Kitchen Renovations Brisbane

The first important trend is sustainability. Sustainability means reducing waste, energy use and water use and can also include recycled building materials to minimise the environmental footprint of your kitchen. Simple environmentally friendly measures can be as straightforward as installing a recycling compartment into your waste area or using lever taps instead of crossheads to reduce water wastage and leaking taps. Kitchen compost bins (or compost pails) are increasingly being used in kitchens and are designed so they do not attract flies or create an unpleasant odour.

The second major trend in kitchen renovation design is functionality and this is reflected in the design and equipment of the open plan multi-purpose kitchen. As sociocultural trends evolve the first room that changes in home design to address new lifestyles is the kitchen. Modern times have meant people are using their kitchens as multi-purpose rooms. The kitchen has become the formal dining area, the casual dining space, the area for homework and work needs, and the entertainment hub of the house.

The third notable trend in kitchen renovations is the entertainer’s kitchen. It is the idea that the kitchen is the centre of all entertainment in the house, and is the place where home owners entertain guests in their homes. Larger and more open kitchens have been on the rise as they need to be multi-functioning and welcoming.

Another easy way to follow the sustainability trend in your kitchen renovation is to pay strict attention to your appliances, shop for the ones with the best energy and water efficiency, as well as ones that are reliable or have extended warranty. A kitchen architect will know the best way to incorporate sustainability into your kitchen renovation design from the straightforward eco-friendly options through to using recycled materials and products.

To address all these new needs, kitchen designs have adapted to consistently innovate in functionality.  Large storage drawers and pull-out baskets are maximising the use of hard-to-reach spaces, and soft-close mechanisms are reducing the slamming of doors constantly heard in a family home. Durable surfaces and materials are needed as the kitchen is used the most out of any space in the house. Laminated or steel benchtops and timber cabinets with glossy finishes are increasingly in popularity.

Durability, functionality and style are all becoming the main factor for kitchen renovations. Island benches are still the most popular style of bench for a kitchen as it enables functionality and moveability in the space. And the kitchen needs to be easier to move and work in than ever before.

As mentioned previously butler pantries are on the rise.  If you have space it is a good investment to include within your kitchen renovation (for future resale value) and also for you yourself, when you are entertaining guests but want to keep the mess away from sight.

Wine cellars are also another good investment if you entertain often; however, if space is a concern a wine fridge might be better suited and gives guests easy access to beverages while food is being served.

Kitchens that open out to outdoor decks and patios can mean easy year-round entertaining between the inside and outside. Bi-fold or sliding windows can operate as a serving hatch and be an easy place to serve food and bring the outdoors in.

Outdoor kitchens might also be an idea if you entertain often; having two areas for cooking and preparing food can spread out the company and give you easy ways to cook large quantities of food. Discussing these trends with a kitchen architect and interior architect can mean that you have a kitchen that increases the value of your home, and also increases the value of your life.

When renovating your kitchen you may (we will!) wish to examine the natural light the room is currently obtaining.  If the amount of light is not sufficient we can look at this within your kitchen renovation design and possibly include additional or larger windows or even a skylight – or row of skylights for the wow factor!

A common inclusion in new and renovation kitchen designs is a butler’s pantry. Butler’s pantries are an easy way to keep a kitchen spotless when the kitchen is clearly visible from the living and dining areas. If you do not have space for a butler’s pantry clever design too can help to ensure that a working kitchen which is part of an open plan living area is an attractive feature of the home – and we can ‘hide’ certain kitchen areas if desired.

When it comes to the actual style for your kitchen renovation there are many choices available.  Our interior architects do suggest that when deciding on the design style for your ‘new’ kitchen try not to overcomplicate.  It’s best to stick with a simple layout with three to four finishes, with one wow factor that really makes your kitchen that stunning kitchen style you long for.

Rustic or Hampton’s style kitchens are popular because they are timeless and homely, but also give you the opportunity to adjust the design to suit your personal style. An interior architect is best qualified to advise you on how these designs can be adjusted to your personal style without losing the elements that make them so timeless.

A kitchen style option currently is vogue is concrete and stainless steel kitchens.  These materials now play an important role in the ultra modern kitchen.  This commercial kitchen look is a very attractive option in a modern trendy kitchen.

As said there are many different design styles available kitchen renovations and our Brisbane interior architect is abreast of all the latest trends and will help you determine the best style for your home.

Integration of appliances into cabinetry design is an option that is an ongoing trend. This means that any appliances that do not effectively fit in with the design (or you wish hidden) can be integrated effectively.

Two ovens are now a common occurrence in kitchen renovations, with some kitchens having two ovens and a steamer or warming drawer. For entertainers, two ovens are used to get the food ready in the shortest amount of time. Trends in cooktops (or stovetops) have indicated an increase in popularity for induction cooktops which are safer those both conventional electric cooktops and gas cooktops.  There are still however many home chefs who prefer the speed of gas cooking on gas hotplates.

For practical reasons, microwaves are now most often designed to be placed in lower positions below the working bench.  The reason for this is for practical use and safety. By being placed lower down reduces the possibility of spilling hot food on yourself when lifting a heavy (or even a light dish) dish out of the microwave.

Drawers instead of shelves are a common occurrence in new kitchen designs as drawers mean easier accessibility. There are also many clever options in small kitchen gadgets like adjustable cutting boards, pull out rubbish and recycling bins, and hidden LED lights to easily change the mood and ambience.

Many homeowners are choosing to buy dishdrawers instead of a full dishwasher, as it saves space and when you don’t have a full load to wash you just use the one drawer.

There are also many storage capabilities and improvements occurring in kitchen design. Corner cabinets are now available in drawers so you can easily access the back corner without having to reach in. Also, there are new lazy susan options in corner cabinets, so the shelf pulls out completely, letting you access everything on the lazy susan in a much easier manner.

New trends in layouts have been the introduction of the laundry into the kitchen area, particularly for those homes where every inch of space is valuable. Laundries can sometimes also be easily incorporated into butler’s pantries

Should you include this design option within your kitchen renovation it can mean you have an extra room where the laundry was originally.  This could give you a new study area or bathroom (or even a wine cellar if temperature and humidity levels allow it).

Another option is for your laundry to be incorporated into a half-half with the butler’s pantry if you did not have enough space for both the butler’s pantry and the inclusion of the laundry appliances. This hides both the kitchen and laundry appliances from view, giving you a spotless display kitchen.

Finally, with the increase in alfresco dining and entertaining it’s common now that kitchen renovations include an indoor to the outdoor flow. This is generally done through a bi-fold servery or window linking the kitchen to the deck or patio.  Taking this a step further, outdoor kitchens becoming now commonplace and you may wish to consider this too when undertaking a kitchen renovation.

Wine fridges can be easily placed outside in an outdoor kitchen, meaning easy access to beverages for guests.

Pizza ovens can mean beautiful wood-fired pizza that will impress any family member or guest.

Incorporating your BBQ with a Teppanyaki plate or stove top can mean an extra area to prepare food that could be useful when entertaining a lot of people.

By having an architect and interior architect design your kitchen renovation they can give you advice and designs on how to achieve the extension into the outdoor area, and make it perfect for your lifestyle and entertaining needs.