You don’t have to be a Block fanatic to know that kitchens sell houses and with the current renovation boom only continuing to bloom (sorry, couldn’t resist!), nailing your kitchen design has never been so important.
Chris and Jenna Susetio, former contestants on The Block Glasshouse, and now kitchen designers for The Good Guys Kitchens, scored a near perfect score for their kitchen in series nine. Now they’ve pulled together their top five tips for creating a kitchen full of character and personality, using a clever layout and stylish work surfaces.
1. Layout and Space
- Knowing how you’ll use your kitchen makes a huge difference to creating the perfect layout for your personal needs – especially if, like many these days, you plan to entertain guests in your kitchen
- Open plan is the most popular layout in homes today
- Think about adding an island bench and moving the cooktop and rangehood to the island if you want to create a real showpiece for people to gather around and enjoy together – this is ideal for the home chef who likes a bit of drama in the kitchen
- Add a butler’s pantry for additional prep space and storage of bulky benchtop items; and create a sense of connection from kitchen to the outdoors
2. Colour and texture
- This year, expect to see plenty of matt black and varying shades of grey mixed with materials like timber for a modern style statement
- Dark doors with a matt finish are right on trend and timber finishes are also popular and create a stylish neutral base that works well with accent colours that can be changed in line with seasons or trends
3. Finer Details
- The type of door profiles and handles, lights, sinks and taps need to be chosen strategically so they all fit into your design
- For a streamlined look, every detail needs to work to achieve a clean, clutter-free kitchen, such as modern flat doors and integrated handles and appliances
- To personify a classic Hampton’s kitchen, shaker doors, elegant handles, a timber top and a butler’s sink are a must-have to evoke a more homely feeling
4. Designer work surfaces
- A new benchtop can really add wow factor to your kitchen. From laminate to stone and other solid surfaces, there are plenty of things to consider when making the right choice for your new kitchen
- To help you choose the most appropriate kitchen benchtop, talk to your kitchen designer about your family circumstances, taste and budget
- Consider using different heights, contrasting two-tone colours or varying textures to give your kitchen a designer edge and serious visual impact
5. Lighting
- Lighting can bring a kitchen to life, and is especially important for entertaining
- Plan for integrated lighting, such as LEDs and internal cabinet lighting to emphasise space and highlight detail
- Adding one or more overhead pendant lights above an island to add personality and create definition between different zones
