When it comes to designing your new kitchen, there are many aspects to consider. As the undisputed heart of the home, your kitchen should reflect your style and be a place you and your family can gather to eat, talk and catch up on the day’s events. It should also include all the practical features you need to make mealtimes a breeze.
A well-designed kitchen will save you time, make life easier and look amazing to boot. So to make this happen in your new home, where do you start?
The good news is, you don’t have to do it alone. Our experienced design and colour consultation team have helped hundreds of clients turn their ideas into a stylish, unique and functional space that is the perfect fit.
So if you’re ready to start planning your brand new kitchen, read on for our top design tips!
Defining your style
The first step in creating your amazing new kitchen is to define your look or theme. Do you like the effortless ambience of Scandi style? Or is a bold, dramatic look more your scene? Whatever you are drawn to, we can help you clarify your style, pinpointing the essential features and the finishing touches that will bring it all together.
If you don’t have a clear picture in mind, inspiration can be found in many places, including Pinterest, home design magazines and lifestyle television shows. Alternatively, you can also visit kitchen showrooms or display homes to see the design elements up close. Research your options for colours and appliances, and make a shortlist of your favourites, tracking costs as you go to be sure you stay on budget.
If you plan to reuse your existing furniture or small appliances, factor that in when making your decisions too, and take a photo of them on your phone to bring to your colour consultation. Of course, it’s not just about how it looks, so put some thought into how you will utilise the space, so that your chosen style ticks all the boxes for both form and function. For example, if you’re building a holiday home or investment property, sticking with a contemporary style with wide appeal and hard-wearing materials is likely the safest bet.
Selecting your colours
Choosing the colours for your new home is an important decision as it sets the tone and mood within your space. We suggest picking three to five colours that will be most prominent in your home as a starting point, then picking a tone that best suits the design and overall vibe of your new kitchen.
Neutral colours are generally the most popular as they can be easily matched to furnishings, providing you with more flexibility in the additional features that will work in your space. Sticking to neutral tones also provides you with longevity and peace of mind when it comes to resale value. However if you’re looking for something more adventurous such as strong contrasts or a look that incorporates multiple colours, we can certainly replicate current trends. For example, our Metung project features a monochromatic scheme (limited to one colour), in this case, focused on darker tones.
Another clever way to introduce colour and lift the space is via splashback tiles, which are available in a huge variety of colours and textures. Your choice of benchtop has an impact too, with timber bringing a rustic feel, stone a modern vibe and laminate a traditional look.
Choosing cabinetry, benchtops and splashbacks
Once you have considered your style and colours, it’s time to get started on specifics. Below is an overview of your options and popular choices for cabinetry, benchtops and splashbacks.
Cabinetry: We recommend opting for cabinetry that is attractive, durable and easy to clean. The polytec range includes some fantastic choices in a range of finishes including Melamine, Thermolaminated and Evolution doors and panels. You’ll find more great options in the Laminex range, including Formwrap, Impressions, AbsoluteMatte® and Diamond Gloss. If you want to take it to the next level you can choose to go two-tone, which is especially effective when tying solid colours with timber. Another consideration is whether you’ll opt for handles or no handles.
Benchtops: Laminate benchtops (polytec, Laminex and Formica) are affordable, versatile and long lasting, which makes them an attractive option for most kitchen styles. A stone benchtop will bring a sense of luxury to your kitchen, with YDL, Caesarstone and Quantum Quartz all offering a great range of styles. If you prefer the warmth of timber, DGI’s range of glulam benchtops offer some excellent options.
In our Hampton 14 display home, the beauty of a caesarstone benchtop can be seen up close. The large kitchen island features a wider waterfall end, which is not only visually stunning, it's also highly practical as it will shield your cabinetry from potential damage over time.
Splashbacks: When selecting your splashback, you have the option of Laminate (polytec, Lanminex and Formica), tiles (National Tiles, Beaumont Tiles and Volaré Concept Tiles), glass (available in any Dulux colour) or stone (YDL, Caeserstone and Quantum Quartz). Your splashback is the ideal place to add a feature colour or on-trend design element so explore your options to find your favourite. This is illustrated in our Buxton project, where the blue of the splashback tiles contrasts beautifully with natural timber.
Choosing your appliances
Your appliances can be your best friend in the kitchen, so careful consideration when specifying your preferred brand is a must. We use Westinghouse appliances for their quality, functionality and aesthetics, however, you can choose to supply your own appliances for us to install, as long as they are brand new and in the original packaging. For a cohesive look, go for consistency in finishes, so if your plumbing fixtures are matte black, stick to dark stainless steel appliances.
Adding the finishing touches
To bring it all together, there are some essential finishing touches that will elevate your space to the next level. Below are some key elements to consider.
Tapware: While there is a huge range of tapware options available, consistency is the key to success, so make sure it matches the other elements in your kitchen.
Houseplants: Adding some greenery is a budget-friendly way to bring the room to life. Choose evergreen plants like peace lilies and fiddle leaf figs that are air purifying and low maintenance. Plus, your planter pots are a fantastic way to add further colour and texture to the space.
Lighting: Pendant lighting above your kitchen island is on trend and a popular choice with clients.
Extras: Add colour and interest via ornaments, cookbooks and tea towels.
Creating your dream kitchen is within reach
While there are endless options and much to consider, creating your dream kitchen is within reach. When you work with our experienced design and colour consultation team, we’ll guide you all the way, to ensure your new kitchen is the perfect fit in every way.
To bring your ideas to life, talk to our friendly team today about your options or book a time to visit our display home and kickstart your project today!
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