behind the scenes - Sophie Tieman x kaboodle

Come behind the scenes as we chat to Sophie Tieman all about her kitchen renovation, from inspiration through to the finished space.

Located in sunny Sydney, homeowner Sophie decided to refresh her kitchen and create an open plan space, perfect for entertaining family and friends. By extending the entryway from the dining room to the kitchen space, this allowed ample light to flow through and created a spacious galley kitchen layout.


Sophie’s career in real estate provides her with a real understanding of the property market and just how much value a kitchen renovation adds to a home. It was interesting to find out just what this growing family has planned for the future.

“When we purchased our property just over 12 months ago, we knew we could add the most value to it by renovating the kitchen. So, this is something we were really excited to do. We plan to live in this home for the next 5+ years. Once we finish all of our renovations and decide to expand our family further, we might look to sell and purchase something bigger.” Says Sophie

With practicality in mind, Sophie opted to go for a neutral palette that perfectly suits her boho inspired interiors. For a classic look, Sophie decided to go with macaroon in an alpine profile and brushed nickel cali handles for a sleek finish. To add a bit of personality to the space she decided to go with a statement splashback tile.

“Knowing that this isn’t our ‘forever home’, we wanted to ensure our kitchen could be loved by all. Colours and materials play a big part in this. Going with neutral tones, with classic finishes allows you to add little styling touches which can make it feel your own.” Explains Sophie

When we first spoke to Sophie about her kitchen renovation, she mentioned how much she loved our 3D kaboodle planner and that it was almost like the adult version of Sims! Knowing that she wanted to adjust her current walls and doorways the planner helped Sophie to visualise this and have a play around with different designs.

“Kaboodle provided such a seamless process for us to design and install our kitchen. The 3D kaboodle planner is something everyone should use before redesigning their kitchen! We were moving walls, doorways and windows. So being about to visualise what that could all look like, with a new kitchen in place was amazing.” Says Sophie

Sophie and her partner decided to tackle the assembly of the cabinets and have gotten a professional in to assist with the installation. As the couple both work full-time, the kitchen was a weekend project, hiring a professional saved the pair so much time and effort.

“The instructions provided for each piece of cabinetry was great. We personally assembled items and then engaged a carpenter to do the instillation for us, given we both work full-time!” Says Sophie

Our kaboodle kitchens tend to have an effect on people where they suddenly develop a love of cooking, and Sophie has been no exception! It's great to hear that the kitchen is more functional and an entertainer’s dream.

“I have never been a lover of cooking, but since renovating our kitchen – you can’t get me out of it. The design is so user-friendly, it makes it enjoyable to be in there. Having it open-plan also allows us to entertain guests whilst cooking, which I absolutely love.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about Sophie’s renovation journey! For more inspiration and ideas, visit our design blog or follow us on InstagramFacebook and Pinterest.