(4 minute read)
Written by Melissa Stainwald / Photography by Glen David Wilson
Interior Designer - Druce Davey & Melissa Stainwald
Builder - Zaleta
"There’s really no reason why every space shouldn’t be beautiful, including the kitchen our team uses every single day."
As we wrapped up the 2024 construction of our Zaleta HQ, we won’t lie. There were a few moments where we felt a little weary. Busy building beautiful homes for our clients, it would have been easy to gloss over this smaller space, as it was the last area we designed and installed. But glossing over details isn’t what we pride ourselves on.
With a desire for continuity across our HQ and a palette that felt unmistakably Zaleta, we looked to Laminex for inspiration. These guys understand colour, tone, warmth, and how materials work together in a way that feels effortless.
Moleskin gave us our base, with Outback Clay adding warmth through its softly greyed, clay-based tone. Calm, grounded and a completely Zaleta vibe.
From there, the layers fell into place with the help of people we love working alongside. Timber handles from Handle House added warmth and tactility, while the playful tiles from Sunshine Living Tile & Stone, paired with a carefully colour-matched grout, allow the surface to read as a soft block of colour rather than a busy pattern. Underfoot, a milky washed engineered timber floor from the team at QEBS grounds the space beautifully. Reece, as always, came to the party with the goods, supplying a Peppy tap that delivers both boiling and chilled water directly from the sink. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference, removing the need for a kettle and keeping the space calm and uncluttered. SMEG Classic appliances and a softly curved rangehood finished the space, bringing just the right amount of mood without demanding attention.
This kitchen might be one of the more behind-the-scenes, everyday spaces in our HQ, but it’s one we use constantly.
Morning coffees, mid-day pauses, and the small, human conversations that matter more than we realise. The how are yous. The how was your weekend? Designing it with the same care as the rest of our spaces felt important.
We’re grateful for the collaborators who continue to walk alongside us, who understand our vision and help bring it to life with ease. It’s a reminder that good design is rarely a solo act. And that sometimes, the spaces we move through most quietly end up giving the most back.
- Melissa Stainwald
Melissa has called the Sunshine Coast home for over 30 years, raising her three sons - Caleb, Arlan, and Seth - with her husband Wojtek in the beautiful coastal lifestyle they’ve come to cherish.
With a deep love for community, family, and thoughtful living, Melissa plays a key role in Zaleta, the family-run lifestyle home building business she co-founded with Wojtek and their son Arlan.
The name Zaleta is more than just a name, it pays homage to Wojtek’s Polish family heritage - It's a commitment to creating homes built with heart, purpose, and enduring quality.