Opening Up a Once-Closed Home: Inside the Livic Kitchen Renovation in Gladstone

The Livic Kitchen project is a great example of how small structural changes can completely reshape the way a home feels and functions. This older Gladstone home belonged to a couple who love cooking, baking, and having family visit — but their kitchen layout simply wasn’t supporting the lifestyle they wanted.

A heavy brick wall ran through the middle of the house, boxing in the kitchen and separating it from the dining and living areas. Because it sat on an angle, the whole space felt disjointed and darker than it needed to be. Functionally, it presented even bigger challenges. The rangehood wasn’t centred, there wasn’t enough bench space on either side of the cooktop, and two ends of the kitchen were wasted pockets that didn’t contribute to how the owners actually lived.

The good news? The wall was non-load-bearing.
That opened the door — literally — to a much more connected layout.

By partially removing the brick wall, we immediately brought in more natural light, better breezes, and a clearer flow between the key living zones. A small section of the wall was deliberately kept to house the fridge, giving it a home that felt intentional rather than “tacked on.”

With the space opened up, the new layout focused on what mattered most: practical bench space, a centred rangehood for safer cooking, and a raised breakfast bar that creates a natural transition between the kitchen and the living area. The couple now have a space where family can gather and chat without getting in the way — something they were really hoping for.

Flooring played a huge role in lightening the home as well. The existing carpet inlay in the dining zone visually cut the room in half, so we replaced it with light-coloured tiles that brighten the whole interior. They’re durable, cool underfoot, and help reflect light, which is especially valuable in warm Central Queensland homes.

When it came to cabinetry, the clients wanted something other than white. A soft grey from the Kaboodle range gave the kitchen a calm, fresh feel without making the room too stark. Paired with engineered stone, the kitchen now suits the owner’s love of baking with a surface that stays cool and holds up beautifully under daily use.

By rethinking every underused corner and giving the layout a clearer purpose, this project became about more than paint colours and materials. It turned a closed-off kitchen into a bright, breathable, and comfortable heart of the home — one that finally supports the way this couple cooks, gathers, and lives.