A Contemporary and Cohesive Design
At LTKI, our passion lies in creating spaces that inspire, transform, and elevate everyday living. The Mount Martha Project, led by our talented interior designer Jen Backhouse, is a testament to the beauty of thoughtful design and meticulous craftsmanship. This project involved the stunning renovation of a 20-year-old kitchen, originally part of a home built in 2003. The clients wanted a sleek, contemporary update that balanced style with functionality while seamlessly blending with the rest of their home. With a focus on maximising storage and incorporating modern finishes, the design was approached with innovation and elegance, all while respecting the existing layout to avoid significant structural changes.
To break away from the traditional all-white kitchen aesthetic, Jen introduced a warm and natural palette. This was achieved by combining two timber-inspired tones: a pale and a dark finish. This subtle, tonal contrast softened the space while maintaining the desired black-and-white contemporary look. The luxurious porcelain stone benchtops by Smartstone, complete with a sleek waterfall edge, bring an understated sophistication to the design. Open shelving was added to integrate the kitchen more harmoniously into the living area, allowing space for curated displays of books and decorative pieces.
Maximised Storage and Integrated Functionality
The heart of this project was creating a space that excelled in both form and function. Clever storage solutions such as corner drawers, under-sink compartments, and a custom appliance cabinet ensure the kitchen is as practical as it is beautiful. Integrated appliances, including a streamlined fridge and dishwasher, contribute to the minimalist and uncluttered design.
Extending the Design Beyond the Kitchen
The design extended beyond the kitchen to other key areas of the home. A custom entertainment unit was created to complement the kitchen’s aesthetic. Initially envisioned as a simple and compact piece, the final design anchors the unit to the left-hand wall, creating a more cohesive and grounded look while blending seamlessly with the overall design language. The powder room was also revitalised, featuring a bespoke vanity topped with the same Smartstone porcelain slab used in the kitchen. The cabinetry design carries through the modern, cohesive aesthetic, tying together all elements of the home. For the splashback, leftover tiles were repurposed, adding an eco-conscious and personal touch to the space.
Challenges and Creative Solutions
One of the key challenges of the project was working within the constraints of the existing layout while significantly improving storage and functionality. By removing a nib wall and making subtle yet impactful adjustments, the design maximised the space without the need for major structural changes. Another challenge was addressing the original tiled flooring, which the clients wanted to keep. With only 13 spare tiles available, our talented tradespeople worked with precision and care to patch and repair the flooring seamlessly, achieving a flawless result.
A Transformation to Be Proud Of
The Mount Martha Project is a shining example of how thoughtful design can transform a space without requiring major alterations. Jen’s expert use of colour, texture, and material has resulted in a kitchen and living area that are sleek, modern, and undeniably functional. At LTKI, we believe every project is an opportunity to elevate the way you live, creating spaces that are as beautiful as they are practical.
If you’re ready to start your own transformation, we’d love to bring your vision to life.
Photo Gallery
Client Reviews
Noemi, John and the team from LTKI were wonderful from start to finish. We couldn't be happier with our brand new kitchen, laundry and bathroom - it feels like a new home.
Noemi, our Interior Designer really listened to what we were wanting to do and then came back to us with a even better concept that we had envisaged, which integrated with the existing house perfectly. She was so approachable, responsive and always went above to achieve our perfect home.
Family and friends suggested it'll never be done in time and it will be the most stressful experience of our lives... well, they were wrong! The team managed the project so well, hitting all the milestones on time and we were back inside our home (stress free) well before Christmas, as promised. They even went above and beyond to sort out a last minute issue caused by another trade, when they didn't need to.
Gino and the building team were also wonderful to work with, nothing was too hard (knocking down a wall, removing archways) and their work was perfect.
There's no hesitation in recommending LTKI to anyone looking to renovate their kitchen or more.
Had a kitchen designed and installed by LTKI in 2013. It has stood up extremely well and the quality is first class. Recently had a small problem with a pantry door hinge and gave them a call to find out what model hinge they used. However, they said "we'll sort it out" and one of their people (John) came and replaced all 6 hinges and it's perfect again. Hard to find a company that stands behind it's product after 12 years and gives such great service when you do have a problem.
LTKI completed a kitchen, 2 bathrooms and 2 powder room renovation for our 140 year old Terrace house! The job was not easy, however they designed and created a modern update which we are very happy with. The team are extremely friendly and I would highly recommend!
We are more than happy with the service provided by Noemi and all the team who guided us through all our cabinetry for our renovation. The time spent with us in detailing our layout and time spent with us at E & S to finalise our white goods order, and assisting us with our selection of tiles was absolutely wonderful. The kitchen installation was very professional and if we had any problems along the way, it was attended to immediately by John.
We highly recommend LTK as their designers and all the staff made our situation an easy journey. A big thank you.
Could not have been happier with the renovations LTKI did for us. Every aspect from the design to all the various elements of the work were handled very professionally. Any adjustments as the work went along were handled with ease and any schedule variations were communicated up front, reasons given and proposed corrective action advised. Not one additional cost arose over the original estimate, despite the inevitable surprises that come up when pulling apart a 90 year old house.
Working with LTKI has been a pleasure on each occasion I have had them do work from a kitchen to study desk, and garage fit out.
Every person I worked with from the first contact point to completion of a job were accommodating and helpful.
Trusting in a company to assist me with what I wanted done is important to me along with the quality of the workmanship and this I had with LTKI.
I would not hesitate to recommend them.
Thanks LTKI.
A Dream Renovation Experience with LTKI
After extensive research, plenty of planning, and a few Covid-related delays, we finally chose Let’s Talk Kitchens & Interiors (LTKI) for our apartment renovation—and we couldn’t be happier with the result.
The LTKI team delivered an outstanding full-scale upgrade, transforming every part of our home: the expanded kitchen, bathrooms, ensuite, laundry, and living areas. The result is modern, cohesive, and exactly what we had envisioned...
...LTKI’s structured contract and project timeline gave us full confidence. The entire build was completed in under 16 weeks. Their cabinetry is designed, built, and installed in-house, and the project was flawlessly executed by L&G Creative Projects, with Gino (one of their directors) ensuring seamless coordination across all trades.
We are absolutely thrilled with the result. If you’re looking for a team that delivers quality, professionalism, and a stress-free experience, we highly recommend LTKI.
A thoroughly professional group - LTKI made the process of renovation a relatively stress-free one and even brought the whole thing in on time. All this at the tail end of the COVID shutdown, too. While they were not our cheapest quote, we do not regret using them. You get what you pay for.
We had a fantastic experience with Let’s Talk Kitchens and Interiors, who installed sliding drawers in our apartment kitchen.
From the discussion and design with Noemi, to the professional installation of the drawers, we were very impressed.
We can now find products in our pantry and easily access our crockery and glassware.
We would highly recommend using LTKI.
engaged Let's Talk Kitchens for my bathroom, en suite and kitchen in 2010. The experience was so good I went straight to LTKI for the renovations to my new home. My second experience did not disappoint. Cherie understood my style preferences immediately. It had to look good but be efficient and functional in quite a small space. Cherie ensured the $ went into the wow factor and made savings in other areas. I never knew that I could be so excited about a laundry! LTKI delivered kitchen, en suite, bathroom, laundry, walk in robe and other features ON TIME before Christmas, to an exacting level of quality. I would not hesitate to use them again or recommend them to others.
Everything I had hoped my new kitchen would be happened. I absolutely love it. From the beautiful big new sink (that I thought wasn’t going to be as amazing) to the fantastic help I received from Rhianon, John and all the other hard working LTKI guys. Nothing was too much trouble plus I did add a couple of extra bits at the last minute. Thank you for getting me to remember how I wanted to use my kitchen that advice was invaluable. I would recommend LTKI to everyone.