Tag: kitchen reno

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House Tours Jen's reno Kitchens

The big kitchen reveal

Impressive Ultra in classic oak beige in my own kitchen

Photography by Jacqui Turk

I am so excited to finally share my new kitchen with you today! Seeing these beautiful pictures makes the last two months of mess and chaos seem more than worth while!

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home and in this house, it really is. Not just because everyone hangs out in this room, but because it really is in the middle of our home. And the light here is the best in the house. It used to drive me nuts that people gravitated towards this room because of the light when it was unrenovated, as we had much nicer spaces to entertain in like the living room! Now I am no longer embarrassed of my kitchen, I am happy for people to congregate in here and admire it whenever they want!

Black barn door hardware from Bunnings
Bar stools from GlobeWest

This really is my dream kitchen. I’m going to blog about some of the finer details separately, but today’s post is just the first overview of what we chose, what we did and why. In terms of layout, this has not changed drastically, but we did get rid of the back door (see before pix at the end of this post) to allow the cabinetry to go right to the end of the kitchen. We were also able to move our fridge freezer into the kitchen (it’s the little things, right?!) because previously there was nowhere to fit it and it lived in the dining room!

The starting point for this room was the cabinetry from Freedom Kitchens. I always knew I wanted white shaker style doors so when I found out this was possible using their new, more affordable flatpack option, the Essential range, I was thrilled. I saw flatpack as an opportunity to make great savings, which would allow me to still have the other things I dreamed of like stone benchtops.

My good friend, TV interior designer James Treble, sketched me out a rough layout I loved over dinner one night and we were off! I then worked with Freedom Kitchens design consultant Nina Hughes to turn that sketch into a detailed plan, taking into consideration the flatpack options available. This in-home service is included for everyone buying from their flatpack range, as well as a site check to make sure nothing has slipped through the net, before your cabinets are made. This really made me feel confident. I think buying a kitchen off the shelf with no professional advice or checks would have made me worry myself sick!

The next thing I chose were the handles. Anyone who knows me or has been to my home knows I just love a brass accent! I was always going to have gold handles and I sourced these from Kethy (available through The Block Shop) after seeing similar in Julia and Sasha’s beautiful Block kitchen. It was a winning combo from the start. I didn’t look at another handle so this proved to be one of the easiest decisions!

Then benchtops: through my job, I know Caesarstone by reputation and I loved their designs. I had three samples on high rotation but I finally went for the most subtle, Noble Grey, for a few reasons. I liked the contrast of the grey with the white cabinetry, and while the Calacatta marble-look designs have been hugely popular recently, I wanted something a little different. Then I saw blogger Briar Stanley from Sunday Collector use Noble Grey in her amazing kitchen and that sealed the deal.

Of course, then I needed to decide on a complementary splashback. I absolutely love tiles but trying to choose some left me paralysed by indecision! There were just too many amazing choices. I could have opted for subways, and I am a fan, but again, I wanted something a little different. So I decide to carry the Caesarstone up the splash as well; a decision I have not regretted for one second! The splash behind the cooktop is really quite deep so it makes a real feature. When the light through the opposite window hits it, it really shows off the veins in it. I also think the streamlined look it has created has allowed me to add my other, more bling touches, without it feeling cluttered or over the top.

Speaking of bling, the gold tap is from Meir and I am so in love with it! Taps really are like jewellery in a kitchen. You can’t miss them so you might as well make a statement! Their new Tiger Bronze colour was released at just the right time a few months ago and I was lucky enough to be one of the first to get my hands on it! Would a gold sink as well prove too much? I must admit, I did really worry about my decision, but in the end, it all came together beautifully. And nobody can believe that sink came from Bunnings!

Of course, a kitchen can (and should!) look beautiful but it needs to function too! Having room for a fridge freezer was a great start! But I needed to think long and hard about the appliances, which I chose from Italian brand Ilve. I was really excited to get an integrated dishwasher from an aesthetic perspective but this one works brilliantly and even has a light inside, plus one which shines onto the floor so you know it’s on (being that it’s hidden behind a cabinet door). I just love how it seamlessly blends into the kitchen.

Choosing an oven was a lot harder than anticipated and something I’ve never done before. I eventually decided on a 90cm electric oven and having that extra space is already proving a Godsend when entertaining. I can’t wait to give it a really good workout on Christmas Day.

Then of course you have to match that with a 90cm cooktop even though I’m not sure I’ll ever use all six burners at the same time! We first wanted gas but had a delay finding out if we could get connected, which led us to opt for induction. I’m so glad we went this route because I bloody love it! I cannot believe how quick it is to heat up, it’s a dream to clean and, importantly, it’s safe, which when you have an adventurous climbing toddler around is one less thing to worry about. I’m also thrilled with our hidden rangehood which allows me to have an uninterrupted row of overhead cupboards.

So, we had the bones of a great kitchen, but there were two other things I needed to achieve: replacing the dated sliding door to the laundry, with a modern take on a barn door and black hardware was the first. I wanted the door to have VJ panelling so we did this by cutting Easycraft panels (I’m in love with this product) to size and fixing them to the front of a very cheap, plain door. We then decided what the hell, why not panel the entire wall and wow, wasn’t that the best call? This wall has become a real feature of the kitchen. We also did the back of our breakfast bar in the same paneling and colour.

Art by the Print Emporium

Secondly, I wanted to tie in the dining area, which adjoins the kitchen and previously had a cork floor, much better. I did this by adding VJ wainscoting to this room and painting it in the same grey (the panelling is in Haymes Paint Chinchilla Fur and the walls are Haymes Paint Greyology 4). It has made a huge difference. Of course, having the same floor helped massively too.

The icing on the cake of all this was our new Quickstep Impressive Ultra laminate floor (more on that next week) which we have also laid in the living room, hallway and my home office. Once that went down, we were finally finished!

A few other things I’m really glad we did and are worth a mention were:

  • adding bulkheads for a more finished, streamlined look (and no dust or clutter accumulating on top of the overhead cupboards)
  • putting a power socket in the back of the pantry so I could hide the Nespresso machine and toaster away in there
  • making sure there was a space for the microwave under the breakfast bar out of sight, so it didn’t have to use precious benchtop space
  • making one of the five powerpoints (you can never have too many) a USB one (we use this every day to charge a phone or laptop and it has proven really handy)
  • opting for a pullout double bin under the sink so there’s no ugly bin on show or in the way (I obviously need to get out more but I really love this!).

I could rave about my new kitchen all day but I’ll focus on some other aspects in future blog posts.

Overall, I am thrilled with kitchen and that it is finished before Christmas! I’m just waiting on my blinds (Romans) and looking for the perfect new kettle! A huge thank you to our friends at Integriti Bathrooms who helped project manage this reno.

Now, we could finish this without taking a look back at the before photos!

What do you think of the transformation? If you have any questions, please write them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you.

Want more? Take the VIDEO TOUR with Jen.

Listen to my husband Damian interview me about our kitchen reno in this podcast!

More kitchen and bathroom inspo.

Categories
Designers Kitchens RENO ADDICT The Block

Julia and Sasha’s new reno, update 5: kitchen and laundry week

It’s instalment five of our exclusive series with former Blockheads Julia and Sasha and so much has happened! Read on for Julia’s warts and all account, some exciting developments (and, let’s be a honest, a few fails!).

Kitchen Week was by far our favourite on The Block and it was no different this time around. I mean, what’s not to love? We got to create the space of our dreams with the help of our dear friends at Freedom Kitchens. Because they’re so fab, they also mucked in with our laundry and trust me when I say she’s a beauty. You want to stick around for this one, folks.

Julia and Sasha’s Block kitchen

The kitchen is indeed the heart of the home and we started thinking about what she might look like early on. One of the best ways to maintain consistency in a property is to utilise the same cabinetry throughout, so what we installed here will be mirrored in other rooms.

After considering our options and starting way too many Pinterest boards, we settled on our trusty fave – the Shaker profile. Yes, yes, I know. We’ve used it before so why not do something different? Short answer – because it works. I’ve never met a Shaker I didn’t like and that goes for most buyers. Elsternwick is a conservative suburb so it didn’t make sense to risk the eventual sale price with anything too out there. The Shaker provides the perfect blend of classic meets contemporary and appeals to the widest market. We opted for touch joinery over handles to add a modern twist (and also because the drawers are just really fun to open).

Julia and Sasha’s other Block Kitchen. Credit: Freedom Kitchens

Once this decision was locked and loaded, it was time to think about layout. Our kitchen is the star of the open-plan space and boasts a north-eastern orientation. It needed to cater for a growing family so a butler’s pantry was a must. I fell down a rabbit hole when researching island benches before settling on a design with multiple waterfalls. Our bank account was none too impressed, but the heart wants what the heart wants! We’ve long loved Caesarstone’s Calacatta Nuvo and made plans for it to take centre stage. See, I told you it was the stuff dreams are made of!

Ahead of our appointment with Freedom Kitchens, I mocked up what I considered to be a fabulous sketch of what we were after. Alas, graphic design is not my forte and our designer took one look at it, laughed, and pulled out the red pen. Thanks for nothing, Jack! Seriously though, he was nothing short of fabulous and got our brief in seconds. Within a few short hours, he delivered a stunning space high in functionality. We never thought we’d be able to squeeze in a four-stack of appliances but he proved us wrong and I’m so glad he did.

We wanted to play on two things – height and light. We specified ultra-tall cabinets and a white finish to elongate the proportions. For a seamless transition, we kept the butler’s pantry open and integrated the double fridge/freezer from Bosch. Because our house Little Willow sits in a Jewish locale, it was important to incorporate elements of Kosher living. This meant providing multiple sinks, preparation areas, and two unique ovens.

The kitchen becoming reality. Flooring in White Smoked by Royal Oak Floors

Of course, we couldn’t do this without the amazing folk at NEFF. They’ve supplied us with the most incredible range of appliances and we feel like spoilt squids. Did someone say FlexInduction cooktop with integrated downdraft? Oh yeah, it’s going in our kitchen. How about a combi steam, coffee machine and two dishwashers? We’ve got them all as well. NEFF have seriously upped the luxury stakes and taken things to a whole new level. We couldn’t love them more.

The kitchen featuring NEFF appliances

With the kitchen sorted, it was time to turn our attention to the laundry. There was a time when this space was merely for utilities but my how things have changed. Though often compact in size, there’s so much you can do with joinery, stone, tiles and tapware. The laundry we created on The Block was a crowd favourite thanks to its white cabinetry, brass hardware and marble splashback. Truth be told, it didn’t cost the Earth, but looked more high-end than Kim Kardashian’s grill!

Julia and Sasha’s Block laundry. Credit: Urban Angles

Taking a leaf from our own book, we specified Shaker joinery throughout, plus a few open shelves. The benchtop is from Caesarstone’s latest range in the shade Intense White. Of course, a splashback isn’t a splashback unless it’s covered in marble so we locked in penny round mosaics from the excellent Beaumont Tiles. Reece always come to the party with a hint of bling and I can’t wait to show you the incredible champagne gooseneck they’re supplying, courtesy of Sussex Taps.

The laundry in progress

Now, I know that all sounds divine and almost too much to handle but we haven’t even arrived at the best bit. I have two words for you – mud room. Yep, the other side of the laundry is a dedicated mud room and 100 percent Sasha’s baby. It’s the only part of the house she had free rein on and I must admit, she nailed it. The laundry can be accessed from outside so she’s included a bench seat for removing shoes, enough cubbies to stow them in, plus storage options for school bags and stinky soccer gear. It’s all looking a bit bare right now but will soon be dressed with millions of cushions and pretty wallpaper. I’m pushing for a tropical vibe but she keeps telling me to mind my own business. Watch this space!

Admitting defeat in the mud room

Once our design was set in stone, it was time for installation. This is always my favourite part as it finally becomes real; everything you’ve carefully curated comes to life before your eyes. It only took the boys two days to build both spaces and they absolutely nailed it. Sasha picked up the drill on a few occasions because she’s a walking stereotype and can now add kitchen installer to her long list of clichéd skills!

Sash getting her hands dirty

We’re currently awaiting stone installation, then our fab plumber will be back to connect the sinks and tapware. In all honesty, we couldn’t be happier with our two heroes. They speak volumes about the quality of Little Willow and will be an absolute delight once complete. I swore I wouldn’t get too attached to this house but it’s getting increasingly difficult because it’s just too beautiful!

Stand by for a blow-by-blow of the finished product before we start spamming our Insta with summer parties and stain removal tips (any excuse to take pics of the laundry).

Until then,

Julia xx

Missed a bit? Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Categories
House Tours Jen's reno RENO ADDICT

Reno realities: Jen’s kitchen update

In partnership with Latitude Financial Services

So, my kitchen reno started on September 27. And it still isn’t finished! Unusual? Not really! From my own and others’ experience, these things are never as speedy as you anticipate. Four weeks from start to finish? Pah! I never really believed it! Add to that the fact we had to stop for almost a week last week to have new floors go in (was hoping it would have already been finished but hey ho!), and here we are, with an 85% finished kitchen.

I’m not going to share any new photos here because I figure we might as well wait for the full reveal now! You can see all the progress I’ve shared on my Instagram and the hashtag #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno

I’ve been lucky enough to have my friends at Integriti Bathrooms and their site supervisor (legend!) Steve coordinating all my trades. And there are a lot of trades involved, especially when you opt for a flatpack kitchen (for budget reasons). You need someone to demolish and take away the old one (or hire a skip), to organise someone to both assemble it (okay, it’s possible to DIY but Damian and I don’t rate our skills and patience in that department) and install, as well as a plumber, electrician and plasterer at an absolute minimum. We also got rid of a back door which required a carpenter, and added bulkheads, which required another visit from the plasterers. Then there’s always a wait for your stone (Caesarstone) to be cut by the stonemason although ours was ready in under a week, which is amazing!

Then unexpected things will pop up to throw you: fitting our concealed rangehood and venting it through the roof was a tricky job and we needed a different tradie for this.

We always planned to have a sliding barn-style door to our laundry but finding the right size door took a while, then we decided to do that whole wall in VJ panelling (door and all) and oh my goodness, it looks great! So this required more carpenters. And then I got a bit excited about VJ and decided to do wainscoting in the adjoining dining room. None of it is painted yet so ignore the off-white look!

So, was it worth doing a flatpack kitchen with the added hassle and time of organising trades myself (with help, thankfully)? A RESOUNDING YES. I couldn’t be happier with my cabinetry from Freedom Kitchen’s Essential Range. Every trade who has been in here (and my goodness there have been loads lately!) has been surprised (pleasantly) that it wasn’t a custom job and said the quality is as good as any more expensive kitchens they’ve worked with. And that’s good to hear from people who know their kitchens, but I was already very happy with what I could see with my own eyes. And I’ve been able to “pimp” my flatpack with my choice of stone, hardware, appliances etc. I’m delighted to be honest! Just want the damn thing finished!

Check out this video of me with Jess Aloi from Latitude Financial Services, discussing ways to get the luxe look for less in your kitchen reno:

Make your reno dreams come true with some help from our partners at Latitude Financial Services.

***

OUR KITCHEN SUPPLIERS

  • Project management and trades: Integriti Bathrooms
  • Cabinetry: Freedom Kitchens
  • Benchtop and splashback: Caesarstone
  • Appliances: Ilve
  • Tapware: Meir
  • Sink and black barn door hardware: Bunnings
  • Floor: Quickstep
  • Paint: Haymes
  • Hardware: Kethy
  • Blinds (DIY Online Blinds)
  • VJ paneling: Easycraft

I’ll give you all the finer details in the full reveal post. My painters are due today so we should be done very soon!

 

Categories
Expert Tips Jen's reno Kitchens RENO ADDICT

How to get a luxe look for less in your kitchen reno

In partnership with Latitude Financial Services

Kitchens can be expensive. Very expensive. I’m in the middle of one so trust me, I know! And while we all know they sell houses and they’re the heart of the home (why so many kitchen cliches, eh?!), we don’t all have unlimited budgets, much as we’d love to have the best of everything.

Today, I’m sharing some of the best ways to still achieve a luxe look without spending a fortune, with a few of my own examples thrown in.

Go flatpack

Flatpack kitchens no longer have the stigma they used to; probably because they’re a lot lot better than they used to be. A flatpack kitchen will save you a significant amount of money compared to a custom job. I’ve personally chosen a flatpack kitchen from Freedom Kitchens’ relatively new Essential Range. I could still have a satin finish and shaker profile door, which is what I wanted anyway, so I’m happy!

Freedom Kitchens’ Essential Kitchens range

Some other popular flatpack kitchens are:

  • IKEA
  • Kaboodle at Bunnings
  • Semble

When doing your calculations, bear in mind that if you don’t have the time, skills or inclination to put it together yourself, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a handyman or similar to help. All of the above brands suggest that they are a DIY product though, so technically, you should be able to handle it yourself. We don’t all have the time or patience though!

Pimp your cabinets

I’m talking hardware. You can buy your handles from anywhere, not just the place you got the cabinets from. So look around for something special. For a few hundred dollars you could have your cupboards looking amazing. I’m using brass Kethy handles and I’m in love! They’re going to be like the jewellery of my kitchen!

I’m having these brass handles by Kethy in my kitchen

Mix up your fronts

Just because you have an affordable flatpack kitchen, doesn’t mean you have to go for an all gloss white look. There are a lot more colours and finishes available these days and there’s no reason why you can’t go two-tone; in fact, it’s quite on trend. Think about having your top cabinets one colour and your bottoms ones another (probably darker).

Image: Freedom Kitchens

Make a splashback statement

I’m talking tiles! There are so many affordable options out there now. Yes, you can get great results with the common subway (like half the country!) and if you’re going to do this I’d suggest a more organic imperfect subway or a bevelled one, perhaps mixing up the grout by choosing black or a grey rather than white (doesn’t show dirt either!). But if you’re feeling brave, make a real statement with something colourful, patterned or textured. This won’t set you back too much in the average kitchen but will make a huge difference compared to the cheaper glass splashback. Other affordable yet impactful options might be mirror (if you can handle the cleaning) or pressed tin.

Source: DiLorenzo Tiles

Consider some open shelving

This may be as simple as some overhead flatpack cabinets without doors. Or you might decide on a few solid timber shelves. Being able to display cook books or beautiful ornaments unexpectedly in the kitchen really can add a touch of class, personality and individuality; not things we associate with a bog standard cheap kitchen!

Josh and Jenna’s Reno Rumble kitchen. Source: Caesarstone

Accessorise like a pro

A little goes a long way. Think cannisters, stacked timber chopping boards of different sizes, a marble mortar and pestle, an amazing fruit bowl on the breakfast bar. Places like Target and Kmart are you friend here! Or if you have a bit more to spend, invest in something beautiful like a handmade ceramic fruit bowl, a great coffee machine or even some framed art for the wall.

Source: Freedom Kitchens

Paint and wallpaper

So you can’t afford the navy kitchen of your dreams. You can have navy walls! There’s generally not much spare wall in a kitchen which makes it easier to be brave with your colour choice, especially if you’ve kept it simple elsewhere. I’m intending to paint the sliding barn door from our kitchen to our laundry navy. You’d think I was obsessed with navy or something…

Source: Little Greene

Don’t forget your window treatments

Like accessories, window treatments can make a real difference to the look of the end product and really finish it off. Think about plantation shutters for a high end look (they won’t cost you much for just this one room) or how about having a Roman blind made in an amazing linen or patterned fabric?

Image: Shutters from DIY Online Blinds in Bec and George Douros’ latest reno

–For help with financing your reno, speak to our partners at Latitude Financial Services.

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Before & Afters Design DIY RENO ADDICT

How to renovate for profit by just picking the right paint colour

A recent US study highlighted the power of blue to tap into the psyche of buyers. Analysing more than 32,000 listing photos of homes that had sold across the US, it found blue was a colour that people gravitated to, which possibly explains why it seems to be the colour du jour.

In kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, dining rooms… blue reigns supreme when it came to attracting top dollar, so I’m feeling pretty chuffed about my choice of colour palette for a couple of recent renovation projects.

 

After: Painted in Taubmans Blue Willow with Juniper Berry for the feature walls.
Before

Twin shades

This was a whole-house renovation of a home in Sydney’s western suburbs. It was part of a low-budget cosmetic renovation designed to spruce up the property prior to the owners putting it on the market. The total renovation spend, inside and out, was a meagre $15,000, so a fresh new paint scheme was pivotal to the makeover.

After: Painted in Taubmans Blue Willow with Juniper Berry for the feature walls.
Before

I chose a mix of Taubmans Blue Willow and darker Juniper Berry for the interior. After’s a week’s work, the house was revalued at $25,000 more than when we started! A testament to the power of blue?

Kitchen essentials

This is the kitchen of one of my rental properties in Sydney’s west. The kitchen was treated to a facelift on a wincy $2,000 budget, which included a $700 appliance package and Senso vinyl flooring – most of the work (except the electricals, of course) done with the help of my sister, Jeneane. However, the real change in personality came from the powder blue colour I chose to gloss over the kitchen cabinets. It’s like a breath of sea air.

After: Cabinets painted with White Knight Laminate tinted to Taubmans Surf Spray.
Before

— Cherie Barber is the director of Renovating for Profit, a company that teaches everyday people how to buy and renovate properties for a profit. You can pre-order her new book here.

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Expert Tips Kitchens RENO ADDICT

The 3 must-dos when planning your kitchen island

After last night’s Block kitchen reveals, it seemed like a good day to talk kitchen islands!

When it comes to determining the layout of your kitchen island, functionality should trump all else. It is important to consider the daily activities that will happen around your island and tailor your design around those. Think about what kind of storage you might need, what items you’ll be using in the kitchen, the look you want to achieve, how you want to use your space and so on.

Josh Mammoliti from The Blue Space shares his hottest tips for how to choose the right kitchen island for you:

Don’t forget the basics

Have ample power points installed and not just for your kitchen appliances. Remember you will likely be charging laptops, tablets, phones and who knows what else regularly, so keeping cords nice and tidy and power within reach is essential.

Somewhere to chill

Breakfast bars are a great addition to a kitchen and double the functionality of your space for little additional cost. Informal meals, catching up on a bit of work or hanging out with a glass of red are almost daily rituals in a busy kitchen hub.

Double up

You will never regret adding in an extra sink and tap. With a vast island bench space you will find yourself preparing meals with ease and have the perfect space for entertaining guests. Adding a second sink for food prep work is as good as having a butlers’ pantry, especially to help avoid clashes with other people busily using the main sink and bench area for washing up.

— Josh Mammoliti is managing director of The Blue Space, a business changing the way you renovate. At the click of a button you can purchase not just individual items, but complete stylised bathrooms, kitchens and laundries.

For more kitchen inspo

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Why you should splurge on custom cabinetry

Renovating can get expensive… very expensive! So inevitably the question comes: when to splurge and when to rein it in? Custom cabinetry is, in my opinion, something worth spending money on. Not only do you get exactly what you want, but you also get a seamless design that works for kitchens, entertainment units, bathroom vanities and laundries.

There’s a lot of hard work that goes into cutting the intricate pieces and sections of custom cabinets to justify that premium price, so it’s important you do your research and ensure you are getting a genuine made-to-measure service.

Sarah Comerford, Director at HOME by belle, a kitchen and bathroom renovation specialist based in Sydney, shares her top tips and trade secrets for getting the best bang for your buck.

Start with the layout
This may seem obvious but is so important. Look at the layout of the home, make sure you get the orientation right and that all the cabinetry flows together. Also consider the sight lines and what areas you notice the most. Find ways to get the most functionality out of your space to maximise storage and clever design ideas will start to come to you.

Steer clear of swinging doors
Swinging doors take up a lot of space and traditional cupboards can accumulate clutter so consider filling the base cabinets with draws.  Draws are much better for maximising storage and are ideal for both kitchens and bathrooms. While you may lose a small amount of space due to draw runners, what you gain back in practicality is more valuable. There are also many functional design ideas that can go into a draw, for example a spice draw, pull-out bins and slide out benches that can be designed bespoke for your home.

Consider the finishes
The trend today is to introduce a lot of different finishes and there are many to choose from. For instance polyurethane, satin finish, timber veneer, stone and marble. The mix of finishes makes the design process more involved but it is becoming increasingly important as people look to create spectacular centrepieces for the home.

Treat handles like jewellery
Handles can take beautiful cabinetry to the next level and make a big style statement. There are many different styles of handles to choose from, which can allow you to add a personal touch. But handles aren’t for everyone and there are a number of handle free options available.

Create concealed walk-in areas
There is currently a big trend towards butler’s pantries and creating concealed spaces in the home. This is a result of more people integrating their kitchen and living areas and wanting to hide unsightly mess. Walk-in pantries can act as multi-purpose storage areas, for instance a place to store kid’s schoolbags or conceal a laundry.

Don’t forget the laundry
It’s a mistake to think laundries don’t need a lot of effort. Laundries need storage and functionality and deserve to be just as amazing as the kitchen. Consider things like a spray tap for cleaning muddy boots, basins large enough for soaking, built-in ironing boards and pull-out bars for airing clothes.

For more information | Check out our sister site Reno Addict

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

4 reasons why you should consider a flat pack kitchen

Considering a kitchen reno? You’re not alone! Alongside the bathroom, the kitchen is the most popular room to renovate, according to the findings of realestate.com.au’s 2016  Consumer Intentions Study. Interestingly, of those planning renovations, 32% say they will do most of the work themselves, 29% say they will do part of the work and 17% say they will do all the work themselves.

4 reasons why you should consider a flat pack kitchenImage source: Domain

With the average kitchen renovation costing anywhere between $12,590 – $33,067 and an average spend of $21,670, according to homeadvisor.com, it’s no wonder that renovators are looking for cost effective and DIY options. And with flat pack options coming in at around $5000, depending on material and appliance choice, it’s certainly an appealing option.

We’ve rounded up the 4 key reasons why a flat pack kitchen might work for your reno.

4 reasons why you should consider a flat pack kitchen

4 reasons why you should consider a flat pack kitchenImage source: United Kitchen Co

1. It’s cost effective – As previously mentioned, a bespoke kitchen reno can run into the tens of thousands of dollars range. A flat pack kitchen on the other hand can set you back at little as $5000. That being said, the cost will range, depending on your choice of material, appliances and installation method. Choosing a flat pack kitchen also gives you the option to cut costs in some places and spend a little more in others. If you were going for the bespoke installation model, you may not be able to afford a stone splash back or timber grain benchtop, but with the money you’ll save with a flat pack, that might be in reach.

2. It’s completely customisable – The modern flat pack kitchen is a far cry from its budget (read: cheap), limited option predecessor. With a flat pack kitchen, you can choose your cabinetry, doors, panels, bench tops and appliances in a range of different colours and finishes. You can also configure the design to fit your space. Retailers like IKEA, now offer hundreds of options for everything from door handles to closing mechanisms to truly make your design your own.

3. You don’t need to compromise on quality – The flat pack used to by synonymous with poor quality. Not so anymore. Bespoke, custom made kitchens and their flat pack counterparts are very similar in their construction methods, the primary difference is in the installation. Modern flat packs can be made to extremely high standards and offer plenty of high end features more commonly seen in a custom design.

4. There are plenty of retail options – From Ikea to Freedom Kitchens to Bunnings, plenty of retailers have hopped on the flat pack bandwagon and now offer flat pack kitchen packages. This gives you the ability to extensively shop around, compare prices and also find exactly what you’re looking for, without being restricted to a single retailer or supplier.

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Expert Tips Kitchens

The best tricks for a cheap DIY kitchen makeover

After

By Cherie Barber

Last month, I highlighted two bathrooms I’d renovated for prices that probably drew disbelief from some who might have forked out treble the amount for half the impact. Those two case studies hopefully did demonstrate what highly targeted cosmetic renovating is all about.

This month, I’m shifting the focus to kitchens. The trick, as always, is to zoom in on the obvious flaws, without delving into expensive and largely invisible or unnecessary updates. For example, updating things like old tapware, handles, lighting and power point covers are cheap fixes compared with moving your sink from one end of the kitchen to the other.

If your kitchen layout is perfectly okay, then don’t mess with it, short of maybe adding a few additional cupboards or shelves, which won’t require plumbing or electrical trades – that always bumps up the price.

Saving graces

If you really do need to install a new kitchen, there are a couple of cost savings worth considering. While I’d consider it design suicide to try and install your own flatpack kitchen and get it looking professional (hire a carpenter or installer for this), there’s no reason why any handy DIYer can’t assemble the cupboards themselves. If you’ve successfully pulled off an IKEA brain teaser, then you should be fine with this assembly task.

And if you’ve decided to project manage the kitchen renovation yourself, be sure you’re across the all-important “order of works”, which dictates which trades are needed for what stage of the renovation (eg, carpenter, sparkie, plumber, tiler, benchtop installer, etc); otherwise you’ll either be waiting on trades that aren’t available or paying for endless callouts when a couple would have covered it.

A couple of useful free tools are:

Bunnings kitchen planner 

Wattyl colour planner 

Here are two kitchens I’ve done that highlight what you can be achieved on tiny budgets if all they need is a few decades stripped away.

The $2300 kitchen

  • Paint existing kitchen cabinets and rangehood with specialty paints
  • Paint benchtops, tinted to Taubmans “Viking Gray”, finishing with White Knight Bench Top Clear
  • Install new feature tiles for splashback
  • Remove old oven and reformat the space to incorporate microwave
  • Install Gerflor feature panels on underside of the breakfast bar
  • Install feature light over breakfast bar
  • Install new slimline venetian blinds
Before
After

 

The $4000 kitchen

  • Reshuffle existing kitchen cabinetry for a more functional layout
  • Add corner shelving
  • Create a new large pantry (not pictured)
  • Install new benchtop in missing sections
  • Replace handles
  • Install new kitchen appliances
  • Install new splashback wallpaper
  • Install glass panel over wallpaper
  • Install white tiles around window
  • Repaint existing kitchen cabinets
  • Resurface benchtops using Rust-Oleum Benchtop Transformations Kit 
  • Install micro venetian blind
Before
After

Cherie Barber is the director of Renovating for Profit, a company that teaches everyday people how to buy and renovate properties for a profit. 

Categories
Kitchens RENO ADDICT

How to protect your timber benchtops from the get-go

protect your timber benchtops

There’s plenty of reasons to love timber benchtops. The style, aesthetics and durability of timber is second to none. If you’ve decided on timber benchtops for your kitchen reno then you’ll be well aware that they can come with a decent price tag. Typically, you can expect to pay $350 per square metre for a cheaper timber, like bamboo and up to $1200 per square metre for a hardwood like Jarrah or Ironbark.

How to protect your timber benchtops from the get-goImage source: Nullarbor Timber

Installing timber benchtops is worth the spend for many renovators but with a very specific catch; timber needs to be treated well to really pull its weight. Timber is what’s referred to as a ‘soft’ material. This is especially true when comparing it to other materials typically used to makes benches like laminate and stone. This can mean ongoing maintenance issues, especially if you don’t get things right from the get go.

The biggest mistake you can make with your timber benchtops, is not treating the wood properly and thoroughly from the get-go. Investing the time and money in a product that will protect your investment in the long term is key to ensuring a good, long term finish.

Cabot’s new Benchtop Clear timber coating product for interior benchtops and tables is a highly durable, heat and stain resistant coating product that protects against almost anything your kitchen has to throw at it with the added bonus of enhancing the natural grain of the timber to prolong its appearance and minimise the chances yellowing over time.

One of the biggest selling points of the product? Its food safe properties, which keep timber surfaces protected from nasty liquids while providing a more hygienic food preparation area. James Fisher, Senior Brand Manager for Cabot’s explains that consumers are often being directed to flooring grade clears and tung oil-based products. “These aren’t specifically formulated for benches and don’t contain the food safe stamp of approval,” says James. “Benchtop Clear, however, has been designed with exactly this purpose in mind, to offer people a safe, simple and hard-wearing way to safeguard their kitchen’s timber surfaces.”

Cabot’s advises re-coating your benchtops every 6-12 months to ensure their longevity.

Cabot’s Benchtop Clear is available in 1L tins, in both Satin and Gloss finishes. For more information, visit www.cabots.com.au

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Step inside Chrissie Swan’s chic yet practical kitchen reno

The Aussie radio and television personality Chrissie Swan upgraded her Melbourne kitchen recently resulting in a much more functional space for her family of five, that looks fabulous too.

Chrissie’s kitchen BEFORE

“The old kitchen looked shabby and dated. There was almost no bench space, and a stupid overhead cabinet that was tricky and always malfunctioning. But the worst part was that the fridge was housed in a dark brown Laminex tower smack bang in the middle of the kitchen blocking the view to the living room and closing in the kitchen completely, making it impractical and small,” says Chrissie who relocated the fridge to completely open up the space.

Chrissie’s kitchen BEFORE – the fridge dominated the space

And while the mother of three young children wanted the space to be more functional, she wasn’t prepared to compromise on style. “I wanted a simple, unfussy kitchen that I didn’t have to be precious about but still looked stylish and contemporary without being faddish, and a bit luxurious too. I needed more bench space desperately and some nice appliances to add some luxury. It needed to be robust and able to withstand lots of cooking and lots of people,” says Chrissie.

Chrissie’s kitchen AFTER

It was a love of marble that took her to Granite Transformations where she sourced an engineered stone at a fraction of the price of the real thing. “I love marble (who doesn’t) but it’s so hard to look after and I don’t have the time or natural ability to keep it looking good. I’d ruin it. So, I was really thrilled to see the Trend Surface engineered stone as it’s an affordable and beautiful alternative to marble. It meant that I could get the marble look I was after (and a lot of it) without having to remortgage my house. I also chose from the matte collection of Laminex cupboards fronts,” says Chrissie.

Chrissie’s kitchen AFTER

“It was essential for me to have a robust surface in my kitchen. I cook a lot. A LOT. And I have hot pans and stand mixers and knives and food processors all on the go often at the same time. My kids also like to help prep in the kitchen so I needed a benchtop that can withstand the odd cutting up of a pear straight on the benchtop without a chopping board. I loved the surface I chose because it has all the class and timelessness of marble without the maintenance. I love it.” The engineered marble alternative certainly fulfils the ‘robust’ criteria as it is non-porous and heat, scratch, stain and impact resistant.

Chrissie in her new kitchen

Amazingly, the new kitchen took just five days to complete given all of the building is done off-site. “One Monday, the guys came and dismantled the kitchen, over the next few days the new cupboards arrived on a truck and were installed, then the stone was cut on site in my driveway and fitted straight away and literally by Friday night I was cooking dinner in the new kitchen with everything finished,” says Chrissie.

For more.

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchen

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchen

A small kitchen space can sometimes seem like the bugbear of your renovation plans. Not enough room to achieve what you want to achieve. Minimal storage. Subdued styling options. It doesn’t have to be that way however. Thanks to the surge in small living spaces, a small kitchen no longer needs to be the bane of your renovation plans.

We’ve rounded up 4 of the best clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchen, regardless of its proportions.

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchenImage source: House Beautiful

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchen

1. Utilise every available surface – It seems like a no brainer but when wall space is at a premium, you need to make the most of every single centimetre available. Assess your kitchen and if you’ve got a bare wall space, work out what you could do with it. Whether it’s installing small shelves, a pegboard for hanging pots and pans or even a series of hooks to hang utensils can mean less clutter and more useable space.

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchenImage source: Inspired By Charm

2. Make the most of your dimensions – Deep drawers and cabinets or shelves that stretch to the ceiling are a small kitchens best pal. The deeper the draw, the more storage capacity and with the use of rolling shelves, a lazy susan or two and a tiered storage system, you really can stash more than you thought was possible. Likewise, if you’re installing new cabinets, make sure they stretch all the way to the ceiling. If you’ve already got cabinets in place that stop prematurely, consider adding a shelf/shelves or even a series of storage baskets to make the best use of this otherwise empty space.

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchenImage source: Apartment Therapy

3. Employ visual tricks – Making your space appear larger and less confined is the name of the game for the small kitchen. Employing a neural colour palette and minimising clutter is helpful but to really pack a punch, consider one of the oldest tricks in the book; mirrored surfaces. A reflective or mirrored splashback or panel can make your kitchen appear much, much larger than it actually is, without any need for dramatic renovations.

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchenImage source: The Splashback Co

4. Multi-purpose it – Multi-purpose surfaces and appliances help you to make the most of limited space. If choosing new appliances, look for ones that have multiple functionalities like a sink with built in chopping board or food processor that does it all. If your appliances are already in place, consider how you could integrate more functionality to the space. Could you add a chopping surface over your dish drainer or install an incinerator within the sink to minimise the need for a large garbage bin?

Clever hacks to make the most of a small kitchenImage source: Pinterest

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Can a good kitchen attract property buyers?

Can a good kitchen attract property buyers?

A kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms to renovate so make sure yours is pulling its weight when it comes time to attract property buyers and sell up with these expert tips from award-winning and experienced real estate agent Mark Foy.

While the number of bedrooms and bathrooms may figure prominently in property advertising, a kitchen is often considered the ‘heart’ of a house and is therefore just as important. I wouldn’t say a good kitchen sells a property but it’s certainly the case that a bad kitchen can be a deal breaker, or at the very least affect the offer price as prospective buyers tally up what it’ll cost to fix up a disaster zone. So what are the best investments for a kitchen renovation?

Can a good kitchen attract property buyers?Image source: Houzz

1. Neutralise the space – I know I say this a lot but I also can’t say it enough: make the space neutral. If you were renovating for yourself you could do anything you wanted: create a mosaic splashback, install a wood fire pizza oven or have apple-green pantry doors, but if you’re renovating to sell you need to make the space appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. A neutral kitchen – think a palette of white, grey and stainless steel—will allow buyers to project their own vision onto the space. It may seem boring to you, but this reno is not for you, it’s for the next person. That being said, these days there are a lot of trendy fixtures and fittings appearing in kitchens such as coloured marble benchtops and brass tone drawer handles. If they suit your property, you might consider these to update your kitchen’s look, but don’t spend a fortune on a trend.

Can a good kitchen attract property buyers?Image source: FreshHome

2. Replace appliances—but only if you need to – If your property is from the 1950s and the fixed kitchen appliances are ‘original’, I suggest updating them. Beware of size differences because things like oven dimensions have changed over the decades. Older spaces will take an oven 600mm wide, but you may have to consider a more involved renovation to accommodate the newer 700mm and 900mm ovens. If you’ve installed appliances within the last five years, don’t worry about replacing them if they are in good working order, but make sure they are clean and polished before inspection time. Don’t go over the top and spend big money on luxury brands either, they will not add value to a kitchen. A reputable brand will do. Instead, spend your money on a good fit so there are no gaps between benchtops and the new appliances.

3. Lighten up – Dark kitchens are hard to sell. It doesn’t matter whether the buyer is hopeless in the kitchen, it makes sense to have light in a space where you’re handling knives and heat. One owner I know installed a skylight in a kitchen that was dark during the day but if you don’t need that kind of drastic remedy, or if it’s not possible, look at different lighting options such as general lighting for the space and task lighting for preparation areas, the stovetop and elsewhere, including your walk-in pantry. I’d also advise getting rid of a fluorescent tube and replacing it with down lights. Also consider the different effects of warm and cool lighting.

Can a good kitchen attract property buyers?Image source: The Lighting Resource

4. Open your heart – There are plenty of older properties out there that have the kitchen in an out-of-the-way section of the house. Kitchens have become the heart of many homes in more recent times so if you have an isolated kitchen, it’s worth the time and budget to open it up —especially if it lets in a little more light. You might consider knocking down a wall to create a kitchen/dining hub or even just the top half of a wall to create a window so the cook doesn’t feel locked away. Prop a breakfast bar on the other side so you can retain your benchtop space but make food prep more social.

5. Don’t forget the little things – We forget that using a kitchen means the space can get a little grubby. If your grout looks unsightly, your tiles worn, your drawer handles tarnished or your splashback grimy these are easily replaced and can make a big difference to the overall look of the kitchen. As with any reno, it’s important the update is in keeping with the look and feel of the home. When the buyer sees a clean, neutral kitchen that’s consistent with the rest of the property, that’s when you know your reno is an asset rather than a sales liability.

Mark Foy is one of our resident experts and a director of Belle Property Surry Hills in Sydney.

Categories
Bathrooms Kitchens RENO ADDICT

5 ways to update your kitchen and bathroom without renovating

5 Ways To Update Your Kitchen And Bathroom Without Renovating

We all know how important the kitchen and bathroom are when it comes to making a first impression. We also know how expensive a full kitchen or bathroom reno can be! If you can’t afford to completely renovate but know that your space is in need of a facelift, fear not. We’ve got you covered with these quick and easy ways to update your kitchen and bathroom without renovating.

5 ways to update your kitchen and bathroom without renovating

1. Update your bathroom taps and accessories. Cost effective and a quick fix, updating tired, coloured or old school tapware and accessories can instantly bring a bathroom into 21st century design. Going for simple on trend chrome, brushed nickel or black tapware will instantly give your bathroom a new lease on life.

5 Ways To Update Your Kitchen And Bathroom Without RenovatingImage source: The Blue Space

2. Lighting – Lighting in your bathroom or kitchen should never be underestimated, both for practicality and keeping your space looking beautiful. Changing old fluorescent lighting or improving poorly lit spaces with downlights, LED strip lighting and well placed pendants can instantly make your space feel new again.

3. Update your shower screen – Do you have a retro or dark glass shower screen? An instant giveaway of a bathroom’s age can often be the shower screen. A 70’s or 80’s bathroom shower screen with thick, coloured glass and door hardware can really close in a space. By simply replacing this with a cost effective semi-frameless shower screen, you will open up your space and a achieve a quick reno on a shoestring budget.

5 Ways To Update Your Kitchen And Bathroom Without RenovatingImage source: Pivotech.com.au

4. That sinking feeling – A new sink and tap in your kitchen is a quick and cost effective way to update the most used area in your home. Modern looking sinks and taps can instantly add value to your kitchen and make it feel loved and recently renovated.

5. Beautiful benchtops – Replacing your benchtop with modern laminate can instantly brighten up a kitchen and add value for a fraction of the cost of a full renovation. Modern laminate has comparable heat and scratch resistance to stone and many finishes mimic the natural textures of more expensive materials, making it the perfect choice. Depending on your current door hardware, updating your handles could also tie in quite nicely with a new benchtop, without the need to replace cabinets.

5 Ways To Update Your Kitchen And Bathroom Without RenovatingImage source: Kitchen Benchtop Replacement

Written by Josh Mammoliti, Managing Director, The Blue Space. For more information on The Blue Space, visit www.thebluespace.com.au

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Five Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For Potential Buyers

Five Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For Potential Buyers

Written by Jamey Colbert, Managing Director, ILVE

Would you buy your current kitchen? It’s an important question to ask when preparing your house for renovation or for sale. If you aren’t especially impressed by your kitchen, how can you expect anyone else to be? Today we’ve got 5 tips to help you prep your kitchen for potential buyers from Jamey Colbert, Managing Director, ILVE.

Five Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For Potential BuyersImage source: Handyman.net.au

Five Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For Potential Buyers

1. Increase your space – When you’re preparing to sell, remove the clutter from your kitchen. Evaluate what you need and what you can live without (for four weeks, anyway). Minimalism and clean, open spaces are often on-trend, so the bigger and barer your kitchen looks, the more attractive it will appear on first impression. Plus, a less busy kitchen allows potential buyers to better visualise what is possible within the space.

2. Clever solutions – Make an extra effort to be creative with your space. You wouldn’t show up poorly dressed to a job interview, so why would you show your kitchen to interested parties without first adding some panache to it? If your kitchen is small, for instance, there are many smart and stylish storage solutions available e.g. an étagère or woven boxes with cardboard tags attached. If you’re lucky enough to have a large kitchen space, a butler’s pantry is a very good way to utilise and showcase the room’s practicality.

Five Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For Potential BuyersImage source – Inside Out

3. Layout – Yes, enjoying your kitchen is certainly important, but it’s also a place where some serious work gets done! Thus, your kitchen’s layout is of the utmost importance. Before an open house ensure the space ticks the boxes of both form and function – it is, first and foremost, a food prep and cooking area, after all!

4. Appliances – A lot of the time, people will skimp out on appliances and use the ‘she’ll be right’ mentality. The quality of your appliances can very well make or break your kitchen! When you decide to sell, quality brands will always show people you take pride in your home. Luxury and high-end appliances will age better, too, so they really are worth the investment.

Five Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For Potential BuyersImage source – ILVE.com.au

5. Durability and Quality – The kitchen is possibly the most used and abused room in the home. It’s the one space the whole family will frequently meet and, as a result, it requires good quality finishes, fittings, and fixtures. When preparing for an open house it goes without saying it’s worth having a deep clean of the kitchen including fixing any issues with creaking cupboards or water stained surfaces.

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Design Kitchens RENO ADDICT Styling

How to: Increase home buyer appeal in the kitchen

When preparing a home for sale, the right kitchen renovation can add enormous appeal and significant value. Potential home buyers form emotional connections to a property if they can visualise themselves living there – so how can you create a kitchen to capture their imagination?

cantilever-interiors_custom-kitchen_beach-rd_photo-credit-martina-gemmola-styling-ruth-welsby_04

A new report from the Housing Industry Association estimates that around 213,000 kitchens were installed in Australian homes in the last financial year.

While over-capitalisation is a risk for all home renovations, undercapitalisation can also compromise re-sale value. “When people walk into a house, they’re doing their sums,” explains Travis Dean, a director of Melbourne kitchen design, manufacturing and installation company, Cantilever Interiors. “If it needs a new kitchen or bathroom, they’re adding $20-to-$30,000 to the purchase price.”

cantilever-interiors_custom-kitchen_beach-rd_photo-credit-martina-gemmola-styling-ruth-welsby_010

Cantilever Interiors believes a kitchen should have the craftsmanship and visual appeal to take it through the decades – no matter the budget – yet the company is often asked to replace kitchens that are a mere five-to-ten years old.

So you can avoid making the same mistake, Cantilever Interiors has put together five tips to ensure maximum home buyer appeal.

1. Classic palette
A pared-back colour palette ensures timeless appeal. White, for example, gives a kitchen a minimalist and clean-lined look and can also makes a space look bigger. In short, it helps a kitchen to feel inviting, fresh, light and bright.

2. Materials matter
The choice of materials is essential to the quality and appeal of a kitchen. While materials should always reflect the value of the property, they don’t always require significant investment. Re-constituted stone benchtops or quality white laminate with ply edging are durable, stylish options for different budgets.

cantilever-interiors_k3-kitchen_photo-credit-martina-gemmola-styling-ruth-welsby_04

3. Craftsmanship is key
Homebuyers have an eye for quality. Cabinets must be millimetre perfect and refined design detailing, such as shadow lines, make a big impression on how well a kitchen does or doesn’t sit in a space. The design process is also important – off-the-shelf products don’t allow the customisation required to fit a kitchen perfectly into a space.

4. Clever components
Clever, space-saving kitchen components, such a swing-out pantry, corner cupboard storage systems and other organisation inserts, show the increasingly design-savvy buyer the thought and quality that’s been invested.

cantilever-interior_kitchen-2-pantry_photo-credit-martina-gemmola-styling-ruth-welsby_001

5. Open spaces
Shadow boxes (open display shelves) are a simple design element that allows the new homebuyer to express their own personal style. They can add a touch of warmth and contrast to a kitchen through placement of interchangeable potted herbs, utensils, ornaments, crockery or cook books for a pop of colour.

For more information visit Cantilever Interiors.  

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Before & Afters House Tours Kitchens Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real Reno: Timeless entertainers kitchen

After

When homeowners Nathan and Brendon purchased a beautiful 1912 Queenslander home in Brisbane’s inner west, a complete overhaul was required – including the dated kitchen with tiled benchtops, moulded timber cabinetry and an unsightly rangehood.

indooropilly-kitchen-before-pics1
Before
indooropilly-kitchen-after-2
After

“Our thought for the kitchen is something very simple and symmetrical, making he most of the available space. We want the kitchen to have very clean lines and while we want it to be beautiful in itself, we don’t want the kitchen to be a feature of the house,” said homeowners Brendon and Nathan during their initial design consultation with Anne Ellard from Kitchens by Kathie. “We want the kitchen to be central to the entertaining areas and also lead people to the outside living area and draw peoples eyes out to the back deck,” they said.

Before
Before
After
After

The result is a timeless, all-white kitchen, that seamlessly integrates indoors and out, while complimenting the original features of the Indooroopilly home. “We wanted it to be a bit modern looking but still have the traditional and classic features, so using light coloured benchtops and doors kept it bright and fresh, but the VJ profile on the cabinetry doors, a more traditional style handle and the pressed metal splashback, all tie in with the original features of the house,” said designer Anne Ellard.

After

The clever U shape design provides ample storage and bench space while allowing the owners to prepare food and drinks without being detached from guests on the verandah or in the formal dining area. “It also means that when moving from one area to the other, traffic just gets lead through one point. So somebody can be cooking in the kitchen, moving from the sink to the benchtop, and nobody will actually walk through that space,” said Anne.

After

Careful consideration was put into fixtures, such as the low profile tap, which is unobtrusive yet features a pull-out shower head that changes from a stream to a fine spray with the flick of a button.

The placement of appliances and the sink was also crucial to the kitchen’s success. “Putting the cooktop and the sink on the back wall was going to make it too squashed, so having the sink facing out to the deck area just means that whoever is working in the kitchen still feels part of outside. With the cooktop, the positioning was to have it on the back wall so that we could put a rangehood there,” said Anne.

After

From the initial consult, it took roughly five months to design the kitchen and around two weeks to install.

The smart use of space saw Anne earn a spot in the final for Queensland Medium Kitchen Design of the Year in the prestigious Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute of Australia’s Awards. “I believe I was a finalist because the kitchen is quite functional and practical but it still almost disappears into the background. It doesn’t detract from the outdoor area which was a big thing for the client. And probably how it ties in with the original features of the house as well. The key was to put in something new that looked like it always belonged in the space.”

Anne Ellard is a kitchen designer for Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane.

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT Shopping

Smeg release new range of on-trend white kitchen appliances

A hunger for change and a further blurring of the demarcation between living and food prep zones, has seen white take pole position in kitchen design. Paying homage to the beauty of white, Smeg has released its new Linear collection with a series of elegant white ovens in lustrous, light-reflective white glass and stainless steel.

smeg-white-linear-kitchen-ls

The clever use of white creates a sense of seamless space – imagine a white induction cooktop on a white marble benchtop. Or a bank of sleek, minimalist ovens built into a white wall. The kitchen will recede into the overall living area, giving a sense of spaciousness and contemporary sophistication.

smeg-sa190mw-white-induction-ls

The new Linear collection comprises 60cm and 70cm ovens, together with compact ovens, coffee machine, warming drawer, induction hobs plus gas on glass cooktops in two widths – 72cm and 60cm.

Technology features prominently in the new Linear collection – Thermoseal oven technology ensures the perfect atmospheric balance required for optimum cooking conditions.smeg-sfa4140mcb_hrAdditional standard inclusions comprise soft close door, Ever Clean enamel, Cool Door Technology and the choice of Pyrolytic or Vapour Clean oven cleaning functions.

Other options, across the range, include SmartSense Plus – a foolproof, step-by-step guide to cooking via a TFT colour display and 50 guided cooking programmes plus the capacity to save 10 personal favourites.smeg-pva164cb_hrThe range of gas and induction cooktops is available nationally from appliance specialists, electrical retailers and some department stores. The entire range can be checked out online.