from 2011 until 2016.
Rex has had many articles published on kitchen & bathroom design and is an active design lecturer within the industry. He consulted to the Victorian Department of Human Services for over 10 years, in the area of kitchen & bathroom design for the disabled.
As a highly experienced and creative designer, he was also a judge of the HIA Annual Kitchen & Bathroom awards in Victoria until he retired in 2013. Since retiring he has won many awards himself.
These days Rex doesn’t take on design work, but is actively involved in all of LTKI’s projects and loves chatting with potential clients in the showroom when they are on their fact finding missions. He is a wealth of information, and most clients are pleased they came in to visit.
When he’s not in the office you’ll find him on the golf course or trying to get fit at the local gym across the road.
