kitchen
Putting lighting in the wrong spots Placing lights above the walkways in the kitchen and not over the benchtops – where they’re actually needed – is one of the most common mistakes people make. As a result, you end up with shadows over your sink and prep areas, making it near-on impossible to see what you’re doing. Another common pitfall is choosing looks over function; renovators often select pretty pendants that don’t actually emit enough light over benchtops. Focus on how you’ll use the space Think about where you’ll need to see clearly in the kitchen, such as cooking, washing and prep zones, and select the appropriate fittings. Make sure the globes you choose emit sufficient light, then make sure you position them in the right spots. For example, if you’re choosing ceiling downlights, place them centrally over benchtops. Adding lighting beneath overhead cabinetry is another way to boost visibility in your prep and cooking zones. It can also create great mood lighting at night in an open-plan kitchen, once the cooking is done.
Factor in surrounding furniture and finishes When selecting tiles, keep in mind the look you’re trying to achieve and be confident in your choice. It’s also a good idea to go to the showroom armed with a mood board of the other elements in the kitchen, such as furniture and joinery, to make sure your chosen tile blends in well. A good rule of thumb is to avoid conflicting patterns, particularly between the walls and floor. If you’ve chosen richly patterned flooring, opt for simple wall colours; if you have a bold feature wall, choose simple floor tiles
Put function first Even before your initial appointment with your kitchen designer, start thinking about the practicalities of the kitchen and how you want it to perform. Ask yourself, how many people will be using the kitchen at once? How tall are the users? How do you cook – for example, will you need a lot of bench space for baking or a high-powered range hood for cooking curries? Do you plan to leave your benchtop appliances out on display or do you want them hidden away? Will the kitchen be used just for cooking, as a hub for family meals or a place where the kids will do their homework and display school notes? What frustrates you about your current kitchen and is there anything you like about it? At that initial consultation, give your kitchen designer as much information as possible about your lifestyle and how you plan to use the kitchen
Settling for inferior hardware- DO NOT Good-quality accessories and hardware, such as pull-out corner units, drawer dividers, soft-close runners and door hinges, often get excluded from kitchen designs due to budget constraints. But this can be a false economy in the long run as features like these can make a big difference to your kitchen, boosting its storage potential, and making the space far more pleasant to use. These features do add to the overall cost of a new kitchen, but they’re worth the extra outlay.
Under-sink drawers that fit around plumbing fixtures are often an awkward shape. They can quickly turn into sorry chaos, chocka with bits and pieces. Crawlies love the warmth and sometimes moisture of this cavity so don’t cram stuff in. Which items do you actually use in the kitchen? Do you wear more than one pair of rubber gloves at a time? Could some of it go, say, in the laundry? Pare down items like gloves, brushes, cloths and detergent for day-to-day use and top up from a centralised supply as needed.
Best tip when planing a new kitchen - VISIT IKEA!! They have an amazing display of such a variety of kitchen designs and set ups all in working order - open every cupboard and try every draw - you will be amazed at what is inside - there are so many great ideas. You do not have to but from them just use the displays to get ideas.
don't make the draws too big or fill them too heavy. Over time as the draw is pulled in and out the weight is taken up by the screws holding the handles on and metal fatigue over many years results in the handles breaking and the bottom of the draw may sag a bit depending on its construction. sides should be tall enough to avoid spillage also ensure the drawer EXTENDS ALL THE WAY BACK WITHOUT WASTING SPACE BEHIND also ensure that the drawers can be pulled out fully(but also does not fall out on your foot ! )
Kitchen drawers provide great storage; not only do they keep your kitchenware well organised, but they allow you to see the contents at a glance. However, drawers cost considerably more than basic kitchen cupboards. While cupboard doors have a simple hinge, drawers require extension runners so you can pull them out, and these come in various sizes and qualities. The more drawers, the higher the cost of your kitchen. If you still can’t go past the idea of drawers but you’re on a budget, consider housing inexpensive pull-out basket drawers behind cupboard doors. Tip: If you’ll be installing a lot of drawers, consider the type of extension runner carefully. Styles and prices vary; some have soft closers and full extension, while others only extend half way and won’t close on their own. The runner you choose will impact the final cost of the drawer
Keeping track of more than just knives and forks, a well-organised drawer system also includes space to sort and organise utensils and cutlery for serving. Look for a system that’s flexible and can be tailored to suit your individual items. The cutlery trays should be fairly narrow so items can easily be found. A set-up such as the one pictured, with one larger drawer and an inner drawer, allows you to keep everyday cutlery at the top and utensils underneath
Drawers don’t always have to utilise a horizontal storage solution. In this example, deep ‘pockets’ have been installed to allow for the upright storage of cooking utensils. This arrangement makes the utensils easy to see and easy to pick up during busy cooking times. Using a number of smaller pockets also allows for similar items to be grouped together, which makes finding the one item you are looking for so much easier
Big pots, large saucepans and unwieldy frying pans are a storage nightmare in most kitchens. Simply utilising deep drawers can help, but may not be helpful enough when trying to locate the one you need. Pictured here is a brilliant storage solution: drawers with extra segmentation to keep the pots apart. Note how the segments only extend part of the way into the storage space, cleverly allowing for longer handles to protrude across
Glass-front cupboards and open shelves: Glass-front cupboards and open shelves provide an opportunity to create an attractive kitchen display. Store your most attractive plates, cups and pots where they can be seen, and try not to stuff the cabinets too full. Decorative baskets or containers can also sit nicely on open shelves, with items stored inside.
Standard drawer tray inserts work well for cutlery, but kitchen utensils can be a little more challenging to corral; they’re not uniform in size and not everyone has the same kind. “My best suggestion is drawer dividers, and not a tray,” Cohen says. “That way you can create the sizes of spaces you need.” Look for adjustable dividers, which can be expanded to fit your kitchen drawers. As you will have done with the rest of your organising, group kitchen utensils by type before placing them in drawers.
Hiding work spaces away in a cupboard, be they homework desks, home offices, kitchen appliance centres or even laundries, is a great idea, but often the doors on those areas create issues, or even hazards, when open; blocking traffic areas or simply getting in the way or blocking light as you work. Consider a pocket door, a mechanism that allows the doors to pivot 90° and slip back to 'hide' out of the way between two side cabinet walls. This creates clear walk areas behind you as you work, and avoids blocking of task lighting SALICE ECLIPSE POCKET DOOR - Innovative 'Slide Away' Door Mechanism · More Info
When you’re planning storage in your kitchen, don’t just focus on the areas accessible from the main cooking zone. Instead, look at ways you can add cabinets and shelves to the back of a unit, island or peninsula. Here, for example, the designers have fitted a shallow set of drawers, cupboards and shelves to the rear of the base units
a family organisation station with a place to write shopping lists, hang the car keys and pop the kids’ school notes – but close the doors and it blends into the kitchen cabinetry
In any but the smallest kitchens, you can't have all of the items that will be coming out of the dishwasher stored right by it. In my experience, the most important is to have the plates, bowl, glasses, etc. close by because that's the majority of what comes out of the dishwasher. There are pans and serving/storage containers but very few when compared to what you eat off of. My plate, etc. storage is above the dishwasher with the pots and pans a step or two away next to the stove. Baking dishes are farther, on the other side of the stove/oven. And rather than putting silverware next to the dishwasher, I've put it at the end of the counter around the U from the dishwasher in a location that's closer to the eating area, which I prefer. Every dishwasher I've had has had a pullout silverware holder so it's easy to carry that over to the silverware drawer and set it on the counter above. putting a DW on an island or peninsula is noisier b/c the bank of cabinets acts as a sounding board, amplifying the noise from the DW into the surrounding room. If you have to do this, buy a DW that is very quiet. 2. I also thought the DW should not be right... to ...
If you dislike bending down to load and unload your dishwasher, this may be the solution for you. Building your dishwasher into a taller cabinet – similar to how you would with and eye-level oven – will be easier on your back. Incorporate a drawer that can be used to store anything from dishwasher tablets to plates or chopping boards below the dishwasher, to make use of the extra space. You can choose to finish the height of the cabinet at the top of the dishwasher or continue it to a higher level with additional storage – or even a microwave space – above the dishwasher. Ensure that the dishwasher is installed correctly and fixed into place to avoid any movement. singularly just under the bench, so that you never have to bend to empty a dishwasher again. And it's surprising how much they hold. We have two, one on top of the other, but to me the ideal setup if you were designing a kitchen from scratch and space permits, would be one either side of the sink. You could then utilize the space beneath each with a deep drawer for seldom used large pots and large kitchen gadgets. another idea for raised dishwasher ...
Note the distance to nearby cupboards Aim to have a maximum of one step’s distance between your dishwasher to the cupboard that you are unloading into. Your dishwasher can be adjacent to these cabinets, or opposite them; it doesn’t matter as long as you don’t need to move far between them.Having appliance or cabinet doors clash when they are opened is often unavoidable, particularly in an L- or U-shaped kitchen. However, it is worth ensuring that your cutlery and crockery drawers can be fully opened at the same time as your dishwasher door is open, to make unloading easy What about "dishwashers were placed on an opposite wall from the kitchen sink. What were they thinking? Dripping/slopping water across the floor to load it? " Beware of putting a join in your stone benchtop over the dishwasher...speaking from first hand experience. The heat from the dishwasher softens the glue in the join and you get a big crack opening up. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw this in my new, expensive be...
On the left or right side If you decide to position your dishwasher next to your sink, the next consideration should be whether to put it to the left or right. There is no correct answer; however, a right-handed person will hold a dish in their left hand and use their right hand to scrape or wash the dish, therefore making it easier to load dishes into a dishwasher positioned to the left of the sink. The opposite applies to a left-handed person.Having said that, people are often creatures of habit, so I sometimes find my clients will prefer to locate the dishwasher in their new kitchen on the same side of the sink that it was positioned in their old kitchen, regardless of whether they are left or right handed. The overall layout of the rest of the kitchen and the location of other appliances is also important to consider, so try not to become wedded to left or right at the expense of creating a poor layout in other respects
Generally speaking, sprung floors act as shock absorbers and traditionally they are used in interiors designed for activities such as basketball and gymnastics, but it's not unheard of to find semi-sprung floors elsewhere too. Even if your floor isn't technically "sprung" or "semi-sprung", opting for a good quality underlay or a material with some extra give will make it much more comfortable to stand on, especially for longer periods such as when you're cooking in the kitchen.
The minimum clearance in Australia between stove and range hood is 600 millimetres for an electric stovetop or 650 millimetres for a gas stove, though most manufacturers recommend a distance between 700 and 750 millimetres, which can be increased. Likewise, consider reducing the width of wall-mounted cupboard doors so they don’t open too far beyond the bench, or install retractable hinged systems as in this Sydney kitchen.
Having enough room between work spaces such as benches is essential – too little and you will feel cramped, too much and you will constantly be stretching and reaching for hot, heavy pans. A distance of 1050 millimetres is often regarded as the minimum, while 1200 millimetres is ideal for most. More than 1400 millimetres between benches and fixtures can result in ergonomic inefficiency and wasted space. The kitchen triangle was extremely sensible when it was first mooted, and I believe it's still relevant. We might have more appliances and yes, it makes very good sense to put the glasses and crockery near the dishwasher, but we still need to consider how we USE the kitchen. When designing my kitchen I thought a heap about the tasks we do and these are some of the things I thought of: when taking something out of the oven, make sure there is a surface close by to land it - you can't chance having the pot holder in the wrong position, burning your fingers and having to walk across the kitchen; when boiling on the stove, you'll need to carry the pan to the sink to drain it, so you don't want to be walking too far to the sink, especially with a heavy pan; when you'...
Store crockery near your dishwasher, not above it To save your sanity and your spine, keep plates and glasses on either side of your dishwasher, or even behind it if you have two facing benches. This lets you unstack your dishwasher with smooth, swift movements. Housing crockery in wall-mounted cupboards directly above a dishwasher forces people to lean over it when it’s open and reach up awkwardly to put away clean dishes. This kitchen cleverly avoids such a fate by positioning the dishwasher in an island bench. But then will it be an issue that taking the crockery for use one has to bend down to get them !!!!!!
an idea to store lids-which is always a headache!! also to store pots https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/68a2524208c0355f_1590-w240-h265-b0-p0--home-design.jpg
Cons induction cook tops - Its electronics are not as robust as resistance cook tops and are much more likely to get killed by power surges etc. - The electronics are sensitive to heat, if the cook top is installed directly above the oven make sure you get the cabinets altered to vent through the front (the more ventilation it gets the better). Follow the manufacturers guidelines about clearances and ventilation or you will cook the electronics.
Damp dishcloths and paper towels tangle with plastic bags; bottles of detergent and insect spray tumble about, and you can never quite put your hand on the item you actually need. Overcome these issues and restore order with a purpose-designed drawer unit that neatly fits around the sink and pipes, allowing you full access to the remaining space. The drawer unit pictured here even includes a handy spot to store the dishcloth, right under the sink.
Storage heaven This nifty set-up solves the age-old dilemma of how to store containers and their lids. Stacking containers in a cupboard or drawer typically has you wasting time searching for a matching lid, and stacking containers with lids attached wastes valuable space. Varying the depths of the shelves in this pull-out cabinet allows easy access to both.
Does your computer always find its way into the kitchen? Imagine how great it would be to have a clear, crumb-free section of bench space where you can look up recipes, pay bills, and supervise homework. A pull-out study nook at the island bench creates a dedicated space for the computer, right where you need it. Make sure the pull-out is set low enough that you can push it away, computer and all, when it’s not in use.
This renovated Edwardian home in San Francisco, USA, is less than a metre from the neighbouring house. So when the owner, who works in construction, installed windows along that side of the house, it was more about gaining light than views. “The window glass behind the cabinet is translucent,” says Eric Hartz of Gast Architects, the firm that helped bring the owner’s vision to life. “It produces a luminous presence that erases a sense of depth.” but You'd have to keep everything in the cabinets minimal, neutral and perfectly spotless to avoid it looking cluttered;
Fill unavoidable open gaps with shelving Even when you’ve done your best to maximise your home’s storage potential, there will still inevitably be a few gaps here and there. Don’t let them go to waste! Do another walk-through and keep an eye out for small, unused gaps that could be filled with a bit of shelving; a tall, narrow opening beside the washer and dryer, for instance, or that space on either side of the kitchen door.
Hide it away A tucked-away pantry like this one creates a seamless look for an elegant or modern kitchen where good looks depend on streamlined uniformity.
Plan for uniformity Glass jars and canisters not only make it easy to find just what you need, replacing the hodgepodge of packets, boxes and bags just looks far more appealing.
Design a space for everything Even the coffee machine has its own home in this beautiful pantry – a dream come true for any homeowner. Work closely with your cabinet maker on the pantry’s design and you’ll be grateful you did forever after.
This compact kitchen island features a swinging bin that can be stowed when not it use. Attached to the end of the bench, it also allows you to scrape waste straight from the bench.
Compact system has two smaller compartments for organic waste. One, for composting and the other for non-compostable waste (think bones, orange peel etc). Both have tight-fitting lids that ensure kitchen odours and flies stay away
Slide away systems This clever, compact drawer system houses kitchen scraps ready for composting, a rubbish bin underneath and a receptacle complete with lid to hide the mess of recycling.
wasted space gap from overhead cupboards & roof... better to cose that in, rather have hidden wasted space than a dust collecting/ cobweb gathering area. Lazy susan corner cupboard secret cupboard that opens into the room next door (laundry) rather than in the corner of the kitchen. This gives a clean line in the kitchen, unobstrusive storage in the laundry and zero space is wasted or a bifold door (2 panels with ahinge inbetween the panels, but the door attached on one side only) with corner/L shaped shelves inside-the bifold doors allow wide opening to get things out
specify drawers that go the full depth of the bench top, instead of the standard depth. Often space is wasted behind the drawers. Space between counters When designing a kitchen, it is recommended to leave a minimum of 1000mm of floorspace between your two benchtops. This will allow room for you to open drawers and cupboards, as well as stand in front of your dishwasher when it is fully opened. However, if you have the space, I would suggest you aim for a space of 1200mm so you can comfortably move around your open dishwasher, without fear of bumping your shins on the corners – OUCH!
Bin location The kitchen bin is not only used for food scraps and packaging. More often than not, it is used for everyday household rubbish that is collected around the house. For this reason, it is useful to place the bin at a point in the kitchen that is easily accessible from the rest of the house. I suggest placing it on the end of the bench or island, closest to the kitchen entrance. That way, you can simply throw something in the bin as you walk past, rather than walk into the kitchen and get in the way of the chef! As for a compost bin, that you can keep as close to your food prep area as possible. best to ensure a large space between the rubbish bin and the dishwasher as the heat from the dishwasher can cause the bin contents to become very smelly quickly. A lot of people have their bin under the sink, but we moved ours to be on the left hand side, we then have the sink in the middle and the dishwasher to the right. It means when washing up after dinner I can stand in front of the sink and just pivot left to right - scrape into the bin, rinse under the tap, and then stack in the dishwasher.
Close dishwasher and sink placement If you wish to avoid dripping food and grease on the floor, place the dishwasher within arms reach of the sink. That way, when you rinse the excess food off plates, you can place them straight in the dishwasher. Otherwise you will have to travel across the kitchen dripping dirty water as you go, and I am yet to meet anyone who enjoys mopping the kitchen floor! It is also important to place the dishwasher by the sink in order to connect the dishwasher plumbing to the drain and taps.
provide legroom for those sitting on the bar stools. Anywhere between 12-19 inches overhang on the back side of the island will ensure the sitters are comfortable Bring the window above your kitchen sink all the way down to the counter. That’s an extra 6-8” of light into your kitchen, and who doesn’t want that?. My biggest reno blunder was to choose a dark bench colour in a kitchen flooded with light.Seemed like a good idea,however every spot,swipe,smear showed as you looked along the bench.Especially as you entered the kitchen,you looked straight along the bench.I was always working to keep it pristine. Never again. My current bench is off white, with specks of colour that make it easy to care for.
Shallow kickboard drawers are inconspicuous and offer secret storage you’ll continue to thank yourself for. Since they’re shallow in height, they’re the perfect place to store baking trays, oven racks and chopping boards. They can also be used to store other flat items such as placemats and table linen.
This spice rack is positioned just where you need it most, and no drawer or cupboard opening is required. When you’re short on time, every second counts. plan a place to hang tea towels and a hand towel near the sink! comments The biggest mistake Australians make is buying appliances BEFORE finalizing their kitchen design! Work with your kitchen designer first to make sure you are in control of your renovation......and your budget. This way, you end up with the most practical use of your space and have all of your quotes (or estimations) for the kitchen cabinetry, bench tops, trades and appliances. If your a little over your budget, then your designer can assist with recommendations as to how you might be able to save that money and be able to start on the renovation.
If all your above-bench cupboards are the same depth, make maximum use of the one closest to the stovetop with a double layer of shelving. A swing-out spice rack like this one means you can layer containers on both sides, and still have room for condiments behind. Tansel Stainless Steel Pull Out Storage Narrow spaces don't need to be overlooked. Commonly cabinet makers use "fillers" because the space is just too narrow. If every inch of space counts, there are some really clever storage solutions that deliver! This broom pull out (also converts to a slimline pantry) only requires 130mm internal width. It delivers loads of storage using minimal space. More info... https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/9812a3fd0a739e68_6634-w240-h280-b0-p0--home-design.jpg https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d20280f40a739e6b_6638-w240-h400-b0-p0--home-design.jpg
Kickboard drawers The area between the base of your cabinetry and the floor is one of the most under-utilised spaces in the kitchen; in fact, it’s often not used at all. Kickboard drawers allow you to maximise this space – use them to store items you don’t use every day such as platters and table linen.
Storage for tight spaces Pullout racks and base units are clever solutions for awkward spots that often go unused in the cooking zone, for example niches next to ovens and kitchen sinks.
A splashback that doubles as a sliding cabinet door is an inspired idea for a compact cooking zone. Here, the sliding panel hides spices and other condiments, making them within easy reach while cooking. comments Man made stone tops (Caesar stone, smart stone, essa stone, silestone etc.-- Quarts tops) different brands vary greatly in price and often there are some "no name brands" which are more brands that have been around for a while that dont do any marketing, speak to a stone mason you trust or recommended that uses a large range of brands, thousands can be saved here.
Go for warmth Look at the temperature of light bulbs, which is measured in kelvins and is marked on the packaging. Light globes of 2000-3000K will give you a warm white light, perfect for a cosy kitchen. Opt for low-glare styles. A good mix of indirect (or ambient) lighting paired with task lights for prep zones will set a practical yet welcoming tone in the kitchen. Having them on separate dimmable switches makes it easy to alter the mood when cooking or relaxing.
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