At my place, the kitchen truly is the heart of the home. We spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen – doing food prep, cooking, eating and entertaining. Kitchens need to be practical and functional, but it’s also important – particularly when I design a kitchen – that it looks and feels beautiful.
So, here’s my list of do’s and don’ts to help you create the perfect kitchen at your place.
Do
LIKES & DISLIKES
If you are planning a kitchen remodel, take some time to sit in your current kitchen and write a list of what you like/dislike, what your needs are or what your wish list is.
FUNCTIONALITY
If you are designing your new kitchen from scratch due to a renovation or new build, think about how you need this new kitchen to function and what it will be used for. For example, not just food prep and cooking but do you like to entertain? Do you want the kitchen island to also serve as a breakfast bar and a space for the kids to do their homework? It’s important to get a complete list together so nothing is overlooked.
STYLE
Think about what style of kitchen you want and ensure the style you choose is consistent with the rest of your home. For example, if the rest of your home is modern and contemporary, you probably don’t want to go for a farmhouse or mediterranean style kitchen. Get those mood boards happening! Or I like to go one step further, and put together what I call a Lookbook. Instead of trying to convey your vision to your trades team with just a one page mood board, I like to have a few pages full of images and notes to clearly communicate what I want and the look I am after.
PRACTICALITY
Factor in how many people will be using the kitchen, for example if you have a large family, you’re probably going to want a six-burner cooktop instead of a four burner. In this kitchen I opted for a five-burner gas cooktop from Appliances Online. Does your kitchen island need to accommodate every member of your family, or will you be using it at different times? This will determine the size and shape of it.
CABINETRY
Always engage an expert kitchen cabinet maker or draftsperson/architect if you are planning a renovation or new build. Often during the design process these experts will bring up things you have forgotten or make suggestions you hadn’t previously considered which will improve the space. For example, recessed pull out bins instead of having freestanding bins in your kitchen.
‘WORKING TRIANGLE’ RULE
Always apply the ‘working triangle’ rule with kitchens. It basically means considering where you decide to position the fridge, cook top and sink and try aim placement in a triangle configuration to ensure using your kitchen is functional and efficient. For example, you don’t want to be working on top of each other so you wouldn’t place your sink and cooktop directly opposite from one another because doing so restricts anyone who is cooking or washing dishes, you also wouldn’t place your fridge and cooking appliances side by side.
SPACING
A general rule of thumb for kitchen traffic areas, we recommend you allow 1200mm between the island and cabinetry opposite. If you are working with a smaller space, you can get away with 1 metre minimum, this will allow you to open a dishwasher however, you will be standing on the side to unpack it so keep this in mind.
SPLASHBLACK
If the budget allows, I recommend matching your kitchen splashback to your stone benchtops as it’s much easier to clean than a tiled splashback with grout. Plus, this will give your kitchen a more high end, elegant look.
DOUBLE SINKS
I personally like extra deep double sinks so if I am soaking something in one sink, I still have the other sink available for rinsing. If space doesn’t allow for a double sink, there are sinks with one and a half bowls available. Here I used a deep double sink from ABI Interiors.
APPLIANCES
When you meet with your cabinet maker or kitchen company you will need to have picked out all of your appliances beforehand and printed off the manufacturer’s specifications. This includes dimensions for your oven and cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher, built-in coffee machine if applicable and also the specs for your sink and pull-out bin.
TAPWARE
Choose tapware with a high-water star rating. My tapware is from ABI Interiors which have a range of beautiful and affordable tapware with some of the highest water ratings (which means cheaper water bills!). Here I went with chrome so it was consistent throughout the house, matching the bathrooms, laundry, door handles & hinges and built-in wardrobes.
“Consider where you decide to position the fridge, cook top and sink and try aim placement in a triangle configuration to ensure using your kitchen is functional and efficient.”
DON’TS
PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL WORK
Do not attempt to undertake plumbing or electrical work yourself – all plumbing and electrical work must be carried out by a licenced plumber and electrician.
POSITIONING
Don’t position your cook top under a window or near doors especially if you plan to use gas cooking appliances.
DON’T FORGET STORAGE
Don’t forget about storage, there’s no such thing as too much storage! Don’t forget to include a decent size pantry, deep pull-out drawers for pots and pans, cutlery and utensil drawers and enough cabinetry to store all your appliances so you can pack them away after use as opposed to storing everything on the bench taking up much needed bench space. If the budget allows, aim for soft closing hinges and runners.
STYLING
You don’t want your new kitchen to look bare and feel clinical so don’t forget the little touches. I love having fresh flowers on my island (or faux flowers look just as great) along with my favourite cook books, timber chopping boards and accent pendant lights for some texture like the pendant lights I used here from Beacon Lighting and a beautiful timber bowl full of fresh fruit for the kids to help themselves to a piece of fruit for an after-school snack.
Then, all that’s left to do is enjoy it!
Kitchens are definitely one place to get advice on. If you’re after some for your new kitchen, get in contact today.
