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October 10th | Investment $159
The Kitchen Planning
Workshop
Design before you buy.Planning a new kitchen? Let's get you organised before the expensive decisions begin.
Whether you're taking a DIY approach to your kitchen design, or simply want to walk into your first meeting with a kitchen designer knowing exactly what you want, this workshop is designed to help you get clear before you start buying.Join Gill from Little Keep Design, kitchen design expert, and Carina from No Buttercups, interior & colour consultant, for a practical, hands-on workshop covering the things that matter most when planning a new kitchen.Because a beautiful kitchen is great.A beautiful kitchen that actually works for the way you live?Even better.
Before you choose the pretty stuff, let's work out what you actually need.A new kitchen comes with a LOT of decisions
Layout.Appliances.Benchtops.Flooring.Colours.
Storage.Cabinetry.Splashbacks.Handles.Materials.
It's easy to get caught up in individual choices before you've worked out the bigger picture.And while Pinterest is brilliant for inspiration, it doesn't always tell you why a kitchen works — or whether it will work for you.That's what we'll help you figure out.
What will we cover?Kitchen Design Fundamentals + Layout
Gill from Little Keep Design will take you through the practical side of kitchen planning.We'll look at:
How your kitchen needs to service the way you liveCommon kitchen planning mistakesThings to consider before you meet with a kitchen designerThis isn't about squeezing as many cupboards as possible into a room.
It's about creating a kitchen that works for your lifestyle, your space and the way you actually use it.How to think about the layout of your kitchen
Creating a functional workflow
Then we'll move onto the part Carina loves...Colour, materials and pulling everything together.
Carina will help you work through:
Combining different materialsBalancing light, dark, warm and cool tonesChoosing beautiful things individually is easy.
Getting them all to play nicely together?
That's where it gets interesting.Creating a cohesive colour palette
Cabinetry, bench top & splashback colours and finishes
Creating a kitchen that feels connected to the rest of your homeThis is for the planners, the DIYers and the "I just want to know what I'm doing before I walk into a showroom" people.You don't need to have your whole kitchen figured out.
In fact, that's rather the point.
This workshop is for you if you're:Planning a new kitchen
Renovating an existing kitchen
Taking a DIY approach to your kitchen design
Wanting some expert guidance before making your own decisions
Wanting to be organised before meeting with a kitchen designer
Wanting to understand how your kitchen needs to work for you and your family
Feeling overwhelmed by all the choices
Sitting on a pile of inspiration but struggling to turn it into a clear direction
Wanting to understand your priorities before you start getting quotes
You might be doing the whole thing yourself.
Or you might be planning to work with a kitchen designer but want to arrive at that first meeting prepared and clear on what you want.
Both are welcome.
Imagine walking into your kitchen designer meeting knowing...
This is how we use our kitchen.
This is what we need it to do.
These are our priorities.
This is the look we're after.
These are the colours and materials we're drawn to.
And these are the things we're prepared to compromise on.
Instead of:
"Umm... I don't really know. I just saved a few things on Pinterest."
We've all been there.
What you'll leave with
This isn't just an afternoon of listening to two people talk about kitchens.
You'll be actively working through your own project.
You'll leave with:
A clearer kitchen plan
A better understanding of how you want your kitchen to function and what it needs to do for you.Layout ideas
A chance to start thinking about how your kitchen could work within your space.A colour + materials palette
Start pulling together cabinetry, benchtop, splashback, flooring and finishes so you can see how they work together.A take-home workbook
Your practical guide to keep working through the planning process after the workshop.Budget planning resource
We'll give a useful tool to help you start thinking about your budget and where your money needs to go.Trade + supplier recommendations
Our trusted starting points for the next stage of your project.
Meet your kitchen planning team
Gill | Little Keep Design
Kitchen Design ExpertGill knows kitchens.
Her focus is on the practical side of the planning process — helping you understand how layout, storage, workflow and functionality all come together to create a kitchen that works.
She'll help you think beyond the pretty pictures and consider how your kitchen needs to perform every day.
Interior & Colour ConsultantCarina | No Buttercups
Carina is all about the colour and materials.
She’ll help you understand how cabinetry, benchtops, splashbacks, flooring, hardware and other finishes can work together to create a cohesive look.
Rather than choosing each element in isolation, we'll start thinking about the kitchen as a whole.
Not sure whether this is for you?
"I'm doing everything myself."
Perfect.
You'll get the knowledge and tools to help you make informed decisions and develop your own kitchen design."I'm working with a kitchen designer."
Also perfect.
This workshop can help you arrive at that first meeting organised, with a clear understanding of your lifestyle, priorities, preferred look and the questions you need to ask."I have absolutely no idea what I want."
That's okay too.
You don't need a finished Pinterest board or a secret interior designer living inside your brain.
We'll help you work it out."Is this the same as hiring an interior designer?"
No.
This is a DIY-friendly educational workshop.
We'll give you expert guidance, but you'll be making the decisions for your own kitchen.
If you'd rather have someone work through your kitchen design, colour selections and materials with you, that's where our individual design services come in.Before you buy...
A kitchen is a big investment.It's much easier to change your mind about a sample board than it is to change your mind about installed cabinetry.So let's get the important stuff sorted first.Think it through. Plan it out. Then buy.
Workshop Details
Places are limited so that we can give everyone plenty of individual guidance throughout the session.Date:11th October 2026
Time:2pm - 4:30pm
Location:Little Batch Wax HQ, Pukekohe
Investment:$159
Ready to get your kitchen plan sorted?
Book your placeFill in the form below and we'll send you an invoice to secure your place.FAQS
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No.
If you have plans, measurements or ideas, fantastic — bring them along. But you don't need to have everything worked out before you come.
That's what we're here for.
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Nope.
You can arrive knowing exactly what you want, with a folder full of inspiration, or with absolutely no idea beyond "I want a nice kitchen."
We'll meet you where you're at.
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Not quite.
There will be a colour and materials component, and you'll start creating your own palette, but the focus is much broader.
This is a kitchen planning workshop.
We're looking at how your kitchen needs to function, what you want it to look and feel like, and how the different decisions fit together.
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No.
This workshop is designed to give you the knowledge and tools to plan your own kitchen.
If you'd prefer to have a designer work through your kitchen design and selections with you, individual design services are available separately.
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A floor plan if you have one, measurements, inspiration images, photos of your existing kitchen.
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Once you submit the booking form, we'll send you an invoice.
Your place is confirmed once payment has been received.
We'll then send you everything you need to know before the workshop, including what to bring and how to prepare.
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That's actually ideal.
The earlier you start thinking about your kitchen, the more useful this workshop will be.
Design before you buy.