The kitchen is probably the most complicated and costly area to renovate within your home. Having expert advice by an experienced professional will take the stress out of the whole process and can ultimately save you making costly mistakes.
1. Considering Your Lifestyle
Are you the ultimate entertainer or does your microwave get a workout?
Maybe you’re the next master chef or are you a takeaway guru?
Do you have a busy family of six or are you empty nesters with just a couple in your home?
Thinking about your requirements for your new kitchen and considering your lifestyle is an important factor with your kitchen design.
Having a study nook or larger breakfast bar for homework with a handy ‘put away the mess’ drawer and charging points for the busy family, or installing more drawers to alleviate bending , ergonomic handles and clever appliance placement for ease of use.
If you rarely use your oven, do you need a wall oven, or would you rather more bench space by having an under bench oven?
Do you only use the microwave to heat the occasional meal, think about tucking it out of the way under the bench?
If you use the dishwasher every day, having it close to the sink will stop recently rinsed dished dripping onto the floor and you won’t need the larger double bowl sink taking up your bench space.
Your kitchen needs to be design for your needs, your requirements and your budget.
2. Nod to The Architecture of Your Home
While your kitchen will reflect your personality, you need to work with the style and architecture of your home.
This doesn’t mean using lime green and orange in your 70’s home or a provincial kitchen your period cottage, it’s just adding that link between old and new.
Many million dollar period homes throughout Adelaide have a stunning extensions with a contemporary kitchens and polished concrete floors but may have a subway tile, reproduction stove, Belfast sink, marble look surfaces or even traditional lighting to create a relationship with the original architecture.
You want a design that stands the test of time that is also easy to clean and care for.
3. Lighting and Electrical
To create an organic and relaxing space to enjoy, natural light is essential.
Opening up the design, using reflective surfaces for you cabinetry or splashback will bounce light if natural light is lacking.
Adding LED strip lighting under cabinetry gives ambient task lighting to your preparation areas and can also serve as accent when solely used.
Darker colors will absorb light so using lighter color choices will open up and lighten your space.
Pendants and dimmers on down lights create beautiful mood lighting when you are entertaining.
PowerPoint placement can also help with the flow of you new kitchen.
If you are considering adding a study nook or dedicated study area, ensure there is an easy to reach PowerPoint for charging.
If your points are single plug it is advisable to change to doubles for more power options.
Also look at the actual PowerPoint covers as they are available in a huge selection of stunning finishes to match your splashback style.
Consult with both your designer and your electrician for expert, professional advice on what can be achieved for a functional, bright and inherently beautiful new kitchen.
4. Splashback and Painting
The splashback and painting is the last step in your kitchen renovation, but that doesn’t mean waiting till the end to think about these crucial elements, although you will have a better idea of the overall look once the cabinetry and bench tops are installed.
There is an abundance of choices for you kitchens splashback statement.
Glass splash backs eliminate grout lines, are hygienic and look amazing, seamless and the colour choices are endless as the glass is painted. They add light and depth to the look of your new kitchen.
Tiles are making a resurgent to popular and can be an affordable option if you are working to a budget.
Maybe you want to introduce pattern like herringbone, mosaic, geometric or a particular colour with patchwork or just a simple white subway tile with contrasting grout.
These are the two most popular options to make a statement, but there are more options to choose from including, concrete render, pressed metal, stainless steel, engineered stone surfaces used as splash backs, acrylic, exposed brick, copper, stone or slate, granite, window( if you are lucky enough to have this )or even timber.
The splash back area must to be fire retardant behind your cooktop so keep this in mind when choosing your final splashback finish and check this with your supplier before installation.
5. Choosing colours
A coherent fusion of colour and finishes is a delicate line to tread.
Going overboard with colour is a mistake often made when designing your new kitchen.
You have so many opportunities to layer colour and texture with a neutral base kitchen by using art, appliances, bar stools, feature crockery, greenery, or even a rug.
With so many colourful small appliances you can have a neutral kitchen but change the overall look without an enormous financial commitment.
If you do need that injection of colour, think about maybe painting a feature wall or using colour in your splashback.
When choosing your finishes, lay samples together along with your favorite colour and paint samples on a neutral base, like a black tablecloth, to see how all choices work together.
With modern technology a rendered picture of your future kitchen might be exactly what you need to visualize the final kitchen finishes.
