Kitchen ideas
Durable finishes on splash backs: Steve Johnson, owner and director at Retreat Design: Mosaic-tiled splashbacks may look fabulous, but who wants to spend all weekend scrubbing food splashes from the grout. Choose large-format splashback surfaces such as glass, mirror or engineered stone for a much easier surface to clean and maintain.
A single sink with zip taps. Vanessa Cook, design manager of smarterBATHROOMS+: A sink is, of course, a necessity in any kitchen, but the inclusion of a single kitchen sink that is really wide is far more practical for cleaning than two smaller sinks, and it helps define and contain the ‘cleaning zone’ in the kitchen.
Easy access: Position your sink in between your bin drawers and dishwasher to make it easier to clean up and to empty, rinse and then stack your dishwasher. And keep your everyday appliances, such as the kettle, coffee maker and toaster, together and easily accessible to reduce the time spent (and steps needed) to undertake daily tasks.
Blum Servo Drive and extra tray. To elevate your bin to the next hygiene level, ensure it is on a Blum Servo-Drive, so you can use a knee or hip to open the bin and not have to use your hands (which avoids the use of messy hands or cross-contamination when preparing food). Also position it adjacent to where you will be doing most food preparation so you can simply scrape the food scraps into the bin, rather than carrying them across a surface.
Good bin setup. Nathan Wundersitz, owner and designer of Space Craft Joinery: A good bin set up is an essential element of a super-functional kitchen, and preferably a multi-container bin that allows for recycling and separation of waste. Designers need to make the sorting of waste at the point of creation as easy as possible. We are being encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle, and a good waste-sorting system makes this an efficient and trouble-free process. We have a four-bay bin setup in our kitchen for chicken scraps, compost (paper, onion peel, citrus), recycling and non-recyclables. This system makes waste sorting a normal and efficient part of our day.
Prep zone and cleaning zone. Your preparation zone should have lots of bench space and be surrounded by cabinets that store chopping boards, utensils and mixing bowls in easy reach. Likewise, your cleaning zone should include a sink, dishwasher, waste disposal system and storage for cleaning products all in one area. This makes finding what you need much easier, and optimises workflow in the kitchen.
When renovating a dark, dated and decidedly impractical timber kitchen in Sydney’s Inner West, Provincial Kitchens integrated plenty of clever storage options into the Hamptons-inspired design. These cute little spice drawers, which form part of the architectural mantelpiece above the range hood, are a nifty and convenient place to store all the flavour essentials.
Under-sink cleverness Despite being an area that’s generally dedicated to cleaning products, the under-sink cupboard is often the messiest part of the kitchen, with plumbing and pipes and the sink bowl itself negating any functionality. 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.
Pull out units. Purpose-built pull-out shelves can also be used to take the hard work out of using heavy appliances. Here, a lift-up cupboard door conceals a pull-out shelf that securely holds the coffee machine and sandwich press. Tip: Ensure the pull-out is full extension (meaning its entire length can be pulled out); this will ensure full access to the unit and enable easier cleaning. And when selecting a pull-out unit, make sure the weight capacity of the runners and base of the pull-out are sufficient. Strength is paramount, so choose components from a reputable hardware manufacturer.
Plan the right distance between benches and fixtures 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.
White doors. Symmetry. Backsplash tiles.
Storage of awkward items - boards, big saucepans
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