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Choosing a tap for your design

Whether you’re building your first home, renovating your current house, the pressure of choosing the right tap can be rather daunting. The kitchen tap will be one of the most frequently used items in your kitchen, with quite a large amount of choice on the market today there are three considerations we encourage you to think about when it comes to choosing your tap.

Positioning – Where exactly in the kitchen is your tap going to be located? On a kitchen island? Directly under a window? To the left or right of your sink? The position you are wanting your tap to be plays a mega important roll in making a decision, for example, if you wanted your tap place in your kitchen island – did you want it to be an eyesore or blend in as much as possible? If it is going under your window – would you want it sitting nicely under the windowsill line or wanting it sitting over? The positioning of your tap will have a huge impact of the final decision of which tap you can put in the space you want it.

Your type of sink – now this also plays a great role in choosing the tap – there are many questions that come with this like, do you want them the same color or different? Will your sink be a double bowl or a single? The type of sink you choose generally makes it easier to eliminate certain colours or functions. All in all – with the final say of the range you are now can work with given the position and sink type, it comes down to personal preference. There are plenty more components to a tap nowadays. For example, do you want a pull-out spray, or a tap that changes water pressure? A pull-down spray is a great option for double bowl sinks or laundry sinks whereas single bowl sinks smaller than 500mm (width) are best suited for normal taps.

Color Palette – The color palette of your kitchen is important to consider when choosing a tap finish. Matching in conjunction with your benchtop, cabinetry, and all other aspects in your kitchen. Brass finishes are becoming increasingly more preferred, but there are a few things you should learn before purchasing. With a vast number of brass taps available, choosing the right one for your space can be a bit nerve wracking, but don’t worry – consider the look of your kitchen long term. Black & White colored tapware has also spiked in popularity. Black & White are two very powerful colors and can add a degree of sophistication to a space.

 

 

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.

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

 

Kitchen

Refresh that rental

Are you currently in a cosy rental but the idea of a new kitchen excites you? We all know with rentals we are quite limited with what we can and can’t do, this can be a bit of an itch we NEED to scratch – especially after going through all the possible ideas for design and what our dream kitchen would be when we win lotto. Good news is; I have the perfect guide to achieving the feel of a new kitchen without overstepping our limitations.

 

This first step is a bit of a questionable one until you read the reasoning as to why I have added this in, start sprucing up the room by adding a plain, medium sized mirror in the kitchen it does in fact achieve all sorts of visual positivity. It’s an unexpected element in the kitchen so it instantly makes a statement. If you have a window, it’ll help spread the light around. If you don’t have a window, it’ll be even more vital for reflecting what light you do have in the room.

Create a temporary splashback in the kitchen, a lot of times rental kitchens don’t have any sort of splashback as they are just done to be as basic as can be whilst focusing on that practicality but whose to say you can’t spice it up a bit? You may need to run this past your landlord, but you can achieve this by using a small cut of a detailed/patterned wallpaper in which you can buy from your local paint shops (& even hardware stores if they stock wallpaper!) super easy yet super fun way of adding a dash of your style, temporally.

Do you have old, raggedy flooring that you just want to take a jack hammer to get rid of the awful eye sight? Use a rug – you can get as creative as you like with all these different sorts of rugs out there and you can use any size to cover how ever much you like (bonus with this is you can take this rug with you if you decide to move or even change it up when desired with another rug! Winning)

Boring cabinets? Colour not quite up your alley or isn’t quite linking in with your other colour scheme going on in the rest of the house? Try getting some contact paper, temp wall paper or even vinyl to give your cabinetry a new beginning – just be sure that you can remove whichever product you use without damaging the underneath and, some may need consent from the landlord.

As we all know and have seen how amazing open shelving looks in the kitchen you may not quite have that in a rental, unfortunately there is no real way to have proper floating shelves without getting consent and spending some money to achieve that BUT I can help you fake this look in a more easier, affordable way and this involves taking the doors off your cabinetry where you desire to have open shelving. Of course, this will look a bit different to open shelving, but it is a pretty close idea in comparison and it keeps the area looking more open and modern (just be sure to store those doors safely away and easy to put back on if needed.)

Add a magnetic knife block or a utensil wall holder, these are easy to install and can be taken off when you no longer need that – this looks edgy and keeps storage under control.

Add some plants to jazz up the positive vibes in your kitchen,  plants can uplift your mind set and feel more relaxed – you can even add some herbs and spices so when your cooking up a storm you have this right at your fingertips! Super cute idea and an amazing way to spruce up your kitchen.

Don’t have a ton of space do your prep work? Consider DIYing or buying a chopping board that covers your kitchen sink or stove when you’re not using them to add extra space to work. this creates more space and you can store this easily – another advanced option is to DIY your own kitchen island with wheels! look ideas up on Pinterest as there are so many we couldn’t just choose one!

 

Hopefully you feel like your in the next best thing to your dream kitchen in your rental kitchen.

A brief history about the kitchen

Today i wanted to take everyone back to the very first kitchen and the history of how we have evolved into today’s design. Everyone knows or may have seen the bright, funky colors and basic, similar designs kitchens where a few decades ago (in my opinion, i love modern but i also love retro and original! so evolving into the styles and trends of today was and still is very exciting for me) and we’ve all seen and heard of the newer kitchen designs dated as of today, the future designs really interest me.

Get comfy, make a hot tea and be prepared to see the timeline.

  1. THE ORIGINS – Back in ancient times and I’m talking years and years ago, our ancestors cooked on open fires that were constructed outside on the flat ground, later on they had an idea to construct something that would hold pots and pans above the heat instead of holding them, themselves. they had come up with a simple, masonry design which was put in place to hold the handles of the pots and pans etc. In this era, the food was often placed in metal cauldrons that were hanging above the fire. These cooking areas naturally caused people to gather as they were the primary source of heat, light, safety and of course, food. The smoke and soot let off from the fires were a HUGE problem until the 16th century as it would go everywhere, this is when chimneys came into the mix With a chimney, smoke was drawn up and out of the great hall, making it easier to breath and easier to create large cooking fires in fireplaces. Here’s a picture to show you exactly how it was:
12th Century Kitchen

12th Century Kitchen

 

2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF STOVES – Moving along to the year of 1735, economic trends and politics had a massive influence on the practicality and design of the kitchen, technological advancements were constant many of which came in effect to minimize the time spent on a meal and the work involved around it, in the 18th century this is where we would find this design to come into effect (still fueled by wood at this stage.) One of the earliest wood-burning kitchen stoves was the Stew Stove (or Castrol Stove) developed in 1735 by the French designer Francois Cuvilliés. An early yet famous example of a metal stove is the Franklin stove (pictured below) which came into effect in the 18th century, invented by Benjamin Franklin (thats right, the guy you see on American $100 bills) in 1742. It had a special guide in place for hot gases to escape, allowing heat to enter the room instead of going up the chimney. However, this stove was designed only for heating, not for cooking – Strange huh?! The industrial revolution encouraged new inventions, cheaper prices, and new ways of efficiency. The most common stove for heating in the industrial world for almost a century and a half was the coal-burning one. Coal stoves came in all sizes and shapes and different operating principles. Since coal burns at a much higher temperature than wood, coal stoves needed to be constructed to withstand the high heat levels.

 

1735 - Oven

1735 – Oven

 

3. THE OBERLIN STOVE – Progressing a little up the timeline to 1834, a man named Philo Stewart took it upon himself to design a compact, wood burning cast iron stove in which was named the Oberlin Stove. this was a metal stove, small enough to use for cooking. It was much more efficient than cooking in a fireplace this is because it had increased cooking temperatures and had the option to record cooking times. It actually blew up and became a major success for Philo,  it could be cast into decorative shapes and forms and could easily withstand temperature swings from hot to cold. These iron stoves evolved into specialized cooking appliances with flue pipes connected to the chimney, oven holes, and installations for heating water.

1869 - Philo

1869 – Philo

 

4. THE MOVE TO GAS STOVES – Complaints and concerns about air pollution from the smoke excretions arose and sent a decline in coal stove purchases way down hill – Gas the became the next best thing. Because they were fueled by gas the production of the oven became lighter and even smaller! the genius British inventor James Sharp gave a big yes to the gas stove invention in 1826. By the 1920s, gas ovens were used in most domestic kitchens and was very rare to see the older ones.

1826 - James Sharp

1826 – James Sharp

 

5. THE GRAND APPEARANCE FROM THE ELECTRIC OVEN – This oven caused quite the competition between the Gas stove and itself, this occurred in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Copeman Electric Stove Company (based in Michigan) received the first patent for an electric stove in 1912. Copeman Electric Stove, 1912 – Mostly wood, it had two ovens, top units, automatic timer and heat control.

Copeman Electric Stove, 1912

Copeman Electric Stove, 1912

 

6. MODERN KITCHEN DEVELOPMENT (Post world war #2 onwards…) – The housing and manufacturing development of post World War 2 made a huge effect on what we class as the “modern” kitchen nowadays. There was a major jump in demands for kitchen technology and equipment that inspired homeowners  to rip down the walls that once hid their efficient kitchens. The kitchen was becoming quieter, cleaner, better organized and easier to work in, a sense of pride, and slowly a place to entertain family and friends. In the 1960’s and 1970’s other social changes were taking place that upgraded the style and trend of the kitchen, a renewed interest in home baking/cooking, having a dedicated space for utensils and even entertaining was suitable for having the kitchen be the heart of the home. The kitchen became a place for improving baking skills, displaying fancy (expensive) cookware and becoming the heart for social gatherings. By the 1980’s, the idea of a completely open kitchen with appliances in the open, came into the new idea of design.

1960's - Kitchen

1960’s – Kitchen

 

7. CONTEMPORARY KITCHENS – Today’s ovens have evolved into more time, health and energy efficient, our appliances are finally catching up with our fast moving lifestyles, speed ovens for instance, cuts the cooking time in half which actually saves energy used during meal preparation The kitchen doesn’t look like the kitchen, in the traditional sense. It’s now a clean space, with a full range of sleek appliances looking towards a sustainable future. Only up from here and we’re excited to see what the future brings.

2018 - Kitchen (Next Edition Kitchens)

2018 – Kitchen (Next Edition Kitchens)

Oven

How to clean your oven naturally

Today I am inspired to write this blog as my oven is in dire need of some TLC – I did some research on how important this is and the results where mind blowing, I had no idea how regularly you theoretically should be “maintaining” your oven. It seems to be one of those things that “you’ll get around to that tomorrow” and tomorrow turns into the next day, and the day after that and so on but let me remind you how important this is!

My first question I had when I opened my oven last night was “when did I even last clean this?” my answer was struggling to come to mind, it must have been a good 4 months ago (not so bad, right?!) well – WRONG! Here my next question came, how often are you supposed to clean your oven?

Once. Every. Month. HOW BIZARRE! Of all the years I have been in charge of that sort of thing, I never even realized there was actually a time period on how often you should be doing it.

Why is there a time on this? I get the hygiene side of it but what’s the actual history behind this? Simple, your oven can become less efficient at reaching temperatures and eventually may just stop working all together if burnt food/build-up is left unattended.

Crusty build up can also impact the taste of your food and, while high temperatures can kill some bacteria, it’s not a good place to be cooking food (like I said, hygiene)

So, now that I’ve got you itching to go have a look at your ovens – I also have a natural guide on how to clean your oven without even turning it on, this method is super easy and really cost efficient.

 

What you will need:

  • Baking Soda (1/2 cup)
  • Water (to make a paste)
  • Rubber Gloves (Preferably durable, non-disposable ones)
  • Damp dishcloth
  • Spray Bottle
  • Vinegar (White)

 

Instructions:

  1. Clear out the oven

Take out all dish-racks (clean those as well) make sure everything is removed so you have access to get deep in the back of the oven to clear that build-up.

  1. Mix the paste

In a small bowl, mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water. Adjust the ratio of both as needed until you have a spreadable paste.

  1. Coat the oven

Spread the paste all over the interior surfaces of your oven, steering clear of the heating elements. Use gloves for this portion, as the oven may be pretty gunky. The baking soda will turn a brownish colour as you rub it in; it also might be chunkier in some places than others, which is fine. Just try to coat the whole oven to the best of your abilities, paying extra attention to any particularly greasy areas.

  1. Let it sit overnight

Allow the baking soda mixture to rest for at least 12 hours, or overnight.

  1. Wipe the oven out

After 12 hours or overnight, take a damp dish cloth and wipe out as much of the dried baking soda paste as you can. Use a plastic spatula to help scrape off the paste as needed.

  1. Spray a little bit of vinegar

Put a little vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz everywhere you still see baking soda residue in your oven. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and gently foam.

  1. Do a final wipe down

Take your damp cloth and wipe out the remaining foamy vinegar-baking soda mixture. Repeat until all the baking soda residue is gone. Add more water or vinegar as needed while wiping to really get the oven clean and shiny.

  1. Replace your clean oven racks

Replace the oven racks and anything else you keep in your oven, and you’re done!

 

 

Go give that oven some TLC – You’ll thank yourself later.

Color scheme

Most Included Trends In 2018 Designs

Most included trends in 2018 designs.

If you have just recently renovated or are looking into doing so, you’ll probably already know about these common trends everyone’s diving for in 2018 and we don’t blame these choices – read on to see what everyone’s hyping over!

Banquette Seating:

Believe it or not, this is an older trend which has rocketed into today’s trends and we aren’t complaining! This simple, yet practical idea has an edgy yet comfortable look and has more room for family/friends for that Sunday night roast or even a nice hot cuppa’ tea on that rainy day with your favorite book. With its space-saving design of bench seating made more sense than including a full set of table and chairs in the space of the kitchen.

Furniture historians trace the banquette, derived from the Germanic word for bench, back to 15th century France. Having seating is the kitchen was to have a concealed entry to secret passages that may have been located underneath banquettes in palaces and castles and was typically made from wood whereas nowadays they are made with cushioning and material to match your style.

Flat front Cabinetry:

We all want the simple yet elegant look but also still want to be able to open and close our cabinets and drawers, so this is where our push touch system comes into the trends of 2018 – no more catching your clothes on the edge of your handles, no more bumps and bruises on the children’s foreheads from running into the edge. Unfortunately, this design has no history behind it but take it from us that if you’re wanting a clean, seamless edge then for sure go for this!

Tile splashbacks:

While the kitchen splashback is a common aspect in many houses now, it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the modern idea of a kitchen splashback is a relatively recent invention, but where did this fantastic, practical idea originate from?

Like many common household features, the splashback can’t be traced to one single source. What we can confirm about the original splashbacks is that they came into use shortly after running water became widespread around the 1930s due to the advent of running water, kitchen innovations emerged swiftly, and the backsplash became a common kitchen sight.

Originally, backsplashes were about 4 inches high and were made of fragile materials like glass or tiles. Many were simply attached to the then-popular butler sink. When under-mount sinks rose to popularity in the 40s, splashbacks were no longer directly attached to the sink, so the only solution was mounting the backsplash directly to the wall. Over the following decade, the splashback became a popular place to demonstrate decor tastes. Around this time, the bright colors and creative patterns of the cement tile backsplash became the stylistic standard.

Even though the cement tile splashback rose to fame in the 1950s, it’s held up to the many home decor style changes over the years with ease whether it adds liveliness to a simple kitchen or accompanies a lively, colorful kitchen, the cement tile backsplash shines in just about every setting. In addition to its persistence’s, cement tile has proven to be one of the best materials for a splashback, why? Because of Its natural durability and easy clean-up is perfect for facing the splatters, stains of cooking. Over the years, production quality has only increased, so modern cement tile is likely to last even longer and hold to even more sauce stains, oil spatters, and splashes of water than its prototypes.

Mixed Metals:

This is such an elegant touch to incorporate into your designs to give the kitchen an edgy yet modern touch, there are different sorts of colors and finishes to choose from to suit your style like Matte black/white, polished chrome, brushed nickel just to name a few. There isn’t much history behind this one as it’s more so a design compliment for the finishing touches.

Multi-purpose islands:

2018 has just gone a step higher with trends and practicality has seemed to really boost up there alongside all the trends – this is a great example.

Shortly after World War II, popular home design shifted from closed floor plans to open concept spaces (sound familiar?) designed to make the work within the home more efficient and less labor-intensive. An expansive, wide-open kitchen meant that dinner could be prepared while children in the family room were in clear view. Once dinner was ready, everyone could eat in the kitchen itself rather than the dining room, making it easier for the cook to serve and manage the meal but with all the benefits an open concept floor plan presented, it came with challenges, namely a shortage of storage and counter space. Therefore, the kitchen island was born.

The kitchen island became a solution to space challenges, providing more surface area, storage potential, and a place for everyone to come together while others were cooking (plus, as we well know now, it also serves the purpose of separating the kitchen from living areas in absence of walls).

It is very popular to add in a cook top or a sink into your island now, but the options of design are endless! Come and talk to us down at Next Edition Kitchens to see what we can do for you!

 

 

Style trends come and go, so don’t invest in the latest look unless you love it. That said, highly-personalized or outdated style choices can limit the appeal of your property for resale.

For major renovation projects, it’s always a good idea to stick to the more neutral colors and classic styles. It will give your remodel durability and appeal to the greatest number of buyers when it comes time to sell. It will also give you flexibility to update your look in a few years without a total overhaul. Use non-permanent fixtures – like paint, furniture and accent pieces – to personalize the space and incorporate trendier choices.

 

NEKL

Handles VS. No Handles

Are you in the middle of planning your next project and just can’t quite decide on whether handles would be the icing on the cake? Read on for some interesting pros and cons of each and my take on what is best for different styles, hopefully we can help you stop scratching and start the ball rolling.

As we know, Handles are becoming a very head-scratching decision to make now-days as there is so many different design ideas out there and lots of different styles to dash for. Some may not know, but the handle-less style was a reasonably popular choice for homeowners in the 1970s too; and now it’s gained popularity again, particularly over the last few years.

The main reason a lot of renovators decide to go for the push-touch drawers/cabinets with no handles is because of the seamless, elegant and TIDY look it gives off. It also enhances the use of the push-touch feature making it 100x more convenient for opening and closing in a quick, effortless manner. Renovators also love, love, LOVE the look of the flat, smooth surface.

Pros that I have been researching and can confirm is as follows:

  • Timeless style – The no handle look will never out-date, I mean look at the 1970’s statement I made before, it was such a popular choice back then and fast forwarded to now – they still are! It’s a win-win situation.
  • Safety – Have you ever had your children/grandchildren/siblings etc, come over and knock themselves on the handle protruding off your cabinet/drawers or have you ever walked past and its hooked onto a bit of clothing? Well – not anymore, with the push touch option, there is no obstacles in your way.

With pros comes cons, I have carefully researched and gathered some information from out knowledge (which is very little to no complaints):

  • Cost – you may think having no handles may be slightly cheaper because you aren’t adding the additional object to your kitchen, well not to be a buzz kill but depending on the option you choose, they usually cost 20-50 percent more than having handles. Reason being is the magical system the push-touch requires to function does come at a price, but don’t be scared away from the idea as it is still an affordable option and definitely worth investing in.

This isn’t to say that handles have gone completely off the cards because there are some very eye-catching handles out there that compliment the renovators project just perfect, handles are very beneficial in the aspects of having something to hook your fingers on in high places and those corner cabinets etc.

The pros for having handles is definitely the advantages it has for keeping your cleaning to a minimum – as you may already have guessed, having handles aims for having that one dedicated space to grab for when opening/closing the unit whereas, having a handle less, push-touch system it is more likely to get grubby finger marks all over the face of the unit as there is not one dedicated spot to press and open, it is free for all some may say and you can virtually push anywhere for the system to open/close which means, grubby finger marks EVERYWHERE!

  • Cost – As stated above, having handles can be cheaper, not always as some different handles of course come with a different price but there are so many good bargains on some exquisite handles out there just screaming that it’s the icing on the top of your project.
  • Styles – There are many different styles and colors of handles out to literally suit everyone’s style/taste. In my opinion this is a great advantage as they will always be in trend its just the style that will vary but they are easy to replace and again, can be quite the bargain while keeping the illusion of elegance or even quirkiness!

Cons:

  • Trends – this isn’t really a big deal if you aren’t too worried about trends going in and out but for those who love to keep up with the trends then handles may not be complimentary on that aspect with styles continuously changing, if you do happen to love your trends and styles then this method of having handles can be costly with replacing etc but do again keep in mind there are plenty of bargains about! A lot of handle styles tend to stay in trend for awhile – i’m talking years and given the era we live in, they are all pretty similar to what new designs come out in some way.

I hope we have helped minimize the head scratching decision in some ways with detailed information on each option, we know it’s a tough choice to make but we can guarantee that either option, your project will be looking exquisite – if you are still hum-ing and harr-ing go down to your local joinery place, we will take in all aspects like your personal style, what look you’re going for and of course, your budget.