In kitchen news this spring, iconic laminate brand Formica adds 30 new on-trend finishes to its line-up (can you believe the company launched in 1912?), while Caesarstone moves to the dark side with a textured, matte black stone.
Caesarstone Piatto Black: The black kitchen trend seems set to endure if the latest from Caesarstone is anything to go by. Pitched as the “ultimate dark,” Piatto Black is a deep intense black and is part of the brand’s Deluxe range. The slightly textured finish has a satin sheen for a new, elegant take on matte.
Caesarstone Piatto Black looks fabulous paired with timber
Bocchi Casa ceramic kitchen sink: Available locally at Paco Jaanson, this statement sink is available in 16 colours, in single and double iterations and in sizes including 500, 600, 750 and 850mm. We love its deep shape, statement good looks and that it’s super easy to clean.
Fisher & Paykel classic wall range hood: Offering a heritage aesthetic with modern performance, the new Fisher & Paykel wall range hood has been designed to pair with the New Zealand brand’s freestanding cooker. Available in four classic colours (white, black, stainless steel and red), the range hood comes complete with user-friendly chrome buttons, energy-efficient LED lights and a quiet three-speed fan. $2,549.
Formica: The iconic surface brand has just added 30 new colours to its portfolio including 14 stone patterns, five solid colours and 11 woodgrains, all designed to reflect the latest trends.
Standout finishes include ‘White Cement’ which captures the raw texture of concrete and ‘Calacatta Gold’ which is a white ‘marble’ with large golden cream veins. The new solid colours are equally eye-catching with ‘Olivette’ which is a pale olive green, ‘Teal’ which is a mid-toned blue-green, ‘Bluegrass’ which is a soft grey blue and ‘Deep Sea’ which is a strong bluish green.
Hera by Paco Jaanson kitchen mixer: Available in matte and bright chrome, this new design is a modern take on the traditional gooseneck spout. Art Deco styling springs to mind with its smooth, yet square lines. Priced from a very reasonable $264.
Australian kitchen trends: Autumn 2020 edition
From open shelving (perfect for styling up a shelfie), to a stunning coral hued stone and Gaggenau’s new high-tech oven, Autumn kitchen pickings are looking pretty inspiring indeed. Fibonacci Stone…
From open shelving (perfect for styling up a shelfie), to a stunning coral hued stone and Gaggenau’s new high-tech oven, Autumn kitchen pickings are looking pretty inspiring indeed.
Fibonacci Stone latest: Fibonacci Stone has released four gorgeous new designs. ‘Bloc’ has a grainy grey and black-fleck base (anchored by light to mid-grey Carrera marble chips), while ‘Brackish’ has a subdued palette of white and faded grey. ‘Striker’ is perfect for a contemporary Australian project with its palette of bisque, olive, tan, sand and beige and my personal favourite ‘Coral Underground’ has diamond-like silver grey shards set into the palest coral base. It’s feminine without being girly.
Fibonacci Stone (clockwise from top left): ‘Coral Underground,’ ‘Brackish,’ ‘Striker’ and ‘Bloc’
The stunning ‘Coral Underground’ stone
Kaboodle Kitchen open steel frame shelving units: A stylish and on-trend alternative to standard kitchen cabinetry, this new shelving range doubles as a practical storage feature that’s perfect for displaying your favourite things. Designed to be used in conjunction with Kaboodle cabinetry, or as a standalone piece, the shelves are available in powder coated black.
Fisher & Paykel touchscreen built-in oven: These new ovens are equipped with a high resolution digital interface that gives step-by-step instructions for a wide range of pre-loaded recipes. Precise measures and ideal cooking times and temperatures are provided, and the ovens are available in stainless steel and black, or monochromatic all-black.
Caesarstone ‘New Darks’ range: This new range of quartz surfaces was created in response to the black kitchen trend. Suitable for bench tops, splash backs and walls, the collection also introduces a brand new ‘natural’ surface finish – the slightly textured finish emulates the tactile experience of stone, and has a satin sheen and slight grain.
Highlights include ‘Empira Black’ which is a lustrous polished finish with a dense black base and overlay of fine white natural veins. ‘Black Tempal’ combines the new rough ‘natural’ finish with a deep charcoal base which is in direct contrast to the subtle, marbled veil of soft mineral deposits across its surface.
Caesarstone ‘Empira Black’
Caesarstone ‘Black Tempal’
Caesarstone & Wattyl Perfect Pairings II: The collaboration between Caesarstone quartz surfaces and Wattyl paints has been expanded after the initial launch was warmly received by consumers keen to take the guesswork out of what can be a daunting process. Homeowners can access a diverse selection of Caesarstone and Wattyl pairings alongside metallic tapware finishes from Sussex and door cabinetry from Polytec. The latest pairings include terracotta and mustard paint hues (for the more adventurous), as well as more neutral options too.
Wattyl ‘Red Ochre’ with Caesarstone ‘Cloudburst Concrete’
Wattyl ‘Grey Ember’ with Caesarstone ‘Vanilla Noir’
Wattyl ‘Sirens Call’ with Caesarstone ‘Airy Concrete’
Gaggenau combi steam oven: Gaggenau’s combi-steam oven not only allows the amateur chef to steam, braise, bake, cook, grill and gratinate, but it’s self-cleaning too.
The latest version of the oven features a fixed water connection. Using a cleaning cartridge, the oven’s water supply descales and removes any heavy soiling from the inside, leaving it pristine in less than four hours. The fresh water connection also means water is constantly available which is a vital feature when cooking using the oven’s sous-vide functionality. The high-tech oven features a temperature probe too. What more could you want?
Cosentino Dekton Liquid collection: Comprised of three new colour ways inspired by nature, this new surface range was designed in collaboration with London pattern experts and designers PATTERNITY. All three surfaces have rippling and marbled patterns across backgrounds of inky black and pearlescent white.
As the hub of the home, the kitchen is the place we congregate to cook, catch up on the day and entertain friends. In essence, today’s kitchens must complement our lifestyle as well as how we cook.
Here are a few considerations to help you design a kitchen space that complements the way you live.
Functionality is key
Identify the key work and storage zones within the kitchen plan – the prep area, cooking area and wash area are the three critical spots. Make sure they reflect how you want to use your kitchen, and don’t be restricted by conventional kitchen layouts.
Also, if you are using an existing fridge within the design, consider whether it opens to the left or right so that you incorporate it effectively into your layout.
Bespoke cooktop Consider your cooking style and build your perfect cooktop by mixing and matching different sizes and types of cooktops. From induction to gas on glass or single and double burners, there are many different combinations to suit your cooking preferences.
Think drawers
One of the biggest evolutions in kitchen design has been the shift from cupboards to drawers for storage. A kitchen full of drawers creates a more flexible, functional and ergonomic space. Dishwashers with drawers, where the whole unit pulls out, make cleaning up a breeze and are much kinder on your back too.
Distributed appliances are a new design concept being referenced by kitchen designers. They provide you the flexibility to configure your kitchen to suit the way you work and live. As kitchens evolve to act more like lounge spaces, you could install a multi-temperature drawer for drinks by the dining table, a drawer dishwasher for crockery by the sink and another for glasses by the bar – the possibilities are endless.
You can also opt to place single dishwasher drawers side by side, with one able to operate alone for smaller loads, while the second, when space is short, acts as storage and for larger loads. The ergonomic drawer-based design works to reduce bending to load and unload heavy plates and platters.
Be consistent
To create a consistent aesthetic across appliances, purchase products that are visually complementary. Choose a brand that has designed their range of kitchen appliances, from fridges and dishwashers to ovens and cooktops with classic clean lines, cohesive materials and matching design aspects – think matching handles, black glass and stainless steel finishes.
For even greater aesthetic consistency, consider integrated appliances as they are sleek, space-saving and discrete. Clean lines and a flush fit are important with this trend – you want to create the illusion of continuous cabinetry.
–Mark Elmore is the head of industrial design for Fisher & Paykel.
We are seeing an increase in open plan kitchen designs as people want larger, brighter living spaces. The kitchen is the heart of the home so it is only natural that it be open to the dining and living area; it is not only where we prepare and cook food for our families, but it’s also where we help the kids with their homework and entertain friends.
Designed by Gerrad Hall
First of all think about how you want your kitchen to function, and then how that should interact with your dining and living area. Ideally, your kitchen should be unique, however some standard kitchens have standard constraints. There are a few typical kitchen layouts that may help guide you in finding the best open plan kitchen for your space and your life.
For an island layout, you need quite a large area to comfortably include an island but this arrangement can provide a lot of amenity with space for cooking as well as entertaining – giving you the opportunity for a cooking area that looks straight out on to your living and dining area.
Designed by Neeson Murcutt
Alternatively, a peninsula layout can often give you many of the advantages of an island, but uses less space given you needn’t have access from both sides. Ideal for smaller kitchens or a rectangular area, a peninsula kitchen can result in more bench space.
Unless you have a long wall, a straight-line kitchen can squeeze bench space but its advantage is that it can be designed, almost like cabinetry, to be unobtrusive so it can be part of the living and dining area.
Variations of each other, the L and U-shaped kitchens are both flexible and efficient, and ideal if you want or need to incorporate a dining table into the room.
Designed by Mike Jensen
Given your kitchen will be on display, aesthetics also play an important role in designing your kitchen. So it is a good idea to choose appliances that offer flexibility when it comes to selecting a finish that fits with the design and look of your kitchen.
Kitchen designers prefer appliances to speak the same language: appliances with consistency in their looks and edges that run seamlessly between different products so the eye isn’t jarred by out-of-line elements. Appliances with the same handles or glass features lend intention to the design, helping pull it all together. So choosing appliances from the same design family makes this easy.
Designed by Natalie Du Bois
Use tools online to help you visualise your perfect open plan kitchen, such as Fisher & Paykel’s The Kitchen Tools, a source of visual inspiration, helpful drawings, product specifications and case studies. Originally designed for architects and designers, the tools and content are professional and detailed.
— Mark is the general manager of Design & Integration, Fisher & Paykel.
With contestants on The Block teasing us with stylish yet functional laundries, it’s not surprising to learn that kitchens aren’t the only rooms enjoying a few tasteful remakes. The Good Guys Kitchens designer, Julie Hanover, shares the latest trends making waves in laundries.
Custom built cabinetry It is becoming increasingly popular to renovate laundries in conjunction with kitchens, and built-in cabinetry is at the top of the trend to maximise space. Using your kitchen company to also design your laundry means you’ll enjoy complementing joinery, as well as saving time and money.
Concealed storage Tall utility cupboards for ironing boards and built-in solutions like baskets and hampers mean you can enjoy a stylish and clutter-free laundry.
Fisher & Paykel 8.5kg Front Load Washer
Benchtops Gone are the days of the freestanding steel tub. Sleek Silestone benchtops dominate with their seamless built-in sinks, providing plenty of space for sorting and folding. Laminate benchtops will also do the trick (and be softer on your wallet).
Details It’s the little things that count, right? Although you don’t generally show off your laundry, you might have a reason to with the abundance of feature tiles and smooth, shiny handles on offer. Decorative and under cabinet lighting would help show off those stylish features as well as provide some much needed lighting to a generally dim room.
Appliances The main reason for the existence of your laundry is, of course, to house your washing machine and dryer. These come in many different shapes and sizes, and feature plenty of different functions, so it’s important to find the ones that best suit the needs of your household.
Samsung 8kg Heat Pump Dryer
Washing machines To front load or to top load? That is the question. To save space, front loaders can be stacked on top of one another. A stacking kit can help save space not only by stacking your washer and dryer, but also by incorporating a handy pull-out shelf to hold your laundry items. With modern technology comes a hoard of available features, from steam eco washes to live Twitter streams (ok, I may have made that one up). Don’t get too carried away with all the extra features – focus on the functions that will best suit your lifestyle, such as size and water efficiency.
Dryers Dryers are expensive to run, so keep an eye on those little energy star ratings stickers when buying. The capacity of your dryer is determined by how much you want to fit in each load, with a larger drum size suiting larger households. Obviously, you don’t want anything that impedes on the functionality of the rest of your laundry, so keep in mind the space you have set aside for your dryer. If you’re not much of an ironer like me, a smaller but faster dryer will result in fewer creases (as well as a smaller energy bill).
Anyone with the TV turned on lately (ahem, I don’t deny couch potato-ing during The Bachelor) may have come across the recent Finish Australia ad, which goes a little something like this:
Morale of the story: life is a huge load of dishes, and dishwashers are the solution to making life a little easier.
Asko White Electronic Dishwasher
One of my biggest pet hates is seeing pans, plates, mugs and cutlery pile up higher than the pyramids of Giza. Invest in a dishwasher, and all that dish caused stress disappears (unless you’re stuck with awfully lazy roommates – as far as I’m aware they haven’t invented a self-loading dishwasher yet).
Buying a dishwasher is all well and good, but choosing the right one for your lifestyle and needs might require some research. Luckily, The Good Guys Dishwasher experts have pulled together a few tips to make the choice easier:
1. Size Have your measuring tape handy because you need to buy a dishwasher that fits perfectly into the space you have set aside. The guessing game is not fun when you end up with a dishwasher two centimetres too wide, so make sure you get your calculations correct from the start.
2. Capacity An average family usually requires a dishwasher that has a 12-place setting capacity. This means it has room for 12 dinner plates, 12 soup plates, 12 tea cups and saucers, 12 dessert plates, 12 tumblers, 12 individual knives, forks, soup spoons, teaspoons and dessert spoons. If you’re a smaller household (or have a grandmother who insists on washing dishes by hand) you probably won’t need something that big.
Fisher & Paykel Stainless Steel Double Dishwasher
3. Type and Style The size of your dishwasher depends on the type of dishwasher you chose and there are three main options:
– Full sized, which fits 12 to 14 place settings, is great for those with a large family or for those you just love to throw a large dinner party every now and again
– Slimline, will fit 9 to 10 place settings, with space left over for a pot and pan
– Compact, fits 6 or less place settings and is best for any singles living the life
Aside from the size, you should also consider between a freestanding (suitable for kitchens with already available spaces) or built-in style (usually fitted with a unit door that blends in with the rest of the décor).
4. Energy efficiency Dishwashers come with both energy and water ratings. Obviously, the more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance is. Some believe that hand-washing dishes saves water, but in most cases dishwashers actually use less water (ahem, grandma!).
Bosch White Freestanding Dishwasher
5. Features Dishwashers come with a range of features, including:
– Wash cycles, with regular dishwashers having normal, delicate and heavy cycles. Some have additional programs, such as extra-hot washes for added hygiene or high-speed settings that get small loads finished fast.
– Drying cycle, because who wants to dry the dishes themselves?
– Delayed start is an energy-saving feature that can have your dishwasher start the cycle only during off-peak times.
– Self-cleaning filters are my personal favourite. Just as the name suggests, some higher end dishwashers clean themselves. Although pricier, it saves you the hassle of manually emptying out the filter.
If you’ve suddenly developed an itch for a new dishwasher, check out The Good Guys for more information.
“A kitchen design is certainly one thing that you need to get right because once it is in, for most of us, we are stuck with it for a long time.” That’s the advice from one half of The Block Sky High’s “kitchen queens” Alisa Fraser. “Spend the time planning and don’t feel pressured into making any decisions that you are not comfortable with. Look at products that are sustainable and will serve you well in years to come. You really need to picture yourself working and living in the space and make a list of things that don’t work in your current space and apply them to your new design.”
Block kitchen queens Alisa and Lysandra Fraser
I couldn’t have put it better myself. Although I personally have never designed a kitchen (the one house I bought had a kitchen I loved just as it was and since I’ve been in Australia I’ve been renting), I’ve certainly pinned enough ‘Dream Home’ photos to Pinterest and given my opinion when asked by numerous friends about theirs. I also happen to hang out with a fair few people in the interiors business (understatement!), so I like to think I have an idea of what makes a good design and what’s in.
Alisa and her twin sister Lysandra won the title of the kitchen queens on the hit renovating show, impressing the judges and the public on both the Sky High and Fans vs. Favourites series. “I think we are good at visualising a space,” Alisa says. We are very conscious of not just choosing a product because it is the latest trend, as we all know that trends come and go so quickly these days. I remember Neale Whitaker commenting on our Fans vs. Favs kitchen and saying that it would still look good in 30 years. And that is the trick! Kitchens are expensive so you don’t want to be changing them every five or so years. It’s also about making the most of a space and utilising every part of it. But most of all, a kitchen needs to be functional and practical.”
SPATIAL PLANNING
Image: Fisher & Paykel
Not everyone has the vision of Alisa and Lysandra. My advice would be to call in a professional, even if you think you know what you want. The reason for this is they do this stuff day in, day out and may well think of things you’d never have thought of. Chances are you’ve gotten very used to living with your space, which can make it hard to visualise it any other way. Most kitchen companies offer free consultations and can whip you up a CAD model of your future kitchen. Seeing it on paper in 3D will really help. They’ll also know about the latest appliances and clever storage options you might not be familiar with. I’m talking pull out pantries, dishwashers or refrigerators in drawers and combination induction and gas cooktops here!
If you feel uncomfortable about having someone in your kitchen or feel like you’ll be given the hard sell, head to your local showroom armed with a simple drawing of your kitchen with measurements. Also mark on it the location of doors, windows, plumbing and anything that can’t be moved.
THE WORK TRIANGLE?
I’m sure you’ve heard of the theory of the work triangle; that is that your stove, fridge and sink should be laid out in a triangle for optimum ergonomics and use of space in the kitchen. Is it relevant in 2014? Probably not. There are many reasons for this, not least that today’s kitchens tend to be open plan, larger and used for many more things. They’re so often the heart of the home. People eat in them, cook in them, do homework in them, and so it goes on.
While it used to be taken as Gospel, Fisher & Paykel reject the traditional notion of the work triangle. Their head of industrial design, Mark Elmore, says: “There are many more advantages to be gained through the use of distributed appliances. Consumers can choose to position modular appliances or combinations of appliances wherever they think they’ll be most useful in the kitchen, entertaining and living spaces.”
Fisher & Paykel’s head of industrial design, Mark Elmore
The work triangle came about off the back of time and motion studies. But today’s kitchens are both individual and more social, says Mark. “Today’s layouts suit a more social, usually open-plan kitchen. And layouts are more ergonomic – ovens are higher in walls and dishwashers and fridges can be distributed to suit your patterns of usage or positioned higher to minimise bending. This concept sees modular appliances, such as Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer™ or CoolDrawer™ positioned around the kitchen – or beyond – to suit the way people live.”
Image: Fisher & Paykel
Consideration should be given to which and what style of appliances you’re after at the very beginning of your design process. “When it’s stripped back to its elements, a kitchen is space plus functionality,” Mark says. “How you and your family use your kitchen should determine not just the position of appliances, but also the features you look for.”
BUDGET
It’s a good idea to set one early. So many people go into a kitchen store and for some bizarre reason, are afraid to disclose what they’re willing to spend. Quite frankly, it’s a little ridiculous. These people can help you much better if they understand the sort of money they’re working with. Don’t feel embarrassed that your budget is too low because you can only afford what you can afford. And there is no point quoting more than you intend to spend either. My advice is to be honest with the professionals. They’ll tell you what’s possible within your budget and if you then decide you can find extra money for the marble benchtop or built-in coffee machine you really can’t live without, then so be it. Not being open or honest about your budget is just going to waste everyone’s time.
Mark says, in general, people spend between a quarter and a third of their budget on appliances. “Passionate foodies who demand top performance from their appliances daily, might spend more.” An important point Mark raises is that a new kitchen gives you the opportunity to consider your whole life and design a functional space that responds to your needs.
APPLIANCES: THE BASICS
“The basic appliances every home needs are an oven, cooktop, rangehood, microwave, dishwasher and fridge-freezer. Yet the appliances you select will depend on how you cook,” Mark says. “People who love to bake or cook several meals simultaneously might go for a double oven or an extra large 90cm wide oven. Many people get a premium built-in oven and then supplement it with a combination microwave or steam oven that can be used for a different purpose.”
APPLIANCES: AESTHETICS
“Styling has become increasingly important as the trend of open-plan kitchens continues to grow,” says Mark. “Contemporary styling which works with living spaces is in high demand and if your kitchen is one of the increasing number that extends into your living area, then the look of your appliances will be more important.”
Image: Fisher & Paykel
Fisher & Paykel’s range of cooking appliances are designed to match each other – in finishes, proportions and details. Rather than having a clashing array of styles and brands, you can buy a complete suite of appliances with a cohesive, consistent look.
While integration is popular, Mark says not to discount the ‘wow’ factor of a big statement piece such as a robust, freestanding 90cm cooker or a sleek line-up of built-in appliances from their Companion range such as a coffee maker, combination microwave oven or steam oven.
THE LATEST INNOVATIONS
There is of course, always some new gadget to add the wow factor. Alisa says there are so many new appliances hitting the market every day, it is sometimes hard to keep up. “From built-in coffee machines, to steamers and instant hot and cold Zip taps, innovative appliances are what make kitchens stand out from each other.
“Appliances are not only essential and practical, but nowadays they are sexy and make a statement of their own. The right appliances in a kitchen say a lot about the people cooking in it. You can add your own personality with the many types of models now available. Choosing appliances has never been as exciting as it is today.
“We all want and expect more from kitchens now, so in your standard kitchen 10 years ago, a dishwasher was a luxury. Now, it’s just expected. Not only that, but now there are so many products available to us, when it comes to selecting appliances – cabinetry, benchtop finishes – reaching a final decision is so much harder.”
To create more flexible options, Fisher & Paykel have designed innovative appliances in drawers – the DishDrawer™ dishwasher and CoolDrawer™ multi-temperature refrigerator – plus a range of modular cooktops available in up to five burners or zones. Instead of having a traditional dishwasher next to the sink, you can put a single DishDrawer™ beside the sink and another closer to cupboards where glasses and crockery are stored. Putting appliances in the kitchen island is also a great option for open-plan kitchens.
Image: Fisher & Paykel
SPEND VS. SPLURGE
One area you can save money is on your splashbacks, says Alisa. “Glass splashbacks can be quite expensive, so head to your local tile store and see what is on special. A tiled splashback, done right, can certainly create impact. If you are really looking to save money on your kitchen renovation then as nice as it is to have soft closing drawers, they are not an essential. Another money-saving tip is to go out and source your own handles. Generally kitchen places offer the top of the range kitchen hardware, but it is amazing what specials you can pick up at your local hardware store.”
So, where should you splurge? “I certainly think quality appliances are always going to serve you well,” says Alisa. “They should last you a long time and it will save you the effort and hassle of having to replace any faulty appliances down the track. I also feel that investing in some kind of stone bench top is well worth it. Even though there are some pretty amazing laminates out there, I still feel nothing screams class as much as the real thing.”
When it comes to deciding whether to replace your appliances, bear in mind that old ones can consume more energy leading to increased costs. “Fridges are often the worst offenders,” Mark notes. “It’s really not a good idea to put your old fridge in the garage either because it can cost the price of a basic new fridge simply in running costs!”
When it comes to the cost of a benchtop, Caesarstone offer the following advice: “There are many factors to consider beyond the actual cost of the material itself. The cost to fabricate a benchtop can vary widely but it’s important to keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always necessarily better. Another simple cost-cutting measure is to factor the size of the raw material into your kitchen design – a small change in the length of your kitchen island for example, could be all the difference between needing two or three slabs of stone, which will make a big difference to the bottom line.”
WHAT’S TRENDY NOW?
When it comes to the biggest kitchen trends of the moment, Alisa highlights the comeback of the butler’s pantry and even the addition of a laundry within the kitchen to optimise space. “People are becoming more creative when it comes to storage solutions. Now they can be discreet and practical.”
View to the butler’s pantry in Carlene and Michael’s kitchen in the current series of The Block Glasshouse
Another trend is the use of slab splashbacks. “They are predominately used in open kitchens that have the advantage of working with space. Slabs with marble veins can create a focal point and in essence, become a piece of art. I am loving the use of timbers throughout kitchens this season. Whether used subtly or throughout the entire kitchen, there is something sexy and inviting about timber. It is clean, contemporary and always looks amazing with white clean lines.”
Like the twins’ kitchen in Fans vs. Favourites, which Alisa calls her dream kitchen, she is seeing a lot of designs take advantage of the space-saving and entertaining benefits of having a dining table integrated with the kitchen benchtop. “When done well, this can make your kitchen look bigger and creates dimension in the room.” When it comes to layout, Alisa doesn’t believe there is a set rule. “Each space is unique and every person has different wants and requirements.”
In fact, if you had to highlight one consistent trend in kitchens at the moment, it’s for customisation in all areas. “People who want very high temperature burners or wok cooking often select one or two gas burners and put them together with an induction cooktop,” says Mark. “Fisher & Paykel caters to this customisation as people make their own cooktop combinations. Each of the gas and induction variants are designed to match, in the same easy-to-clean, reflective black Stopsol glass and unifying polished metal strip.”
Image: Fisher & Paykel
When it comes to benchtops, due to improvements in technology, Caesarstone are seeing a trend back toward more natural looking surfaces with their marble-inspired Supernatural designs and colours in high demand. “As the modern industrial look becomes increasingly popular, we are also seeing a growing trend toward concrete-look benchtop surfaces being incorporated into mainstream kitchen designs, as more affordable and practical alternatives such as our Sleek Concrete become available,” says Caesarstone’s George Skentzos.
CHOOSING A BENCHTOP
Benchtops seem to be one of those things people um and ah over for a really long time, trying to get just right. At the end of the day, the look, colour and quality of your choice will have a big effect on the aesthetics of your kitchen. Then again, there are so many practical considerations as benchtops get a bit of a battering and you want them to last. Marble, in my opinion, looks amazing, but you wouldn’t catch me installing it as a benchtop even if I was made of money, due to its bad relationship with water!
George says: “Like the icing on a cake, a benchtop is the finishing touch for any kitchen – a personal signature which can dramatically transform the overall look of your kitchen. When selecting your benchtop, it’s important to ask yourself what overall look you want to achieve and whether you want the surface to become a focal point or blend in with the décor.”
Caesarstone’s online visualiser showing a kitchen with Sleek Concrete and Calacatta Nuvo benchtops
Designing a modern kitchen that will stand the test of time is a balancing act between incorporating current style trends with classic design elements to create an overall look that feels both modern and timeless. “Often, people make the mistake of designing their kitchen to be more clinical than contemporary, so my advice would be to incorporate natural materials like stone and timber over a neutral foundation which will always be on trend, then introduce a contemporary twist with fixtures like taps, feature lighting and splashbacks, which can be updated easily and affordably over time to keep the kitchen looking fresh.”
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
So, if you’re about to design your kitchen, listen up to the following advice from Alisa: “There are two places where people go wrong when designing a kitchen. Firstly, they don’t think about the functionality and layout. This is a huge mistake as once a kitchen is in, the layout is extremely difficult and expensive to change. The other mistake is that people design their kitchen around what is on trend right now, but come the next season, the trend will have changed. There are simple ways you can add trending products into your kitchen that can easily be changed, like pendant lights, stools, tea towels and vases. These are affordable items that can easily be removed and changed.”
CONCLUSION
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to designing your modern kitchen. While trends come and go, I hope we’ve offered you some great advice on how to budget, what to consider, where to invest and where you can make some clever savings. We know a kitchen reno is a huge and sometimes daunting task to embark on, but don’t put it in the too-hard basket anymore. Armed with the right information and having done your homework, you can have a dream kitchen that you’ll use and love for many years to come. Good luck!
NEED MORE HELP & INSPIRATION?
If you’re planning to renovate, you can find out more about the latest Fisher & Paykel offers here. For more design ideas you can explore the inspirational case studies here or check out Interiors Addict’s Kitchens & Bathroom section.
I’m currently helping my aunt with some design ideas for her new kitchen and while cabinetry, benchtops, flooring and tiles are some of the more obvious elements to choose, there’s no denying appliances are a really important part of the mix. You don’t want your shiny new kitchen let down by ageing appliances or new ones that stick out like a sore thumb or don’t match. The good news is, you don’t have to completely hide and integrate everything behind doors to ensure the finished look is cohesive. Brands like Fisher & Paykel are going beyond simply manufacturing appliances, and taking a more holistic approach to product design that also considers the aesthetics and ‘matchability’ of individual appliances as important pieces that fit together to create the kitchen look.
Years of experience working with architects and kitchen designers have given Fisher & Paykel valuable insight into kitchen design and the importance of offering functionality without sacrificing style. Their ‘Designed to Match’ philosophy underpins the way they design their products and translates into a coordinated look across its entire family of kitchen appliances. Rather than a conflicting mix of styles, the brand boasts one of the only ranges of appliances that are truly designed to match. And when I say match, I mean down to the smallest detail; everything from handles, dials, materials and proportions – across the range of refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, rangehoods and cooktops.
Sleek, contemporary and minimalist styling means they’re unlikely to date, which is important when you consider how much a new kitchen (often the most expensive room in the house) can cost. It’s even more important when you consider how many kitchens are now open plan and extending into the living space.
And you don’t have to follow the traditional advice that your fridge, oven and sink absolutely must be laid out in a triangle (frankly, this has always seemed a little too rigid to me as everyone uses their kitchen differently, right?). In fact, Fisher & Paykel have pioneered a movement away from the traditional work triangle, allowing homeowners to design their kitchen to suit the way they live their life and how they use their appliances. Their unique DishDrawerTM (literally a dishwasher in a drawer), means you can place a dishwasher close to your entertainment area for glasses and one near the sink for pots, pans and plates. The options are endless.
Fisher & Paykel are renowned for their appliance, having been awarded prestigious international Red Dot Awards for three of their latest offerings – induction Touch and Slide cooktops, three-burner Gas-on-Glass cooktop and 60cm Built-In Oven – in the last 12 months alone.
If you’re considering a new kitchen, Fisher and Paykel’s national Designed to Match Kitchen Promotion is running until 12 October 2014 and rewards you based on your total spend on eligible kitchen appliances. Customers who purchase eligible Fisher & Paykel refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, freestanding cookers, rangehoods and/or cooktops in a single transaction to the value of $3,000 or more, receive a bonus Essteele five-piece cookware set worth RRP $800. Customers who spend $5,000 or more on eligible products will be rewarded with the Essteele cookware set as well as an RRP $230 voucher from Organic Meat Online.
