The Modern Classic Kitchen

 

 

 

When renovating, it is so important to stay true to the heritage of your home, which can often feel restricting. Today we show you the perfect mix of classic + modern/happy +sophisticated/contemporary + timeless which takes this kitchen from being ordinary to truly special.

 

 

This stunning kitchen not only boasts beautiful Smeg appliances, but features a unique grey blue finish which is nothing short of striking. The colour is Clouded Blue by Resene, offset by the gorgeous Caesarstone benchtop in White Attica. A large ceramic butlers sink and traditionally styled pulldown sink mixer, are the key finishers of this whole look. We also can’t not mention those  large windows which offer plentiful sunlight- the perfect spot to have your morning coffee.

 

 

From the clients- ‘We wanted our new kitchen to reflect the age of our 1880’s villa, but also wanted industrial elements to update the kitchen to modern day form and function. The colour palette connects with other paint choices throughout the house. We love our new kitchen and instantly felt at home using it.’

 

 

We will be back next week to share another recently completed masterpiece by Next Edition Kitchens!

Children cooking in the kitchen

Keep the Kitchen child safe

When it comes to getting a new kitchen, we often forget about the wider aspects to the design process.

Children can play a major part in the design process – particularly the younger ones. They are very compelled by the kitchen and are heavily enticed from all the colourful things you put in and take out of cupboards, drawers & the fridge.

Kids love to be wherever you are – INSTANTLY if they see you’re about to do something they want to help with and we all know they love baking/cooking (i’m pretty convinced it’s because they get to have multiple taste tests and get the rights to licking the bowl!) this is why it becomes important as they are spending a chunk of time in the kitchen also and it can be a jungle for them in there with so many things to grab and play with.

While you spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen, there’s no way of having it child-free, but the bonus here is that we can make it as safe as possible so they minimize any head bumps on sharp corners, jammed fingers in the cabinetry – YOU NAME IT! they will find a way to do it if they can.

Talking to your designer and making sure this is an important design aspect to incorporate is very much achievable while still having the kitchens of your dreams, it may mean having the rounded edges on the bench tops opposed to the square edge or a rounded handle instead of a sharper edged one would be the way to go but the options are super flexible when going through a skilled designer (like our lovely designers here at Next Edition Kitchens!) you often won’t pick up on what else needs to be discussed but the knowledge the designers have is incredible and will have you walking away feeling like you’re in great hands as are your children.

Keep in mind, there are many little gadgets you can purchase to assist the safety in the kitchen if you aren’t designing or renovating. Click here for ideas.

Composting

How-to: Maintain a compost bin

Do you have a garden and have been thinking of incorporating a good ole’ compost to the mix? this is such a great idea if you are after a little project to keep you busy and an added bonus is that your garden will thank you with delicious fruit, vegetables and flowers that have been absolutely soaking in all the nutrients from the emptied compost.

 

What exactly is compost?

Compost is simply decomposed organic waste from mainly food scraps. It is nature’s way of creating an added boost to crops and general gardens. All you need to keep feeding your compost is your kitchen food scraps and even garden waste – how easy? in just 2 – 3 months your supply will be at the stages of an ongoing steady fertilizer that’s packed with nutrients for your garden.

 

What type of compost bin is best?

A plastic bin in which you can purchase from your local hardware shop is perfect for your smaller compost to scale but if you are wanting a larger to scale bin, go for the wooden ones. You can build a bin yourself from googling a DIY step-by-step guide. You can also just start a heap on the ground but the choice is totally up to you!

 

Where do i place my bin?

It is a good idea to place the bin in place away from the house. it will need to be sheltered by intense heat and wind.

 

Making the compost:

Once you’ve decided where you’re going to place your compost bin, it’s time to get started with the fun stuff.
Add your organic material in layers to create a balance of carbon and nitrogen.
Start by doing a layer of carbon – your brown material: dried leaves, twigs, newspaper etc. Next add a nitrogen layer – your green material: plant trimmings,
grass clippings, anything green and leafy.
Adding a product like lime to each layer as you prepare your heap will accelerate the composting and help neutralize acidity, plus it has the added bonus of helping to keep flies away. Keep adding alternate layers, then add water and cover the heap to enable it to decompose quickly. Compost needs to be turned regularly to aerate and help the decomposition process.
What NOT to put in your compost:
-Tea and Coffee Bags: If you are wanting to place Tea and coffee grounds into your compost, that is absolutely fine but please make sure you do not put the bags in aswell – these bags generally contain synthetic fibers that do not break down in a compost pile and can contain some iffy chemicals you do not want in your soil.
Citrus Peels & Onions: While fruit and vegetable scraps are the main ingredient to making some fantastic fertilizer there are some food scraps you should steer clear from your compost, these include Orange peels & Onions the reason i place these in bold is because it is such an easy food scrap to slip past you and weasel their way into the compost bin, perhaps placing a sign on the compost bin to remind you not to put them in would be beneficial?
Unfortunately, the natural chemicals and acidity in orange peels and onions can kill worms which of course slows the process down as the little worms and other microorganisms actually really con tribute to the outcome of your compost. Plus, unless you take time to cut everything down into smaller pieces – they take longer to decompose which results in a longer wait until you can use your fertilizer.
Meat & Fish: These will of course, decompose fine and have nutrients that would be a good addition to your soil, it will unfortunately attract rodents like Mice, Rats, Cats, Dogs etc who would carelessly ransack your bin to eat them.
The smell of decaying meat may annoy you and possibly your neighbors as well!
Coal ash: The ash left from the fireplace should most certainly not be added to your compost pile, it contains quite a significant amount of sulfur as to make the soil excessively acidic, which we can confirm will harm your plants. Wood ash can be added in small amounts but do not add coal ash!
Sawdust from TREATED wood: While untreated, natural wood sawdust can be a great addition to your compost pile. The reason that treated, polished and vanished wood is not a great addition is because the toxic compounds wont be able to break down in the compost process and can negatively affect the microorganism activity and plant health.
-Large branches: Large branches and twigs will take forever to decompose which in conclusion will slow down the process, it may be a bit of a pain to lengthen the process by cutting them down to be smaller but it will allow you to use the compost for your garden a lot quicker. The smaller the branches, the quicker the breakdown cycle is.

 

Alternatively,  you can start a branch pile at the back of your house where its purely dedicated to branches, twigs etc which will decompose over the course of a couple of years. A branch pile is however, a great habitat for smaller rodents.

 

Added on tips:

  • Always keep your pile damp but not saturated.
  • If you are adding food scraps bury deep in the pile.
  • Do mix your lawn clippings with your food scraps, grass tends to compact which may prevent the air flow through the pile.
  • Ensure you compost gets some sunshine but not too much.

 

Trends 2019

2019 Trends to lookout for

As we all know, the kitchen truly is the heart of the home, the place where you make memories and learn skills daily, there is never one whole day you don’t use the kitchen. Fortunately, a kitchen isn’t such a hard room to style with all the lovely options and ideas out there – the options truly are endless!

When it comes to the kitchen, you want practicality but also a great look that pulls everyone’s attention as soon as they walk in the room. With styles continuously coming and going with the years, we decided it would be a great opportunity to write a guide of trends to look out for in 2019!

Whether you are building a brand-new house, renovating your current or just sprucing up the area a pop of colour is what everyone is leaning towards for 2019 – this is the year to be bright, bold and adventurous! Although having white in your kitchen is still very popular to be creating an open and clean feeling kitchen. But 2019 is going to see bits of colour popping up in white kitchens whether you incorporate this through a beautifully colour splashback or even get creative and buy some coloured cooking utensils/appliances! Paint an island or accent wall – the options go on and on.

Let’s talk about Quartz – we all dream on having a stunning Quartz piece in our homes, but this is the year to take the plunge and go for it, 2019 is all about statements and this just ticks every box. Not only is it easy on the eye but the durability is phenomenal, easy to maintain and a more affordable option opposed to granite.

Ceaserstone Quartz Benchtop

Ceaserstone Quartz Benchtop in White Quartz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being 2019 and all, we want to go the extra, modern mile and this may mean no handles is the way to go! No, seriously – say goodbye to handles because push-touch is your new best friend, if you prefer to have cut-outs, they are still very stylish and all in for this year’s trend. Or opt for indents along the base of the cabinet door to keep the indents tucked away and out of sight.

Push touch - No handles

Push touch – No handles – Next Edition Kitchens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open shelving has been around for a few years as a way to showcase your attractive dishes. We all love open shelving because of the modern, classic look it gives the room – this is among many different Kitchen designers lists for trends in 2019 and to be fair – we can’t argue otherwise, it’s a great idea to make your kitchen space to appear bigger than it is.

Cupboards

Open shelving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Gloss and hello Matte! Matte is such a great aspect to include in the kitchen it just blends ever so smoothly and looks exquisite. There is a bonus here which is that matte is more forgiving with showing fingerprint markings as easily as gloss can. We also predict these will be around in the trends for many more years to come.

Soft Matte Finish on Kitchen

Soft Matte Finish on Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait, what? Stoves and rangehoods in….colour?? Yes, that’s right – this goes back to reason #1 as to why we are adding colourful options to the list of trends for 2019 – it is such a fun way to brighten up your style whilst adding a wonderful statement piece.

Pink Oven

Pink Oven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold or copper are dashing their way into 2019 with a great deal of attention, these colours work well in most kitchens whether you have dark or light benchtops, do use these in small doses – we recommend handles or sinks/tapware!

Aurora Copper Sink and tap angled - Mercer sinks

Aurora Copper Sink and tap angled – Mercer sinks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funky coloured/texured Splashbacks are all in for 2019, the wonderful patterns these have to choose from is absolutely tempting and would compliment a wonderful kitchen, could this be your statement piece?

Next Edition Kitchens - Splashback

Next Edition Kitchens – Splashback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading, let us know what you’d like to see in the next blogs!

Appliances Blast Back To The Past

As you may know, I am a sucker for a good history throwback and seeing how much we have changed and evolved from back then.
Come the holidays, we always start to spend as much quality time as possible with loved ones, especially in the kitchen preparing the mouth-watering lunch and dinner for all. This year round made me really think about what it was like when my mother was me helping her mother prepare the delicious feast and what sort of appliances and cooking utensils they used.

Upon my conversation while cooking with my mother about what it was like back in the day really got me interested in doing some research and WOW, did the results just become the most interesting find yet?!

While the traditional pavlova recipe or nana’s special fruit cake recipe remains, the appliances they used to use to whip these up have majorly shown such a difference when comparing what we use today VS. what our loved ones used when they were little.
Let’s dive in and explore some exquisite finds that really WOW’d me:

1. The Naxon Beanery – This was every households necessity (no, seriously – this appliance was the bee’s knees, so versatile and easy!) We know this to be the “Crock-Pot” this was developed by Irving Naxon as a means of recreating his Grandmothers bean soup, the Beanery was transformed into a more versatile status appliance which was then seen overall as a slow cooker. In 1971, the Chicago-based manufacturer was bought out Rival, who renamed the plug-in pot the Crock-Pot.

Naxon Beanery

Naxon Beanery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. The Salad Spinner – As you may have already noticed that you still have one of these in your cupboard and it isn’t quite an out-dated utensil – this one is still such a great invention, my mother advised that this would come in pastel/fanta colours and pastel greens and it would be her or her siblings job to sit on the floor and spin the handle like mad until the lettuce was dry. Not only were the colours fun but also it did resemble a toy as such which made it easier to convince the kids to help out!

Salad Spinner

Salad Spinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. The Ice Crusher – It’s no secret that cocktails where all the rave and at its peak in the 1950s. Here, we have the handiest device that would crush your ice cubes to make a lovely, cool & refreshing slushy-like beverage.

Ice Crusher

Ice Crusher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. 2-in-1 Electric Can Opener and Knife Sharpener – First of all, how did these ever go out of fashion? Seriously, how great is this invention. It is super practical and easy to store for when you don’t need it. It did used to have a horrid grinding noise when you would sharpen knives but for the design of this beauty, chuck in a couple of ear plugs and get sharpening your knives and opening your cans with ease & style! (It was even electric!)

Electric Can Opener & Knife Sharpener

Electric Can Opener & Knife Sharpener

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Elevated Cabinet Fridge – Wait, did you say HANGING FRIDGE? Another design I’m totally in love with for what it used to be, I think this design was a very practical idea to have all food being incorporated into the layout of cabinets opposed to free-standing, you’d have to have some strong screws in there to hold it up!

Elevated Fridge

Elevated Fridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Fridge Wraps – Ever looked at a white fridge and thought “You look a wee bit plain, lets spruce you up!) well, our family living in the older generation hit the nail on the head with a range of patterned designs to stick on the doors of your fridge, retro right?!

Fridge Wrap

Fridge Wrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The list goes on & on & on for so many cool, older style appliances and even cooking utensils. It really does amaze me of how much we have evolved into what we use today and the style of things, hearing about my mothers childhood cooking stories and all the different things you don’t see so much anymore is truly eye opening so i hope you enjoy this post and it takes you or your elders back in time to reminisce.

 

*All photos are NOT owned by Next Edition Kitchens.

Lights

Lights In The Kitchen Guide

Lights in the Kitchen can be tricky with the different types of lighting out there as an option but with the help from our designers, we can help point you into the right direction.

Every kitchen deserves its own personal complimentary aspect to highlight what a breath-taking project it is, whether you have just done a few renovations/DIY upgrades to what is current or even having a newly built kitchen – this is why lighting in the kitchen is a great opportunity to take on.

Having the kitchen complete and fresh is like you are floating on cloud 9, you come to realize all the effort, time and money gone into achieving this so why not somehow emphasize all that hard thinking and decision making, the cost of material and also the hard work gone in to getting the job done? Lighting in the kitchen is the answer and not only is it stylish – it’s also very practical.

Having a lighting plan in your kitchen can make the chef’s life an absolute breeze with the bright task lighting, for guests to socialize with a lovely calming and elegant ambient lighting, lastly, we can’t forget lighting for the well-thought-out architecture of your kitchen to really shine with accent lighting.
Together, these lighting layers will show off all your kitchen has to offer.

Ambient lighting:
This is like no other lighting that can come from such a pure, organic source that is free: the sunshine! Early mornings usually greet you with a slap in the face of sunshine (a good slap in the face) this is always enough to fill each room everyday apart from when the sun says goodbye for the day and the darkness creeps in.
The right ceiling lighting can be utilized to give off just the right amount of illumination needed. The specific types of artificial ambient kitchen lighting include (but are not limited to) chandeliers, pendant lights, recessed lighting and flush mounts.

While ambient lighting is used to make it easier for you to navigate throughout the kitchen, it often leaves shadows in areas that require more focus. With the help of task lighting, work surfaces and cabinetry are properly illuminated so you can safely prepare meals, read recipes, and easily spot ingredients on a shelf.

What is Accent lighting?
Accent lighting focuses light on a particular area of the room or an object. It is often used to highlight art or other important displays. Common types of accent lights include wall sconces, floodlights, recessed lights, torchère lamps, or track lighting. The brighter light from the accent lamp creates a statement to any room.

We recommend puck lights to really emphasize nicely those glass front cabinets, much like in a china cabinet or your end cabinets.

– Toe-kick lights to gain attention on flooring that have some sort of texture or design. They are also very helpful to those who like a midnight snack but don’t want bright overhead lighting waking them up.
– A table lamp on the bench-top adds a lovely glow to give that illusion to soften the hard surfaces of a kitchen. This looks great in the more quieter areas of your kitchen, keeping it away from the prep stations and kitchen sink.

Task lighting:
Task lighting is exactly what it sounds like: lighting to help you accomplish the tasks you set out to do in your kitchen. Whether it’s preparing meals, washing dishes, paying bills, or helping kids with homework, all of these jobs would be difficult to complete with poor lighting. Task lighting sources include:
– Recessed or “can” lights – We strongly advise placing one over the sink, one for every four feet of bench-top space (at a minimum but is not limited too), and also over the island, if not using pendant lights.
– Pendant lights over the kitchen island serves three purposes, they allow the practicality to be at a high level for task lighting, they make a perfect design statement, and also they compliment areas that need to be distinctive (your smaller spaces) without going over the top.
– Under-cabinet lighting, in the form of compact fluorescent lights, is another great option for task lighting in the food preparation areas.

When I asked our Kitchen Designer her input on how important lighting is, she gave us an awesome explanation: “Lighting completely changes the look & feel of a space. It is one of those design elements which often goes unnoticed when it is good but is glaringly obvious when done poorly! When choosing the correct lighting it is really important to consider the space is used – where in the kitchen will you be working the most? Will shadows be created if lighting is positioned behind you?

Strip lighting is a great option for under upper cupboards whilst LED down-lights are the best option for overhead lighting. Don’t forget about pendant lights & wall sconces which will add key lighting to high use areas- not to mention adding style & interest to the overall kitchen design.”

Common kitchen task lighting options include:

– Strip Lights: Versatile and great for illuminating a cabinets interior, especially low cabinets that hardly receive any ambient lighting. LED strip lights are also used under the cabinet to fully illuminate counter spaces.

– Puck Lights: Round and oval, puck lights are great mood lights and can be used to illuminate countertops in the form of a scallop, spot or pool of light.
If your kitchen is particularly well-designed the right placement of accent lights can be really complimentary and help really highlight your favorite elements.

Common kitchens accent lights will include:
– Dimmers: Having a dimmer switch allows you to progressively transition between the levels of lighting which would range depending on the different tasks in the kitchen. This option is energy efficient and very versatile.

– Motion Sensors: This option can come across as very intriguing and a great idea for the pantry and smaller areas, how many times have you turned on a pantry light and forgotten about it? This option is very versatile and stylish at that.

All-in-all, the kitchen is the magnet for socializing, cooking, and entertainment; all activities that thrive with a generous level of lighting to accommodate each activity. By following the guidelines of light layering, finding the right fixtures and controlling them properly, your kitchen is sure to always wow you and your guests.

Design

High Quality Material Is The Best Way To Go

Do you want to invest in a new kitchen or update your current kitchen that will stand the test of time and keep looking brand spanking new? In our blog today, we are going to go through why using high quality material is the best way to go – this ensures optimal, long lasting performance with style.

Have you ever stepped foot in your friends or families house and felt immediately mesmerized? Chances are that it had something to do with the detail and style of the area. Details are so very important and really tie the knot with your styles and will make any room look and feel captivating, specifically, in the kitchen it is one of the most crucial rooms in the house to really hit the nail on the head in terms of design and quality.

When creating the plans for your project, it is super important to create a truly efficient and functional outcome. The kitchen is the heart of the home – if you are second guessing whether or not to go that extra mile and spend the extra money to ensure you are receiving the best quality products, take our word and just do it! You will not regret the finished products and after all, we spend almost every day in the kitchen, so it is really a great investment and not only that – it also can add significant value to your home.

Any kitchen is going to look absolutely breath taking and just exquisite on it first days, but the tell-tale sign of a really great quality Kitchen is how it holds up, how everything ages and how it feels when you are using it on the daily basis. This is why choosing colours can come to a great, feel-good final and quick choice and happens fairly early in the planning stages, but it is what’s “behind the scenes” you could say, that is the more wandered upon stage of the project that determines the long-lasting and practicality. If or perhaps when the time comes to sell your home, the quality feeling of your kitchen cabinetry could be just the thing to push that potential buyer over the finish line.

With our wonderful suppliers and knowledge our professional Team have gathered over the years, this makes selecting only the best quality for your kitchen, easy. We have more affordable ranges which have very similar qualities and have been proven to stand the test of time also – of course the general wear and tear and how you use the area really has impact on the test of time but seeing as we care just as much as you do for your kitchen, we have provided how to best maintain your darker kitchen cabinetry but this way is also suited for your light, bright and vibrant colours too which you can check out here: Dark and Light cabinetry care blog.

Like our suppliers (Blum, Hettich, Hafele – just to name a few), we understand how important this project is to you, it really is the heart of the home. In our opinion, it should be designed and built to provide a long lasting, efficient, stylish kitchen which requires little maintenance (and by little, I mean your general cleaning and not having to replace things here and there.) This understanding lies behind all the kitchen fittings and accessories we incorporate in the kitchens we design, build and install.

The build quality is crucial, as is the smoothness of the materials which really revolves around doors and drawers and how the function whilst opening and closing them. By choosing the slightly more costly materials it really does ensure the capability these materials have to stand the test of time.

We want to spice up the kitchen or nail the new build once and have it look like a brand new kitchen every day, the key to achievement this is certainly quality material and maintenance.

Here at Next Edition Kitchens, we make sure you walk away with the knowledge on the correct way to maintain your benches and cabinetry, we stock local, great quality materials to suit each and every project at an affordable cost! how can that be? too good to be true? our answer is simple – we care about the future generation of design which we are 100% passionate about, all of our designers are constantly testing materials, researching pros and cons and also just staying up to date with product knowledge.

Being able to provide customers with the project of their dream at a great cost is such a heart warming feeling and it is the reason we do what we do (and a bit of help from our wonderful accounts department who loves to fairly negotiate as well gives us a great kick-start on unbeatable costs!)

Enquire on sales@nexteditionkitchens.com or call our office on 09-430 3074 to get an estimate now!

Countdown NZ Spinach & Feta Scrolls (Summer Fave)

Not all delicious recipes have to come from Nana’s hand written cookbook with the flour, milk and cocoa splatters throughout the pages, although nothing will ever beat her golden recipes this sure does come close.

Spinach & Feta Scrolls – perfect for the kids lunch boxes and also just as a snack or a great addition to that BBQ you have been invited too..

Here’s what you need to make this mouth-watering meal:

  • 1 1/2 Sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed.
  • Spray cooking oil.
  • 250g Baby spinach.
  • 100g Crumbled feta cheese.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line a large oven tray with baking paper. Join pastry sheets, overlapping them by 1cm and pressing together to join. Place pastry over the baking paper.

2. Spray a medium sized frying pan with oil. Place spinach in the frying pan and sauté over a medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or until just wilted. Transfer to a colander and squeeze out excess moisture. Spread spinach over pastry, leaving a 3cm border around the edge. Sprinkle feta over top.

3. Brush pastry edge with a small amount of water and roll up loosely. Cut into 6 equal rounds. Arrange the rounds with the cut-side up on the baking tray. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden.

I love countdown for many reasons but if you browse the hundreds of recipes on their website (www.countdown.co.nz) it actually generates a shopping list below the recipe in which it gives quantities and the amount of food you need to complete the recipe – SO EASY! There is also many different meals/drinks/appetizers based upon the event or season to browse recipes from, it’s a great tool and the food never fails to disappoint, the kids will love it too.

 

Countdown shopping list - Feta & Spinach Scrolls

Countdown shopping list – Feta & Spinach Scrolls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are you waiting for? lets start summer with a bang (and a yummy, easy, affordable meal).

 

(Image & Recipe from www.countdown.co.nz)

Bathroom

Bathroom Vanities (History included)

What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into the bathroom? to us, the vanity is a key focal point of the bathroom.

When you enter a well design bathroom the vanity usually is the eye saw area your eyes dash to but it is also very essential for storage means. Investing in a upgraded vanity with a professional will leave you stress free and liking LOVING the bathroom even more.

At Next Edition Kitchens, we incorporate all aspects to your style and also always consider the space we work with to present an exquisite design that will leave you speechless.

When it comes to bathroom vanities, to us – it means more than just designing a stock standard bathroom, it is a room in the house that you use frequently, sometimes briefly and other times for a  nice and peaceful time to relax and wash up – we aren’t just designing your bathroom, we are designing your very own bathroom sanctuary! practically to us is also very important so whatever your style or requirements may be, we can certainly do it all.

Sprucing up the bathroom vanity really can uplift the room and make it seem like a new bathroom, however – you need to consider the following when planning:

  • Sizing – One of the most important (and probably obvious) aspects is of course, the dimensions. The correct sizes are crucial, you don’t want something that is too big and overcrowds the space. In contrast you don’t want something that is too small for the space.
  • Storage – Storage in your bathroom is also very important, really evaluate how much storage you need in the bathroom along with the style of it, when you come to us to help you with this then all your storage ideas are easily achievable as we are fully custom and love getting creative.
  • Style – Super important to make sure you are still matching the current style of your bathroom a beautiful coat of paint on the cabinetry and a stunning stone bench top would look great in any style of room. The options are totally endless.
  • Accessorize –  If you feel like you are needing just that one more thing to bring everything together, buy a nice scented candle or even a plant – a bigger mirror can create the illusion of having a bigger room also!

 

History (the interesting stuff!)

The original bathroom vanities is pretty much zero resemblance to what the term probably makes you think of today. In fact, until just a little over a hundred years ago, the bathroom as a whole didn’t really exist. The very first “bathroom vanities” were really washstands (just a wooden stool really!) These small wooden tables sat somewhere in your bedroom, equipped with a pitcher full of water and a bowl to wash your face and hands first thing in the morning.

It didn’t come into effect until the Victorian era that bathrooms became separate rooms and started to resemble what we would think of as a modern bathroom. It’s also when we started to really jump aboard the indoor plumbing era. At this stage, “bathroom vanities” evolved into fitted wall mounted sinks. Back the, the bathroom was nowhere near as practical as they are today and they where all super standard compared to all the different styles/designs out there.

Did you know, for many years the bathroom was viewed as an extension of the bedroom rather than it’s own private space? and as indoor plumbing improved, console vanities evolved into more functional, more particular bathroom vanities. These were often based on the design of furniture – dressing tables, chests, or cabinets.

Over the years these vanities have gradually became more simplified yet still gripping the practicality at the same time, we love this! there are so many designs out there in which you can totally alter to make it your own style – we are taken back in time with all the older vanities and it amazes us on how far we have evolved the meaning and style/s of vanities, best thing about this is that we are always going to change and evolve different, new styles, colour schemes, practicality etc ,. We are just so excited to see the unfold as the years continue to flow on.

 

I hope you have found this interesting, i would love to know your thoughts on this – what vanity style is your favorite?

Ceiling designs to seriously consider

Today I was inspired to bring up a topic that caught my eye whilst looking at inspiration photos for kitchen design trends that have come out in the newer catalogues from our suppliers and it gave me the wonderful idea for this blog – so let’s talk ceiling styles.

Before we jump on in to the different styles, I wanted to incorporate the history behind the ceiling styles and how they came about so upon researching and asking a tonne of (probably annoying) questions I have found the answers.

The craft of what’s now known as a “dropped” ceiling design backdates deep into architectural history, you see – over time ceilings where dropped for several reasons for the practicality and to suit the style of the house (and of course the build of the house itself)  and for decorative purposes. Decorative tiled ceiling designs backdate to the 1300’s in japan while roman ceilings brought some of the most artsy designs that we’ve ever known.

The time came when the northern Europe finally took to this trend, especially in France where Baroque coffered designs with ornate rosettes and straightforwardly detailed crown molding took center stage among high-society.

Our point is this, if you’re renovating, or a new build is on the cards, it’s worth putting some thought into the details that can go into your ceiling for just what you need to pull everything together, dimension, and value.

Let’s have a look at some of the different styles – there are so many different designs out there, so we will only show the ones we have selected that catches the eye:

 

Crown Design:

While common this can be simple and contemporary or detailed and ornate, the photo below shows moulding offers just the right amount of ornamental detail to this design.

Crown Ceiling

Crown Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tray Ceiling:

Tray ceilings have wedged their way back into style and we can’t complain with the gorgeous effect this gives the room, no matter what your style is, this will always be a great choice, innovative lighting diverts their design to a functional yet luminous focal point within any room, especially dining, living, master bedroom spaces and even outdoor living spaces. Super versatile!

Tray Ceiling

Tray Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beamed:

Now this has to be one of my ultimate favourite designs, not only do they allow for constructive practicality but also blends just gorgeously with designs, from simple and sleek to modern and magnificent these really can make a statement.

Beamed Ceiling

Beamed Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat:

The floating ceiling is certainly a catch for the more simple yet sleek looks,  you can’t go wrong with this style – this can fit in with any style your heart desires.

Flat Ceiling

Flat Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosettes:

Rosettes were highly popular and favored by the french for their very detailed designs, there is just something so beautiful and superior about these styles of ceiling. It is somewhat uncommon these days to see this in a home but such an awesome idea, if you like this style i HIGHLY recommend going for this.

Rosette Ceiling

Rosette Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skylights:

The main benefit that everyone knows is by having a skylight you are allowing more light to flow freely inside and lighten the room up a bit better, Villum Kann Rasmussen started his company on April 1, 1941, specializing in glass roofs, he soon came up with the brilliant idea to transform dark attics into living space with daylight and fresh air. Who doesn’t like an extra bit of sunshine gleaming into the kitchen to show off that beautiful new benchtop? or the idea of having a window to get rid of the smoke let off from accidentally burning that delicious meatloaf…

Skylight Ceiling

Skylight Ceiling