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Australian kitchen, bathroom & laundry trends: November 2020

From UV-resistant outdoor benchtops, to bold statement baths and sinks, this month’s roundup explores several new ranges that might just inspire you to revamp your own kitchen or bathroom. Plus, we’ve included a bonus pick for your laundry: a very high-tech washer and dryer!

Kitchen

Caesarstone outdoor collection: This groundbreaking outdoor range from Ceaserstone is also the first ever outdoor collection in the engineered stone market! These quartz surfaces boast a high UV resistance, and are available in three new colours; Midday, Palm Shade, and Clearskies. Product pricing, including installation, is around $650 per square metre.

“Until now, there hasn’t been an outdoor surface material as durable as Caesarstone,” says general manager of marketing, Grant Vandenberg. “With our new outdoor range, people can have complete peace of mind for a long-lasting application in their alfresco designs.”

Ceaserstone – ‘Palm Shade’
Caesarstone – ‘Clearskies’
Caesarstone – ‘Midday’

Cosentino Silestone® Loft Surfaces: These high-performance surfaces offer a fresh new take on the industrial style, in five brand new shades; Camden, Poblenou, Seaport, Nolita and Corktown. The names represent five iconic neighbourhoods, each with their own distinctive history and urban aesthetic.

Silestone® surfaces are carefully crafted to replicate the look and feel of concrete, using a hybrid formula made up of minerals and reused raw materials, such as recycled glass. Popular uses for this product include kitchen and bathroom benchtops and splashbacks, bathroom flooring and sinks.

 Cosentino Silestone – ‘Camden’
Cosentino Silestone – ‘Seaport’
 Cosentino Silestone – ‘Corktown’

Bathroom

Highgrove Bathrooms‘ stainless steel basins: Basins and sinks aren’t just functional pieces in a bathroom, laundry, or kitchen; they can also become a stylish focal point or unique centrepiece. Constructed from stainless steel, Highgrove Bathrooms’ new Astrid and Stella basins are built to last.

The minimalist design, and wide range of different finishes (Matte Black, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel, and the newly introduced Gunmetal) make these sinks suitable for a wide variety of spaces. Prices start from $520.

Highgrove Bathrooms – ‘Stella’ Basin in Matte Black
Highgrove Bathrooms – ‘Astrid’ Basin in Matte Black

Schots Home Emporium’s freestanding statement baths: A statement bath can be such a powerful piece in any bathroom. Schots Home Emporium have a wide range of freestanding baths, made from cast iron, acrylic, and stone.

Luke and Jasmin used the ‘Bahama Stone’ bath in their Block 2020 master en suite, giving the space the perfect contrast point, according to the judges.

Schots Home Emporium – ‘Bahama Stone’ in Matte Black (RRP $4,950)
Schots Home Emporium – ‘Eiffel Cast Iron’ in Matte Black (RRP $4,129)
Schots Home Emporium – ‘Marietta Acrylic’ in Black & White (RRP $2,059)

Laundry

Fisher & Paykel’s new washing machines and dryers: The 12kg Front Loader Washing Machine is programmed to sense the size of the load and soil level, allowing it to automatically dispense the right amount of detergent and select the optimal wash time. The 12kg drum is the largest ever capacity launched by the brand, making it perfect for bulky items like bedspreads and duvets. 

The 9kg Heat Pump Dryer was created to gently and effectively dry clothes at low temperatures, to preserve the lifetime of fabrics. It ensures moisture is condensed so no venting is required, which is ideal for laundries where venting is difficult, and also allows for the dryer to be placed almost anywhere in the home!

Australian kitchen trends: Spring 2020 edition

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…

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…

Australian bathroom trends: September 2020 edition

It’s been a while between bathroom trend round-ups, but I can assure you it was worth the wait. From Beaumont Tiles’ new complete bathroom packages to Fibonacci Stone’s stunning new…
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Kitchens

Three Birds Renovations: laundry design essentials

No matter the size of your laundry, no matter your reno budget, here are the hard and fast rules for a successful laundry refurb. From where to locate the laundry if you’re starting from scratch, to cabinetry, fixtures and appliances, Electrolux has teamed up with Three Birds Renovations to share 10 rules for laundry design.

Three Birds Renovations say: “The funny thing about laundries is that we’re in them almost daily, yet people often approach these spaces as an afterthought. Expectation versus reality is another key challenge. Our biggest tip for laundry success is to create a solid vision board before you even start the process. Then, once you have a cohesive vision for the entire project, you’ll have something to aim towards and it always comes in handy to refer back to along the way to make sure you’re on track.”

Here, Bonnie, Lana and Erin from Three Birds Renovations share the do’s and don’ts of laundry design:

Do:

  • Remember that your laundry deserves to look beautiful too! Those loads of washing might just seem like less of a chore when you’re doing it in a beautiful space
  • Invest in quality appliances that will do the job and last the distance. In our latest renovation (House 10), this family of four with two young kids spent half their time in the laundry, so they needed quality appliances. We opted for the Electrolux 10kg UltimateCare System (EWF14013) and 9kg Heat Pump Condenser Dryer (EDH3896GDW) because of their superior washing and drying capabilities. Plus, they looked amazing under bench in this Mediterranean Villa-style family home.
  • Consider your laundry a wet room and choose your materials accordingly. Tiles are a great choice for flooring and we often do a tile skirting board, so the walls don’t get wet when you’re mopping the floor.
  • Plan the layout to maximise storage and bench space. Try to locate your laundry with easy external access to the washing line.

Don’t:

  • Forget to choose your appliances early in the planning process. You’ll need to design the cabinetry to fit around the size of your appliances and your decision of a top or front loader machine will dictate where your bench goes.
  • Position your laundry close to a bedroom where the spinning washing machine is likely to be disruptive to sleeping kids.
  • Forget the lighting. You’ll need task lighting to make sure you can see what you’re doing, and we also love accent lighting, like a pendant, just because it looks hot.
  • Forget about ventilation. Laundries without an extractor fan are just asking for mould. A window that opens is a bonus for added airflow.
  • Forget to style your laundry. A lush green plant on a laundry shelf is always a good idea in a laundry. The room exists to make things look, feel and smell fresh, so bringing in some real plants just makes sense.

Three Birds’ kitchen renovation tips

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Appliances Design Expert Tips Shopping

Laundry ideas: Small space design solutions

e&s laundry

Kitchen aside, there’s no denying the laundry is one of the most integral parts of any home. And with space increasingly at a premium (apartment and townhouse living is becoming the norm in many cities), it really pays to make the laundry as smartly designed as possible. Not only will clever design and the right set of appliances make the space more efficient and enjoyable to use, but it will also reduce the time you spend doing laundry which sounds like a win in our books!

e&s laundry

From making the best use of vertical space to integrating appliances, here Victorian appliance retailer e&s shares its top five solutions for making the most out of a petite sized laundry.

Consider washer & dryer placement
Side by side washer and dryers are more accessible and generally larger, while stacking your appliances has great space saving capabilities. If you aren’t certain on your layout, opt for front loaders over top loaders, as they can be stacked or installed under an existing bench, making more room for a folding station.

Stacked washer & dryer

Maximise vertical space and use open shelving
Include overhead storage and a wall mounted ironing board so it’s out of the way when you don’t need it. A suspended drying rack utilises ceiling space that would otherwise go unused. Open shelving along with storage boxes and baskets make for an open, airy aesthetic. Cane or wicker baskets are durable, have great storage capacity, and can hide away cleaning products or dirty clothing from sight.

e&s laundry

Use the back of the laundry door for storage
An over-the-door ironing board is an effective and practical solution when your laundry is lacking storage and floor space. Lighter and less fiddly than traditional ironing boards, over-the-door ironing boards are affordable, space-saving, and always conveniently hidden out of view when you aren’t using them. Mops and brooms can also be hung in over-the-door holders when space is tight.

e&s laundry

Integrated cabinetry for appliances and storage
If you don’t have a dedicated laundry room at all, integrated cabinetry ensures appliances and products are all tucked out of the way and out of sight when you have people over.

e&s laundry

Save space with a washer-dryer combo
If you don’t have room for a standalone dryer, consider a washer-dryer combo. It’s perfect for homes without a dedicated laundry room, doing the job of two appliances, while taking up the footprint of one.

For more on e&s | Kitchen & laundry design: 2019’s top 5 appliance trends

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Appliances Interviews Kitchens

Kitchen & laundry design: 2019’s top 5 appliance trends

Gaggenau integrated dishwasher
Gaggenau integrated dishwasher

The kitchen and laundry appliance space is an ever-advancing one. It’s easy to forget that the generations before us did everything by hand that we can do with the simple push of a button. And home technology progress shows no sign of abating with 2019 looking set for even bigger innovations.

“Over the next 12 months, we will see more households around the nation further embrace seamless design, new technologies, bold colours and appliances that help preserve the quality of food and wine for longer. Australians will invest in making their laundries as beautiful and seamless as the rest of their homes, become more conscious of the benefits of the latest laundry appliances and will also become more comfortable using automated programs when it comes to cooking,” says Jordan Rogers, Winning Appliances senior category manager who shares his top five appliance trend predictions for 2019 with us today.

SMEG Dolce Stil Novo oven
Smeg Dolce Stil Novo integrated ovens

Integration
With minimalism such a strong design trend it makes sense that appliances are increasingly integrated for a truly seamless aesthetic. “Integration has become a buzzword as more Australians want their kitchen to have an aesthetically pleasing look, without the clutter of appliances breaking up the design. Integrated appliances such as the Fisher & Paykel Column Fridge have been hugely popular, as well as integrated dishwashers, which are also in demand,” says Jordan.

Integration

Gaggenau integrated dishwasher
Gaggenau integrated dishwasher

Attainable technology & automation
While more and more household tasks are becoming automated, access to the technology is improving too. “More leading appliance brands are using the latest and greatest technologies which means that even though design and quality will vary, more Australians will now enjoy the benefits of the latest technologies at any price point. Consequently, automated appliances will become more prevalent, as people become comfortable using programs that not only make life easier but also deliver quality restaurant food,” says Jordan.

AEG PyroLuxe Pyrolytic built-in oven
AEG PyroLuxe Pyrolytic built-in oven

From ovens with countless automatic programs (the ASKO 60cm Pyrolytic Built-In Oven has a whopping 87 automatic programs!) to ovens with food sensors (the AEG 60cm PyroLuxe Pyrolytic Built-In Oven with SenseCook), food preparation is becoming increasingly automated which can only make life easier right?

Bold colour
While black has been enjoying an extended moment in the kitchen design spotlight, colour has been making its way back in too. “Bold colours will continue to make an appearance, with Australians embracing bright hues to make a statement in their kitchens. Coloured upright ovens from Smeg and Ilve are being included in different style kitchens and coloured taps and sinks from the likes of Abey, Oliveri and Franke ensure that even the wet area of a kitchen has some style,” says Jordan.

Bold colour

Laundry tech advances – say goodbye to hand washing!
I’m sure I’m not the only one that finds handwashing one of the most tedious household tasks but you may be able to avoid it entirely with the help of the latest laundry tech. “Hand washing delicate items in a laundry tub will become a thing of a past, as the latest hand wash functions mean that you can even wash quality silks in a washing machine. There will be more of a focus on the laundry this year, as more Australians look to upgrade and take advantage of the latest programs and steam technology,” says Jordan.

Laundry-adora-stacked-washing-machine-and-dryer
Adora stacked washing machine and dryer

Food preservation
The war on waste continues inside our kitchens and I don’t just mean when it comes to recyclables – the astronomical price of food means people are looking to preserve as much of it as possible. “Australians are becoming more interested in how they can preserve food. Products such as Smeg’s residential blast chiller has food preservation qualities which don’t affect or alter the taste and quality of the food,” says Jordan who cites the new Fisher & Paykel column fridge as a great new innovation on this front too. “It was created to be fully customisable, with four separate temperature zones – the most notable one is called ‘soft freeze’ which allows you to take portions at a time without needing to defrost or struggle with frozen solid food,” says Jordan.  “Sub Zero fridges also help with food preservation by cleaning the inside air every 20 minutes, absorbing odours, bacteria and ethylene.”

Sub Zero fridge
Sub Zero fridge

For more | Darren Palmer’s top laundry design tips