Tag: sink

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Expert Tips Laundry

How to transform your laundry sink from ordinary to extraordinary

Laundry sinks have always had a mammoth task to uphold. From handwashing, pre-soaking to spot cleaning and rinsing, the humble trough is usually high in practical use, but does it have trendsetting qualities to transform your laundry from ordinary to extraordinary? It certainly does!

Vicki Gillingham, design manager for Henley Design, shares her top tips and tricks to help you achieve a laundry sink that’s beautiful, functional, and practical.

Size me up!

If you’re going for a single bowl sink in the laundry, ideally a sink that measures approximately 500mm x 400mm, and holds approximately 40 litres minimum, is a great size to go with, as this enables it to be practical without taking over too much of the benchtop space. We know how important benchtop space is after all!

Sinking into different materials

While stainless steel is commonly thought of as the go-to choice for laundry sinks, there are other options to select from that can completely change the look and feel of your space.

“Ceramic farmhouse or apron style sinks are perfect choices for those that are wanting more of a traditional country or Hamptons style look for their home,” says Vicky. “However, due to their oversized nature, it is important to consider if you have the space to make such a statement and also the room in the budget as they can be quite costly.”

Vicky also suggests Fragranite sinks as another alternative to the traditional stainless steel sink. Franke Fragranite Sinks are constructed from 80% quartz sand and 20% very hard acrylic resin, making them an ideal choice for active families. Available in moody Onyx or fresh Polar White, these sinks can be used seamlessly with a variety of different colour schemes and styles.

Trending tapware

According to Vicki, pull-out sink mixers are the best option for laundry as they make cleaning up so much easier.

“They are perfect if you use the laundry sink to bath your pets as you can keep one hand on your furry friend while the other controls the water and tap,” Vicki says, “the other thing to consider is high profiled taps that allow you to easily fit buckets, pots etc. under the spout to fill them up rather than having to manoeuvre them at awkward angels.”

One tub or two?

While one tub is sufficient for most, if you have enough space and room in the budget for two, just think of the possibilities!

“You can have stubborn stained clothes soaking in one while the other is still able to be utilised,” says Vicki. “Wash off dirty gardening tools in sink one while they dry off in sink two, fill them both up with your plant babies for their weekly water, or why not pour in a bag or two of ice when you are entertaining and chill alcoholic beverages in one side and pop the non-alcoholic or mixers into the other.”

Vicki’s fan favourite

Vicki’s fan favourite is the Kubus Fragranite Polar White Single Bowl Sink KBG 110-50 PW by Franke that offers a seamless fresh look while not compromising on the size of style.

“This sink looks gorgeous in a fresh Scandi or Australian coastal styled interior with light timbers, fresh whites and subtle hints of greenery,” says Vicki.

Henley Design is one of Australia’s leading homebuilders.

Small space design solution: A laundry under the stairs!

Part of a wider Sydney family home renovation, that involved both layout and material changes, this clever laundry relocation piqued our interest recently because it’s not something we’ve seen before.…
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Design Kitchens

Coloured kitchen sinks: our top five statement sinks

Bunnings gold sink

While we brought you some gorgeous coloured bathroom sinks recently, there are lots of fabulous coloured sink options hitting the market for kitchens too. From navy to pink, copper and gold, we’re loving the statement sink trend.

Abey
The Abey Schock range is available in three fabulous colours – millennial dive (navy), millennial cliff (pink) and millennial pearl (grey). Not only are these gorgeous coloured sinks a true statement but they’re also dirt repellent, antibacterial and made from up to 80 per cent natural quartz sand making them super hardy too. No prizes for guessing which colour Jen is in love with!

Schock sink

Schock sink

Schock sink

Bunnings
The Bunnings Decorium Light Gold Double Bowl Sink is a fabulous affordable alternative that can be vouched for by our Jen. It can be installed for inset or undermount applications.

Bunnings gold sink
Jen’s gold Bunnings sink in her kitchen. Pic by Jacqui Turk

Oliveri
Available in undermount, top mount or flush mount iterations this glamorous copper sink is rather fabulous! Part of the Oliveri Spectra range, it’s available in single, double and 1.5 bowl versions and also comes in titanium and stainless steel finishes too.

Oliveri double sink in copper

Villeroy & Boch
Created by product and interior designer Gesa Hansen, this ceramic sink from Villeroy & Boch is available in Sunrise (yellow), Midnight (blue), Emerald and Coral. “Kitchens are increasingly turning into living spaces, they are no longer cool and sterile. Colour takes away the cold character of a kitchen sink and integrates it into the room,” says Gesa Hansen.

Villeroy and Boch sinks

Artinox
The Artinox ‘Titanium’ colour coated range is a statement sink standout. The sink is manufactured in three colour ways (anthracite, copper and gold) and in three different sizes that can be mixed and matched to create a custom double sink too.

Artinox sink

Spring 2018 kitchen trends

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Bathrooms RENO ADDICT

3 Pinterest-worthy Australian bathrooms

Bathrooms have come a long way since the damp, dark ages of outhouses and washbasins. They now form an enormously significant part of the home, doubling as miniature health spas where people seek sanctuary after a long day’s work.

The trends, décor and materials available for modern bathrooms are forever changing. Here are 3 drool-worthy bathroom designs to add to your Pinterest board.

Contemporary flair

Photography: Brent Lukey, Builder: Rycon Building Group, Designer: Kate Walker Design

This property, located in Melbourne, delivers a unique blend of warm timber flooring, intricate feature tiles and designer matte-black tapware. The herringbone pattern offers a refreshing use of white subway tiles on the wall, while the use of a round mirror, basin and shower head contrasts nicely against them.

Regal sentiments

Photography: Joe Brosnan, Builder: Shaw Group, Designer: Shaw Group

A royal infusion of gold accents, marble tiling and an alluring freestanding tub – this Queensland property offers a truly indulgent bathroom design. The monochrome colour palette is broken up with an opulent gold pendant light suspended from the ceiling, while the gold recessed wall above the bathtub offers a practical storage solution for all your luxurious bathroom products.

Industrial beginnings

Photography: Nic Granleese, Builder: Novo Homes, Designer: Novo Homes

Stripping it back to a raw and edgy material crush look, this Melbourne property rocks simplicity with bold material highlights. In the ensuite and main bathroom, large tiles exude an unpolished concrete look. The impressive black hexagonal mosaic feature walls add depth to the dark, moody palette.

Meanwhile, the powder room is a stark contrast, featuring all white everything. The vertical brick wall has been painted over in white to maintain the industrial feel.

Photography: Nic Granleese, Builder: Novo Homes, Designer: Novo Homes

These bathrooms all use products from Reece and were curated for us by their experts.

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Darren Palmer: The Block’s best kitchen ever!

The level of creativity displayed in the kitchens on this season of The Block from Freedom Kitchens has blown me away. Then, just when I thought I’d seen it all, the incredible kitchen from the challenge apartment was revealed. To me, it was worthy of a 10 – and my fellow judges agreed – scoring it a perfect 40/40!

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This showstopper embodies an emerging trend from this year’s EuroCucina – New Heritage – where contemporary design celebrates heritage style, while incorporating touches of modern luxury.

There are so many standout features in this space, but the one that strikes you first is the stunning backlit Caesarstone Concetto White Quartz island bench. It’s suspended above the mirror kick – showcasing a monolith of backlit, glowing quartz.

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The real beauty of this style of kitchen is the fusion between old and new. This approach is respectful to the heritage of The Block building, with features like the shaker-style doors and the rustic library ladder – giving the space the feeling of old world charm. However, the functional elements are strictly 21st century.

Embracing the new, the futuristic aspects of the kitchen create the perfect space for the modern cook. Top-of-the-range Bosch appliances, impressive features and everyday practicalities – like double ovens – give the kitchen an extra sense of functionality, while remaining high-end.

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And when it comes to hosting, the generous Caesarstone benchtops, Bluetooth sound system, modern black palette and generous storage in both the kitchen and butler’s pantry make it the perfect match for the modern day entertainer.

Reno Addict feature writer Lauren Ellis visited The Block and created this video interview with Julia and Sasha about the kitchen.

Standout design features:

  • The matte black cabinetry makes a real statement and is right on trend
  • The shaker ‘Sierra’ profiles on the cabinetry add a heritage feel, while still being sleek and stylish
  • The use of mirror kickboards on the backlit Caesarstone Concetto White Quartz island bench creates the illusion of a floating, glowing box
  • Clever use of accessories – from the Bluetooth sound system to the walnut knife holder and spice racks – take the space to the next level for the modern entertainer
  • The storage space in this design is never-ending – from drawers and doors in the main kitchen to the open shelving of the butler’s pantry.

Featuring:

  • Cabinetry: Sierra Black Matt & Super Matt Black
  • Benchtops: Caesarstone Concetto White Quartz, London Grey & Vanilla Noir; and Noir Matt Nano Streamline
  • Kickboards: Mirror
  • Lighting: LED Strip Lighting
  • Accessories: Bluetooth Sound System, Square double bowl undermount sink, Walnut Knife Holder, Walnut Spice Rack, Sink Drainer, Square Chopping Board & Steel Cutlery Trays.
  • Bosch Appliances

To create a kitchen that’s the best on your block, book your free, in-home design appointment with Freedom Kitchens.

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DIY Kitchens RENO ADDICT Shopping

The package deal that will save you money on your kitchen renovation

Kitchen renovations are by no means cheap, so how can home renovators save as much as possible, without skimping on quality?

reno addict tradelink

One way is through major suppliers, such as Tradelink, who now cater directly to home renovators by creating packages of quality and on trend products for one very competitive and affordable price.

The latest Tradelink exclusive offer is the Abey Project Squareline sink and MK2 Mixmaster tap, plus sink accessories, for $299 (which to purchase individually would cost over $500).

The stainless steel two-bowl sink comes complete with grooved timber cutting board (for convenient chopping of ingredients with high water content) and a colander that fits perfectly into the smaller bowl.

Meanwhile the mixer tap uses just eight litres of water a minute (three-star WELS), has a slender swivel head and is finished in high quality, extremely durable polished chrome.

All Abbey products carry a 25-year warranty. Visit Tradelink for more information.

Categories
Expert Tips Kitchens

10 things you should never put down your sink

By Marcus Lim

The last thing we all want to do after a meal is wash the dishes. Most of us are guilty of being too lazy to properly dispose of all small food scraps and find ourselves shoving them down the drain.

But how much damage can this really do? A lot more than you think. Here’s a list of what you should never put down your sink, and reasons why they can be damaging to you, your sink and the environment.

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1. Fat, Grease and Oil. It may be gooey and soft when hot, but as soon as grease cools down you’re left with a thick mess blocking your pipes. Let it cool down in the pan, wipe it up with a paper towel and throw it where it belongs – in the bin.

2. Orange Peels. Urban Myth: putting orange peels down your drain will make it smell fresh. This is untrue. Why not dispose of them in the compost bin? It’ll save you a headache and you’ll get brownie points from Mother Nature for being environmentally friendly.

3. Coffee Grinds. Urban Myth #2: coffee grinds can clear your pipes. Fact: coffee grinds mixed with the oil in the pipes is a sure-fire drain destroyer.

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4. Eggshells. Even the smallest pieces of eggshell can create a mighty mess – they can get stuck on oil and create a build up in your drains.

5. Tea Leaves. Tea may be good for us, but not so much for the drain. If you use loose leaf tea, make sure that as few leaves as possible make it down the drain. They can build up and create a large problem.

6. Semolina. Most pastas are made with semolina, which can become very sticky when wet and can create a hefty blockage if found in your pipes. When draining pasta in your sink, make sure nothing but water makes it down the drain.

7. Metamucil and other medication. Expired liquid medicine is not always best down the drain. Metamucil for example, can turn into hard jelly and will be a nightmare to get rid of. Instead, read the manufacturers guide to disposal and save yourself an unwell drain. 

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8. Potato peels. Potato peels can become very sticky in water. Avoid this by placing them in the compost bin, along with the orange peels.

9. Jelly. Anything with gelatine in it is a no-go for your drain. There are two options – your stomach or the bin.

10. Rice. Although grains of rice can be hard to keep track of, they can become a sludgy mess if they are backed up in your drain. Try your hardest to avoid any of these trouble makers making their way down your sink.

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– Marcus Lim is the founder and CEO of local services marketplace Oneflare, connecting Australians with 50,000 businesses across Australia.

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Bathrooms

Etched glass basins offer a seriously beautiful focal point for your bathroom

Omvivo are renowned for creating bathroom products that are at the forefront of bathroom interior trends. Their Motif basin range is no exception, offering a subtle way to introduce pattern into your bathroom with distinctive hand-etched designs. Isn’t this gorgeous?

Motif kaleidescope close-300Compressed

The result of experiments with material, pattern and light, Motif is designed from a combination of solid surface and glass. The materials fuse together, elevating the product to a functional piece of art in your bathroom. Manufactured in Australia, every Motif basin starts with the piece of hand-etched glass, which is formed in a kiln. Coming with a polished chrome pop-up plug and matching spacer, the basin floats above the bench top, creating impressive reflections on the surroundings.

Motif forest overhead-300Compressed

The basin is available in three patterns: Pebble, Forest and Kaleidoscope. Whether part of a new bathroom plan or providing a stylish update to an existing space, the Motif basin will provide a striking, yet subtle, point of difference.

Motif basin forest on Moti-300Compressed

Available from Candana. RRP $1,799.

 

Categories
Bathrooms

The latest in glass bathroom basins from Kohler

Glass is reflecting the current look in bathroom styling (pardon the pun). Think large mirrors, glass basins and statement jars and containers. 

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Key to the look is marrying the timeless natural beauty of decorative elements in stone, timber and woven natural fibres with the clean, contemporary finishes of translucent glass, ceramic tiles, polished chrome and vitreous china.

Continue reading “The latest in glass bathroom basins from Kohler”