Create a Moodboard

The Journal

Design The Builders Wife

Builder King Homes

Island bench Super White, matte™

Kitchen Vision Kitchens & Joinery

Stonemason Hex Masonary

Photographer The Palm Co.

Designing your new kitchen – Builders Wife’s 5 tips

Updated May 2026

Veronica King, also known to many of us on instagram as The Builders Wife, and her husband Mark from King Homes NSW, are the envy of renovators and home builders. Together, they are a powerhouse duo who have meticulously planned and executed many home builds for their clients, as well as their own incredible home.

Although Veronica sees practicality as key with 1 year old twin girls, she wasn’t going to compromise on a black kitchen that was both large and striking in design. Her stunning Talostone® Super White™ island bench with waterfall edge has truly delivered 5 metres of luxury enhanced with a memorable curve. “It really is the wow factor in our kitchen,” smiles Veronica.

❝
As a builder’s wife, I have undertaken our own projects and also assisted many clients through King Homes NSW in designing their new kitchen. Here are my 5 top tips to consider when designing your new kitchen

Cleverly, Veronica continued with the Talostone® stone benchtop for her kitchen splashback and bathroom vanity tops for a consistent feel. “It’s a modern, monochromatic theme which was designed with plenty of storage.

We chatted to Veronica more about kitchen design, key things to consider and why she believes it should be a key investment as part of any home renovation or rebuild.

 “As a builder’s wife, I have undertaken our own projects and also assisted many clients through King Homes NSW in designing their new kitchen. Here are my 5 top tips to consider when designing your new kitchen.”

1. Choose a durable and long lasting surface like Talostone®

We have proudly used Talostone® for all of our home builds. Talostone® offers us superior durability so it’s a no-brainer to use it in our customer’s homes but also for our own home. When it came to building our home, I chose the Talostone® Super White™ for its impressive detail which worked cohesively with our overall interior scheme. The added bonus for me was its durability for a family like ours with two little ones. I didn’t want to worry about a bit of Bolognese sauce spilling or a drop of coffee on the bench, Talostone® is super easy to clean and maintain which works well for our busy and lively family.

2. Don’t forget about the splashback

Using the same stone for your kitchen benchtops as the splashback is a sure way to bring design flair as well as consistency to your kitchen. The continuation of the same stone up the wall and in between cabinetry also creates a luxury appeal. Plus, you will have the added benefit of durable stone around your cooking areas.

3. Ensure you have a bulkhead above cabinetry

A bulkhead is essential for where you have wall cabinets. A bulkhead is what is added between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. This will instantly create a sleek and built in look that makes the cabinetry appear to be one with the wall. The added advantage is that it can also make your kitchen look larger and taller as well as reducing any potential dust build up.

4. Prioritise quality fixtures

Your kitchen sink and tapware are likely to be the most hard working items in your home so it’s important to choose those items with a long warranty. In addition, if you choose to have an undermount sink, it’s not easily replaced in the event you change your mind or something goes wrong. My top picks are matt black tapware with a pull-out mixer along with black quartz sinks for durability.

5. Skip the trio of hanging pendant lights

The lighting in your kitchen should be considered with my preference being downlights to provide for a well-lit area. Reconsider the trio of hanging pendants above the kitchen bench and think about more contemporary options. My current favourites are a set of surface mounted downlights to create a sleek feel or a long bar light.

“When it comes to a kitchen renovation or the kitchen design of your new home build, there are a number of ways you can make your dollar go further as well as make it a stand-out. A well designed kitchen using quality materials can really add value to your home – and if you have the budget to only splurge in one area of the home – then prioritise the kitchen.” As they say kitchens sell houses!!

Given their growing family and busy lifestyle, it’s no surprise that Veronica and Mark choose mineral surfaces for their own beautiful kitchen. We are really grateful that they not only recommended Talostone® to their clients, but chose for themselves a stunning Talostone® Super White™ bench top and splashback in their own family home based in Camden, Sydney. No doubt, this kitchen will forever be the heart of this gorgeous family home for a long time to come.

Thank you to Veronica for sharing her invaluable tips and insight into designing the ideal kitchen. The team at King Homes NSW, can support you in your new build project offering affordable quality and design. With all the selections under one roof, and an interior designer to help with your selections, it really takes the stress out of where to start on building your dream home.

❝
A well designed kitchen using quality materials can really add value to your home – and if you have the budget to only splurge in one area of the home – then prioritise the kitchen.

What are the top 5 tpis for designing a new Australian kitchen?

According to Veronica King (The Builders Wife) from King Homes NSW, the five key tips for designing a new kitchen are:

1. Choose a durable, long-lasting surface such as Talostone® engineered stone for benchtops.

2. Don't forget the splashback - use the same stone as your benchtop for a cohesive, luxury look.

3. Include a bulkhead above cabinetry to create a sleek, built-in appearance and reduce dust build-up.

4. Prioritise quality fixtures, particularly your sink and tapware, as these are the hardest-working items in the kitchen.

5. Go for modern lighting alternatives such as surface-mounted downlights or a long bar light

Why should you use the same stone for your benchtop and splashback?

Using the same stone for your kitchen benchtop and splashback creates design consistency. This makes the whole space feel more luxurious, as the stone continues up the walls and between the cabinetry.

It also adds the practical benefit of a creating a durable, easy-to-clean surface around cooking areas where splatters are most likely to occur.

What is a bulkhead in a kitchen and why is it important?

A bulkhead is the built-in section added between the top of your wall cabinetry and the ceiling. This is important because it creates a sleek, built-in look that makes cabinetry appear integrated with the wall - making the kitchen feels larger and taller.

And it offers the bonus benefit of reducing dust build-up on top of cupboards, which is a common frustration with exposed high (and hard to reach) cabinet tops.

What stone options are recommended for family kitchens in Sydney or Melbourne?

Sydney & Melbourne home owners can choose from a range of options, inlcuding marble, granite, porcelain, travertine, zero silica stone, or sintered stone. Each have different pros & cons in terms of their cost, resistance to heat & stains, maintenance, and repairability.

Veronica King specifically chose Talostone® Super White™ for her own family home in Camden, Sydney, where she lives with her husband and young twin girls. She highlights that Talostone® offers superior durability and is very easy to clean and maintain, meaning spills like Bolognese sauce or coffee aren't a concern - making it ideal for busy families with young children.

How to Change my Photo from Admin Dashboard?

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

What kitchen tapware and sinks are recommended?

Veronica recommends prioritising quality fixtures with long warranties, as the sink and tapware are the most hard-working items in your home. While you will need to consider your own home's existing colour palette and design options, Veronica chose matte black tapware with a pull-out mixer paired with a black quartz sink for maximum durability.

She also cautions that undermount sinks are not easily replaced later, so it's worth choosing carefully from the start.

What lighting is best for a modern kitchen?

Veronica recommends moving away from the once-popular trio of hanging pendant lights above the kitchen island. Instead, she suggests downlights to provide well-distributed illumination, with her current favourites being surface-mounted downlights for a sleek feel or a long bar light for a more contemporary statement.

Is it worth investing more money in the kitchen during a renovation?

Absolutely. Veronica advises that if your budget only allows you to splurge on one area of the home, it should be the kitchen.

A well-designed kitchen built with quality materials adds significant value to your property. As the saying goes, "kitchens sell houses." Investing in durable surfaces, quality fixtures, and thoughtful design will pay dividends both in daily use now, and resale value down the line.

Who is The Builders Wife and why should you take her kitchen advice?

Veronica King, known on Instagram as The Builders Wife runs King Homes NSW alongside her husband Mark.

Together they have planned and executed numerous home builds for clients as well as their own award-worthy family home. Her advice is grounded in both professional building experience and real-life practicality as a mum of twin girls, making her tips especially trustworthy for families designing a functional yet beautiful Australian kitchen.

To take a closer look and experience the craftsmanship of King Homes NSW, we invite you to take a tour of their new showroom. Featuring a display of Talostone® mineral surfaces, and showcase displays the friendly King Homes NSW team will be happy to help you navigate the build journey for your new home build. Please get in touch with the team there directly to make an appointment.

For more information on your natural choice and our range of premium engineered stone products, please visit the Colours tab on our website, visit our Talostone® City Experience Centre in Waterloo or a local kitchen showroom near you.

Leave Us A Review

Talostone Head Office - NSW
Talostone Sydney City Experience Centre
Talostone Victoria