29
Plan it
Deuluex
Woods Creek
Colour choice
Natural colours - both light and dark - are very much on
trend for kitchens. "We have gone through the past decade
of darker benches, but now you tend to see lighter to
mid-tone benchtops," says Davina. "Cabinets tend to be
different shades of white or neutral as well as block colours
in subtle blue or green (Hamptons style) or darker blues,
greens or charcoals for a more dramatic look."
Don't be afraid of darker hues, says Charlotte. "If you are
hesitant, try limiting it to walls or an island unit in contrast
with lighter cabinets or even appliances," she says. "Darker
shades applied as an accent rather than a base colour can
also work. These can be used for floating shelves, bar stools,
or pendant lights." To lower the intensity of a dark kitchen
she suggests introducing pale woods, light-coloured stone
or splashes of white. "Contrasting dark with light offers a
very compelling visual impact."
EXPERT TIP
The practicalities
Here are our top tips for designing a kitchen that's both
good-looking and hardworking.
- When planning your kitchen, start with your
appliances, as the size of these will need to be
accommodated efficiently.
- You can save on electrical and plumbing costs by
keeping the key items, such as the stove and sink,
in the same place as the existing kitchen, but don't
compromise on usability just to save a few dollars.
You need the kitchen to work well.
A functional floor plan should be designed around
the working triangle - this is the distance between
your sink, cooktop and fridge. "The most effective
workspaces allow 1200mm between each of these
stations," explains Briony.
A galley-style kitchen with counters on either side
of a narrow walkway, or a single-line kitchen with an
island, are both space-efficient layouts. They're ideal
for small spaces, with no difficult corners to deal with.
While matte
cabinetry is on
trend, it can make
a kitchen look
dark. If you have
limited natural
light, a gloss finish
will help the light
to bounce around
the space
The case for white
Classic white kitchens stand the test of time for
good reason, says Charlotte. "For a smaller kitchen,
white provides the illusion of space. In a larger one,
a predominantly white kitchen will only serve to
make the space feel more open and inviting."
A white kitchen can easily be enlivened by
bolder coloured accessories or appliances, or with
interesting taps or hardware. "European-inspired
handles and knobs in stylish finishes are being
used to introduce colour contrast and materiality
into the kitchen, from various shades of gold to
matte black and brushed nickel" says Briony.
Read it!
Find out the benefits of
a flatpack kitchen:
bunnings.co.nz/why-
you-should-buy-a-flat-
pack-kitchen
bunnings IO bunningsnz | bunnings.co.nz
