A home for family
Fennel began while redesigning part of our home for my in-laws.
As they got older, having them close by and connected to family became increasingly important to us.
The project was not driven by investment or resale value. It was about creating a home that supported health, care and togetherness across generations.
A different way to spend
At the same time, I have always been a conscious spender.
Even when I can afford to buy something new, I still find myself questioning whether it is necessary. I care about quality and longevity, but also about waste, both environmental and financial.
Like many people, I also find satisfaction in finding something exceptional at a smarter price.
Not because it is cheap.
Because it still holds real value.
Finding value in what already exists
During the renovation, I reused whatever I could.
I searched for high-quality second-hand materials, as well as brand-new items that had simply been over-ordered, changed, or could not be returned.
Timber.
Windows.
Tiles.
Floorboards.
Materials that were still beautiful, functional and built to last.
There was no compromise in quality. In many cases, the materials were far better than what we would have purchased new within the same budget.
Then came the kitchen
But the thing I kept coming back to was the kitchen.
I had considered using a second-hand kitchen, but at first it felt too hard.
Where do you start?
How do you know what will fit?
Who dismantles it?
Who moves it?
How do you make someone else’s kitchen work in your own space?
The easier option was to order a budget kitchen, have it installed, and not think about it again.
But as I started looking closely at the finishes, cabinetry and hardware, that choice did not sit right.
It would have been new, but it would not necessarily have been better.
Too much value was being thrown away
At the same time, I could see entire kitchens being removed from homes and discarded, even when they were beautifully made and still highly functional.
The first Fennel project came from that tension.
Less waste. More thought. A longer life.
The result was not perfect.
Nor was that the goal.
It was about working thoughtfully with what already existed and proving that reuse could feel intentional, beautiful and entirely at home in modern living.
That project became Fennel: a way to create kitchens with less waste, more thought and a longer life.
Not just by reusing what already exists, but by rethinking how kitchens are designed, updated, repaired and valued over time.
