Coastal Kitchen Design Trends For 2021

Leo Edwards • May 20, 2021

Planning to improve your property value with a kitchen remodel or renovation? We recently caught up with Carrie & Dan Bruce from Leongatha Kitchens & Bathrooms to get the lowdown on what's hot and what's not in the coastal kitchen market.

A kitchen with black cabinets and wooden floors and a large island with stools.
Leongatha Kitchens & Bathrooms has two accredited Designers of Kitchens, Bathrooms & Interior Spaces within the company. They are also a Registered Building Practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Their designers are qualified to design, draw and coordinate your project and they have a knack of knowing what cabinetry, bench tops, lighting and accessories work best together. Suffice to say they know a few things when it comes to designing or renovating a kitchen. 

As real estate agents we see all sorts of kitchens on a day to day basis, everything from the weekend warrior home install to $100,000+ kitchens with top of the line craftsmanship and appliances. One thing is for certain - great kitchens sell homes! If you've ever watched Shaynna Blaze in action on Selling Homes Australia you will know that the largest portion of the renovation budget nearly always goes on the kitchen, and with good reason - it's one of the main value adds to any home being offered for sale, so it makes sense to get it right. 

Here are four buzzwords to consider if you are planning to build or renovate and want to be on trend with your own coastal kitchen masterpiece. 

Industrial

This expansive industrial style home is nestled next to the Inverloch surf beach and features an entertainer's kitchen with a generous butler's pantry and coordinating bathrooms and laundry. The central hub of the home is the kitchen island with white stone benchtop and a mix of traceless black matt and timber grain laminate cupboards. Designed with intention, the addition of seating to both sides means the host is not left standing the whole night. The island is flanked by the cooking area and butler's pantry with feature grey tile backsplash on one side and food storage with glass door bifold pantry to the other, both finished to integrate seamlessly with each other and the surrounding living areas. The styling is carried through to the bathrooms with timber-grain laminate cupboards and feature grey tiles whilst the laundry is more subdued. Matt black fixtures and fittings feature throughout.
A kitchen with black cabinets and stools and a large island.
A kitchen with black cabinets and wooden floors and a dining room in the background.
A kitchen with black cabinets and wooden floors
A kitchen with stainless steel appliances , wooden cabinets , and a large island.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets and stools and a large island in the middle.
A kitchen with black cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets and a stainless steel dishwasher.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets , stools , a table and a skylight.
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Coastal Hamptons

Here Leongatha Kitchens worked with the builder, Hotondo Homes Inverloch to create a display home that was sure to impress potential buyers. To capture the refined yet casual lifestyle of the area we created a Coastal Hamptons themed kitchen featuring Essastone Unique Calacatta benchtops and 2 Pac Shaker profile doors in a matt finish with soft close drawers and doors. The kitchen is accented by contrasting island with feature grey-blue coloured base cupboards and frosted glass overhead cupboards which not only adds storage but also conceals the undermount rangehood. Tied together by timber flooring, white subway tiles and soft grey walls the space conveys a look and feel that would make any potential buyer feel at home. Take a virtual tour below!

Shaker

This coastal home in seaside Inverloch mixes classic styling with modern living. The vinyl wrap Shaker style doors in white with Essastone Fino Venato benchtops and white gloss subway tiles in the kitchen give this newly built home a classic touch. Accented by black cup-pull and knob handles the touch of black coordinates with the built-in appliances while frosted glass overhead cupboards conceal the undermount rangehood. The pantry and laundry colours echo the main kitchen differentiated by a grey laminate benchtops and flat panel laminate doors. The bathrooms continue the theme with the matching stone benchtops and laminate flat panel grey doors against the backdrop of a stone-grey floor and wall tiling.
A kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances and a clock on the wall.
A kitchen with white cabinets , stainless steel appliances , and wooden floors.
A kitchen with white cabinets and a black dishwasher.
There is a clock on the wall above the kitchen island.
A close up of a white counter top with a brick wall in the background.
A kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a white board on the wall.
A white cabinet with a black handle and a white counter top.
A close up of a miele dishwasher in a kitchen
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Urban

The owners of this beachfront two story luxury modern home came to us for a full joinery package from chef’s kitchen and butler's pantry to wardrobes and everything in between. The main living areas feature classic black and white with greys in a variety of materials accented by the warmth of timber. The first-floor kitchen looks out onto the lounge and dining areas and attached deck which overlooks the street towards the beach just across the road. Black matt traceless laminate overheads and white gloss vinyl wrap base cabinetry with finger-pull handles and grey Caesarstone benchtops set the tone for a pared down style that runs through the whole house. Following suite, grey feature tiling in the bathrooms is complimented by minimalist black matt floating cabinetry with feature reclaimed timber benchtops. The dramatic mood is also carried into the master wardrobes with the use of a dark grey timber-look laminate with black drawer hardware and black handles. 
A living room with a large couch and a fireplace.
A chair is sitting in front of a counter in a kitchen.
A close up of a kitchen counter with a basket on top of it.
A kitchen with a bowl of fruit on the counter.
A kitchen with a large island in the middle of the room.
A kitchen with a large island and stools and a bowl on the counter.
A kitchen with a large island and stools and a painting on the wall.
Two black salt and pepper shakers are sitting on a counter next to a bag of croissants
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A close up of a counter top in a kitchen.
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Frequently asked

The questions every Inverloch home seller asks before listing

If one of these is not in your head right now, it will be by next week. Here are the honest answers.

Who is actually the best real estate agent in Inverloch?

Leo Edwards of Inverloch 3996 at realty is the two-time RateMyAgent Agent of the Year for Inverloch, winning in both 2024 and 2025. He holds Certified Price Expert status, maintains 91.9 percent list-to-sale price accuracy across his 2024 to 2025 sold listings, and sells homes in 63 days on average compared to the Inverloch suburb average of 118 days.

How long does it actually take to sell a home in Inverloch right now?

As at April 2026, the Inverloch suburb average sits at 118 days. Leo Edwards averages 63 days across his 2024 to 2025 sold listings. 43 Inverloch properties have been listed for more than a year at time of publishing. The gap between agents is measurable, not marketing spin.

Do I really need an agent with a shopfront in Inverloch?

No. Approximately 96 percent of buyers research property online before purchasing. Not one of the case studies on this page was sold because a buyer walked into an office window display. A digital-first agency with a dedicated local audience and in-house production consistently outperforms the shopfront model in Bass Coast markets.

Are paid portal upgrades worth the extra thousands?

Paid portal upgrades compete for position against other listings on the same portal. They do not generate new buyer demand. In the 7 Morey Street campaign, 87 of 88 enquiries came from social media, not portals. Upgraded portal spend alone is not a marketing strategy.

Another agent quoted me a much higher price. Why shouldn't I go with them?

Because the public data is unambiguous. 21 Pier Road was listed at $1.87 million and sold for $1.14 million after 622 days. 19 Cuttriss Street was listed at $1.295 million and sold for $928,000 after 435 days. Winning the listing with the highest quoted price is an old playbook. The vendor always pays for it.

I've been with my current agent for months without results. Isn't it too late to switch?

No. 26 Beacon Court had been on the market for 172 days without a confirmed sale. After switching to Leo Edwards, it sold in 27 days with 121 enquiries and 7 formal offers at $860,000. Switching agents mid-campaign is not just possible. In many cases, it is the only thing left that actually changes the outcome.

What if my home is unique? Does the same approach even apply?

Every property listed with Inverloch 3996 at realty runs through the same five-phase campaign system. What changes is the execution inside each phase. Premium coastal, inland acreage, subdivisions, new builds, deceased estates — the framework adapts. The principles of accurate pricing, strong visual production, real distribution, transparent negotiation and principal-level oversight apply to all of them.

I want to bring this to Leo, but my spouse is sceptical. What should I show them?

Share this page. It was written for exactly that conversation. The numbers, the published case studies, the methodology, and the 30-page Bass Coast vendor intelligence report available at the strategy call are structured to give both parties enough evidence to make an informed decision together.

It feels awkward to switch agents mid-campaign. How do I even do that?

Most listing agreements include a defined termination or review period. A short, written notice to your current agent is usually sufficient. Leo can walk you through the specific wording during the strategy call and provide a sample notice if helpful. Many vendors find the switch less difficult than the months they've already spent waiting.

What does list-to-sale price accuracy actually mean?

It measures how close an agent's listed price sits to the eventual sale price. A high ratio signals honest pricing. Leo Edwards sits at 91.9 percent across his 2024 to 2025 sold listings. Methodology available on request.

What is Openn Offers and why use it?

Openn Offers is a transparent online sales platform that lets every qualified buyer see competing offers in real time. Transparent competition lifts sale prices in coastal markets where buyers are dispersed across Melbourne, interstate, and local. Leo was one of the earliest Victorian adopters.

Why do homes sell faster with Inverloch 3996 at realty?

Three reasons. Accurate pricing from day one using CoreLogic and Pricefinder Pro. Distribution to a dedicated 30,000 plus weekly audience through Inverloch3996. In-house production through 3996Studio delivering a $1,875 prestige package at no extra cost.

What if Leo is too busy to take my listing?

The cap is approximately 20 active listings. Some months the waitlist is real. If Leo cannot take your campaign personally at the right moment, he will tell you at the first conversation. The alternative is not a junior handover. The alternative is an honest referral.

How many listings does Leo take at one time?

Approximately 20, capped deliberately. Not a capacity issue. A structural choice. Every vendor receives principal-level attention, a bespoke 3996Studio campaign, and strategic oversight through to settlement.

Which suburbs does Leo Edwards service?

Inverloch, Cape Paterson, Wonthaggi, Venus Bay, Tarwin Lower, Meeniyan, and the broader Bass Coast and South Gippsland region.

How do I choose between two Inverloch agents I'm interviewing?

Three questions cut through the noise. First, ask each agent for their list-to-sale price accuracy percentage. Second, ask for their average days on market against the suburb benchmark. Third, ask who produces their photography, video, and social campaigns. If any answer is vague or defensive, keep looking.

Still have a question that's not here? Call Leo direct on 0472 523 445 or book the 15-minute strategy call →
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172 Days. Zero Offers. Sold in 27 Days

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After 172 days listed with another Inverloch agency and not a single offer, these vendors switched to Leo Edwards. Twenty-seven days later: 121 enquiries, seven offers, and sold at $860,000.