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A dark, dated dining-and-passage room in Tasmania became a working country kitchen in about 10 weeks. The defining move was not simply installing new cabinets: the family restored a concealed brick fireplace and fitted the stove into it, then balanced farmhouse character with integrated appliances, ceiling-height storage and a repurposed workbench island.
The project, reported by Better Homes and Gardens Australia on 12 August 2020, cost the family roughly $35,000 including appliances. Those figures describe one household’s scope and prices at that time, not a current renovation quote or a universal budget.
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The starting point: a room that was never a kitchen
Rochelle Dare described the original space plainly: “The space wasn’t originally a kitchen, it was actually a dining and thoroughfare room that led through to the kitchen and adjoining laundry and sunroom.” In practical terms, the room carried people between several parts of the house rather than supporting food preparation.
That circulation shaped the first major decision. The family moved the entry farther down the hallway, reclaiming more continuous wall space for cabinetry and appliances. This is a useful distinction for anyone planning to turn a dining room into a kitchen: the project is partly a layout change and partly a services project. A room can have enough floor area for cabinets yet still fail if its doorway, traffic path or connection to adjacent rooms is left unchanged.
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The family also sourced a larger second-hand window for the wall above the sink. It became both a functional source of daylight and a visual anchor opposite the cooking zone.
Why the fireplace became the hardest—and most memorable—part
The old fireplace had been hidden under paint, lath and plaster. Once the covering was removed, the family found that the brickwork needed further repair. Restoring it was, in Rochelle Dare’s account, the renovation’s biggest challenge. Her husband Wally proposed putting the stove in the fireplace, turning an obstructed feature into the kitchen’s focal point.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe idea required more than placing an appliance in an opening. The family stripped back the existing materials, replastered where needed and added brickwork before fitting the stove. A rangehood was installed in the chimney. Any homeowner considering a similar arrangement should have the chimney, flue, clearances, ventilation and supporting structure assessed by appropriately qualified local trades before ordering an appliance. The feature does not publish the approvals, measurements or technical specifications for this installation, so its appearance should be treated as inspiration rather than a ready-made construction detail.
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Dare recalled a lot of “head scratching and elbow grease” during the fireplace restoration. That description captures the risk in preserving an old feature: hidden conditions only become visible after demolition. Allowing time and contingency for masonry repairs is safer than assuming a newly exposed opening will be ready for a stove.
How the work progressed
The family worked on this kitchen alongside the rest of the house and hoped to finish before moving in. Dare remembered the renovation taking around 10 weeks. The following sequence reflects the work described in the feature; actual order can change when structural repairs or trade availability intervene.
- Strip the room. Remove the lath and plaster covering the walls and expose the fireplace so its condition can be assessed.
- Change the circulation. Move the doorway farther down the hallway to create a more useful run of kitchen wall.
- Plan the cabinetry. Set the work zones, window position, appliance locations and ceiling-height storage before final cabinet manufacture.
- Repair the fireplace. Complete the additional brickwork and replastering required after the old covering is removed.
- Prepare the floor. Sand the existing floor before the new fixed elements make access difficult.
- Run services. Have plumbing and electrical work installed for the sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, rangehood and lighting.
- Install cabinets and benches. Fit the new cabinetry and work surfaces, checking that the relocated doorway and window still work with the final layout.
- Install appliances. The stove went into the restored fireplace; the refrigerator and dishwasher were integrated into the cabinetry.
- Complete ventilation and tiling. Fit the rangehood in the chimney and tile the designated splashback and wall areas.
- Adapt the island. Sand the second-hand workbench, modify it for kitchen use and add feet sourced from a tip shop.
For a painting-led renovation, the order matters. Finish dusty demolition, masonry repairs, floor sanding and major service work before applying final wall or trim coatings. Otherwise, new paint can be damaged by trades who still need to cut, drill, sand or seal.
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What the reported budget covered
The figures below come from the family’s account in the 2020 feature. They are approximate, not independently audited, not adjusted for inflation and not a current Australian price guide.
| Item | Reported amount | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Total renovation | Roughly $35,000 | Included appliances; Rochelle Dare’s recollection as reported in 2020 |
| Cabinets and benchtops | $18,000 | Reported project cost |
| Stove and other appliances | $10,000 | Reported project cost; no model numbers supplied |
| Plumbing, electrical work and tiling | $5,000 | Reported combined allowance |
| Second-hand island workbench | $100 | Bought on Gumtree; feet came from a tip shop |
| Schedule | Around 10 weeks | Homeowner’s recollection while work continued elsewhere in the house |
The itemized amounts total approximately $33,100, while the family’s rounded overall figure was about $35,000. That difference is consistent with approximate reporting and illustrates why a project budget needs room for incidentals, delivery, finishing materials and changes discovered during demolition.
The design formula: farmhouse warmth with contemporary function
Keep the old feature, modernize everything around it
The restored brick fireplace supplies the visual age and texture associated with a farmhouse kitchen. Around it, the family chose a cleaner contemporary language: integrated refrigerator and dishwasher appliances and cabinets that run to the ceiling. The contrast prevents the room from becoming a period set while retaining the character that made the original house worth preserving.
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The feature names Polytec for the cabinets and benches, Fisher & Paykel for the integrated refrigerator and dishwasher, and Belling for the stove. No model numbers, specifications, current prices or availability are given, so these references identify what this family selected rather than prescribing a product list.
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Instead of commissioning a matching island, the family bought a workbench second-hand for $100, sanded it and adapted it for the kitchen. Feet from a tip shop completed the conversion. An upcycled island can introduce authentic wear and a different material note, but it still needs to be checked for stability, usable height, cleanable surfaces, moisture resistance and safe clearance from doors and appliances.
Let the window support the work zone
A larger second-hand window was sourced for above the sink. When changing a window opening, confirm the wall’s construction, weatherproofing and any local requirements before ordering. In this case, the window contributes light and makes the sink wall feel intentionally designed rather than leftover space.
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Finish with small hardware decisions
The family added cabinet doors and handles during the finishing stage. Handles are a small detail, but their size, projection and placement affect daily use and the visual balance of a long run of doors. Choose them after the door profiles and paint or surface finish are settled so the drilling layout can be marked consistently.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choices to weigh before copying the look
| Decision | Potential benefit | What to investigate first |
|---|---|---|
| Preserve and adapt an existing fireplace | Retains architectural character and creates a strong stove location | Chimney condition, brickwork, flue route, ventilation, clearances, structure and approvals |
| Remove the fireplace and use a conventional cooktop wall | Usually gives more freedom for appliance placement and storage planning | Whether demolition affects structure, weatherproofing or heritage character |
| Move the doorway | Can create a longer, more practical cabinetry run and improve circulation | Wall construction, adjacent-room access, electrical routes and project cost |
| Use integrated appliances | Produces the streamlined contemporary side of the farmhouse look | Cabinet ventilation, replacement dimensions, service access and budget |
| Build a new matching island | Offers predictable dimensions, storage and surfaces | Lead time, cost, seating clearance and relationship to the fixed cabinetry |
| Adapt a second-hand workbench | Adds individuality at a low purchase price | Condition, sanitation, structural strength, correct height and modifications |
There is no single correct choice in this comparison. The Tasmanian project worked because the fireplace, altered doorway, window, cabinetry and island were planned as one composition rather than selected independently.
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A practical checklist for a dining-room-to-kitchen conversion
Measure movement before measuring cabinets
- Draw every doorway and connection to nearby rooms.
- Mark the route people naturally take through the house and keep it clear of appliance doors.
- Check that the proposed island will not narrow the passage when drawers, ovens or the dishwasher are open.
- Decide whether moving an entry improves the room enough to justify structural and finishing work.
Open up old fabric carefully
- Expect concealed damage when paint, lath and plaster cover masonry or framing.
- Photograph existing conditions before demolition.
- Separate salvageable brick, timber or hardware from demolition waste if you intend to reuse it.
- Do not close walls until plumbing, electrical and ventilation routes have been inspected.
Plan the paint and surface schedule
- Allow new plaster and repaired masonry to dry fully before priming.
- Use a compatible sealer or primer where old porous surfaces, repaired brick or patched plaster meet.
- Protect the sanded floor while cabinetry, appliances and tiling are installed.
- Apply final wall and trim coats after the high-dust work is complete, then touch up around handles, splashbacks and appliance panels.
Budget for discovery, not just finishes
- Keep a contingency for hidden brickwork, rewiring, plumbing changes and uneven floors.
- Price delivery, installation, disposal and finishing materials separately from cabinet and appliance quotes.
- Treat second-hand purchases as acquisition costs only; adaptation, cleaning, reinforcement and sealing can add labor.
- Record decisions and variations during the build so the final spend remains understandable.
What this makeover can—and cannot—prove
This is a single homeowner case study, not a measured floor plan, product test or general renovation-cost study. The feature does not publish appliance specifications, building approvals, independent cost verification, a current estimate or evidence that the same arrangement suits every house. Local construction, heritage rules, trades, product availability and the condition of an existing chimney can change both feasibility and price.
Its value is in the sequence of decisions: reclaim circulation, investigate the concealed fireplace, preserve the feature where practical, place modern services around it, and use a deliberately contrasting island and appliance treatment. The result demonstrates how a room with the wrong original purpose can become a convincing country kitchen without erasing the building’s history.
The lasting lesson from the before-and-after
The transformation succeeds because the family treated constraints as design opportunities. A former thoroughfare became the kitchen’s social center after the doorway moved. A fireplace hidden behind paint and plaster became the stove surround after patient masonry work. A $100 workbench supplied an island with more personality than a completely matched installation might have delivered. New cabinetry, integrated appliances and ceiling-height storage then provided the everyday function the old room lacked.
For anyone planning a similar renovation, begin with the building: circulation, openings, masonry, services and surfaces. Choose the farmhouse details only after those conditions are understood. That approach gives paint, tile, cabinetry and hardware a sound setting—and makes a dramatic before-and-after more likely to remain practical after the photographs are taken.
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