Inside Ruru Lane: A Modern Kitchen Redesign Balancing Elegance and Personality
For Ruru Lane, we reimagined a dated early-2000s kitchen into a chic, modern space tailored to the way our clients love to cook and entertain. It was a space with peeling veneer and cracking benchtops. It was tired, and our clients came to us with a clear vision of how they wanted the space to work for them.
Our role was to translate that vision into a cohesive, highly functional design. We adjusted the layout to improve flow, introducing custom cabinetry with clever storage solutions to ensure practicality never compromised aesthetics.
Slim porcelain benchtops and a matching splashback in Laminam Ossido Nero set a modern tone, while a palette of soft muted hues makes the kitchen feel warm and welcoming. Each appliance and routine has a place in this kitchen, built around how the family wants to enjoy their coffee and keep glassware tucked away overhead.
The true focal point is the handcrafted Bocci pendant lighting from ECC. These glass spheres suspended above the island are arranged like musical notes. Each one is hand blown and encased in delicate copper mesh, casting a golden glow that transforms the space after dark.
The couple already had distinctive elements we needed to play off — an oversized glass dining table paired with colourful chrome chairs. Their love of collecting art and furniture with a story became central to our approach, guiding how we connected the kitchen to their existing pieces. The brief was clear: they wanted the space to have personality, yet still complement their eclectic collection.
The result is a kitchen that feels fresh and elevated, while remaining understated and timeless. Calm, elegant, and effortlessly functional, Ruru Lane Kitchen has been given a second life, one designed for shared meals, relaxed gatherings, and a future full of connection.
“Newton Kay came to visit our existing tired noughties kitchen to chat about what we hoped for our refurb—they quickly understood that we wanted to update and streamline, to get more wow factor, style and useability without excess bling. Their final design a month later, after lots of great conversations, was perfect: sober, elegant and timeless, cool and relaxed. And they sourced the best pendant lights that are uniquely atmospheric and add our own special vibe. Strongly recommended!”
– Alan & Vivian
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At Newton Kay Studio, we create thoughtful, high-end interiors that feel as good as they look. Whether you're designing your dream home or wanting to transform a room in your home, we’d love to help you bring your vision to life.