This is the first in a series exploring sustainable options for your kitchen. Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to lower their carbon footprint – against a backdrop of global action around sustainability. Australians are increasingly turning to their own homes and backyards to see what small changes can be made. The kitchen is a popular choice for eco-friendly renovations because there are many ways to save energy. Don’t be fooled by its small size, this room can use the most energy in your home, thanks to appliances such as the fridge, dishwasher, stove, and even the humble kett ..read more

The kitchen may be the one room in your home where the whole family comes together, not only to eat, but to spend quality time. This is where lazy Sunday brunches are made, birthday cakes are baked and towering ice cream cones are constructed during summer. More people are opting to design their kitchens from scratch – so they can make the most used room stand out from the rest of the home, by building the kitchen they want. There are many benefits to having a custom made kitchen, it’s difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps the most obvious is that you get to choose everything – the texture ..read more

If the kitchen is the heart of any home, then it’s fair to say that flooring serves as the veins that allow the heart to function so effectively. One should never underestimate the power of having a good-quality floor to work from – it’s the key feature of any kitchen, setting the tone for the entire room. Even the best appliances and bench-tops can be dragged down by a raggedy floor. Vinyl flooring is the answer to this, and it’s more affordable than many other flooring options. What exactly is vinyl? Vinyl is a synthetic substance that was invented in 1920 by scientists who wanted to develop ..read more

When budgeting for a kitchen renovation, it’s often hard to tell where you should splurge and where you can save a few dollars without diminishing on quality or style – especially if you want your kitchen to last the distance. We know every cook is different, so will want different things in their kitchen to benefit their style, but the basic remain the same regardless. Here are some of our tips on where you should save and splurge in your next kitchen renovation… Save: Lighting This one is controversial, we know, but with the number of gorgeous light fittings at places like IKE ..read more

If you’re looking to make your kitchen a little bit more unique, while still working with the bones of your current set up, why not consider the French provincial style? French provincial, despite its rather old fashioned name, is an incredibly timeless style that is having a massive resurgence thanks to the rise of classic styles and the everlasting popularity of French style. But if you’re not sure you could handle, or afford, a full kitchen renovation, here are some ways to up the French Provincial style in your kitchen without breaking the bank. Replace your cabinet doors The fastest way t ..read more

Whether you’re building from the ground up or just looking to do a few internal renovations, the kitchen is often number one on the renovation list, especially as more and more we are starting to see it become the more central room in a family home, overtaking the lounge room. We’re also seeing a rise in open plan housing, to connect the lounge room with the kitchen in order to make it one large family room. If you’re making renovations to an existing home, especially the kind to create open plan living, you may think that buying off-the-plan kitchen fittings will work just fine… but here’s wh ..read more

You spend more time in your kitchen than you probably realise – from cooking weeknight meals to getting a glass of water before bed and making tea and toast every morning before rushing the kids off to school, the kitchen is well-trodden domain. It’s often the warmest room of the house, especially if the oven and stove are in frequent use, making it a favourite place for cold bodies to gather in the cooler months.18 For the above reasons, and many more, making the kitchen a place you want to hang out should be vital. Of course, there are lots of considerations to take into account when designi ..read more

Anyone who is a keen cook, baker or entertainer; dreams of having a large, open plan kitchen with an island and ample storage for all their gadgets. However, with an increasing number of people living in smaller houses or apartments, kitchens are getting smaller. Cramped spaces often mean minimal bench space, smaller ovens and a downsized refrigerator if you just accept what is there when you move in. Arguably, the kitchen is the centre of the house, as it’s where people congregate for meals or for a glass of wine at the end of the day – so it should be a place you want to hang out in. A custo ..read more

Exploring the newest home decorating trends is always exciting when you’re planning a new kitchen, but regardless of the latest looks, timber fittings will always remain high on the list of options for kitchen renovators. Many peopleintegrate their new kitchens with the timber themes of their living or outdoor areas, to create a seamless interior flow. Opting for a timber finish also displays an appreciationfornatural themes,colours and unique grain patterns in cabinetry and bench tops as a stunning central feature. Installing a modern, streamlined timber kitchen will update any home, while b ..read more

Galley kitchens are characterised by having two facing walls and a long, narrow floor space between parallel benchtops.   Though compact by design, choosing this style of kitchen is in no way an impediment to injecting wow-factor design to your home. Today’s galley kitchens use stunning contemporary fixtures and fittings and are perfectly suited to the uncluttered visual lines preferred by architects and interior designers. Galley kitchens are typically not goodfor entertaining or as eat-in areas, but their utility design uses work areas and storage – including their vertical spaces – wi ..read more