Why Drawers are the Next Addition to your Kitchen

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The average, standard kitchen was generally constructed with more cupboards opposed to drawers, you’d have the odd set of drawers chucked in the design here and there, but people found cupboards to be more “efficient” and “roomy” you could say – this old design method just isn’t cutting it anymore and I’m here to tell you why.

If you’re considering a kitchen renovation or a brand spanking new kitchen all together, I’m here to convince you that EVERY kitchen should have drawers – not overloaded with cupboards. If you’ve already got drawers in your kitchen, all you need to do is read on and feel awesome.

So the reason I felt the need to share this post with you was from my ideas of renovating my own kitchen and seeing some designs of all the modern looks around – a lot of kitchens are being made with more drawers opposed to those pesky cupboards that make you bend down and reach into the corner of darkness (or if you’re short like me, reaching up with all your power on your tippy-toes to reach the plates… trust me – it’s a mission.) why drawers? Seriously, why are drawers suddenly taking the limelight? Well, from my research and various (probably annoying) questions to Ryan himself I found out exactly why, after reading these benefits you’ll in my boat with wanting drawers!

 

  • Easy Access

Do you remember my post about ‘decluttering your cupboards’? well let’s just say you won’t be needing to get lost in the back of that overfilled (very messy) cupboard that hardly closes because it’s just jam packed, drawers solve this problem perfectly, even making the objects in the very back easier to grab without having to pull everything out.

 

  • Organization made a breeze

The space inside most cupboards is pretty much just a giant box which can often cause a terrifying jumble of containers, pots/pans gone wild, with drawers you can add dividers which can keep everything separate BUT all in the same spot AND you can’t get lost in this one!

 

  • They’re the only way to go if you don’t have over-hanging cupboards

If you like the look of a kitchen without upper cabinets, drawers are pretty much the only way to go. Imagine, for a moment, trying to cram bowls and plates and glassware into a doored cabinet. Not ideal in my opinion.

 

  • They’ll amaze your friends and family.

We’re not saying you should redo your kitchen just to make your friends and family jealous, but can you imagine the look on their faces when they realize your bottom storage features drawers instead of cupboards?

Having drawers is the modern style, while keeping the look modern you are also creating more space and keeping it all tidy and organised – I’m still in love with the idea of cupboards in a kitchen and they most definitely work for some people, but drawers have won my vote – especially because you can get different sizes of drawers that can hold anything, like literally cups, plates, cutlery, pots/pans, cleaning gear, food, wine…

Instead of having to get down and dig through the back of a cabinet, you just open it up and gently choose from an organized array. Drawers make you feel like you live in Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen – now come to think of it, where can I get a Gordon Ramsay after I install those drawers?

Granite

All you need to know about Granite

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Tough, practical, beautiful.. no wonder Granite is the top choice for stone benchtops..

For those who are interested in granite, granite is an igneous rock with between 20% and 60% quartz by volume, and at least 35% of the total feldspar consisting of alkali feldspar, it is a incredible hard-wearing stone (ideal for kitchens) the price ranges from rarity of the stone and where it originates from also the labor involved in manufacturing this to suit any design – makes it more of an investment than a cheap fix.

Granite is produced naturally in a variety of colours this will always depend of the mix of quartz, mica & feldspar.  So, a wonderful range to choose from!

To achieve different finishes, the stone’s surface is worked with diamond pads, starting with the roughest and getting finer until the required look is produced. A high-shine, polished finish brings out the brilliant colours and shine which comes from the reflection of the stone’s crystals.

For a contemporary honed finish, polished stone is buffed to create a flat, low-sheen surface. Sandblasted granite gives a raw, textured surface. This is more porous than a polished surface and is not suitable for hardworking areas.

Clean granite with stone soap or a mild dish-washing liquid diluted in warm water. Use a clean, soft cloth, remove the detergent from the surface with a second cloth soaked in cold water, then wipe dry. Blot up any spills before they soak into the surface

 

Now, you’re probably wondering what the pro’s and con’s are to this magnificent product? well here goes:

PROS:

  •              Granite benchtops don’t d­epreciate in value.
  •            It’s a one-of-a-kind, natural surface that has an almost luminous look.
  •             Granite adds value to your home.
  •            It’s sanitary — bacterial contamination is not a problem with granite.
  •             Formed by heat and pressure, it can take the heat of a pan.
  •             It’s easy to clean with warm water and a mild detergent.

CONS:

  •         Granite benchtops last forever. If you get tired of the colour, you’ll either need to learn to live with it or rip out the entire counter, because you can’t change the colour.
  •          Each slab of granite is different, so it may not be a good choice if you prefer a completely uniform look.
  •          Granite itself is expensive, and the labor-intensive installation can run three times more than the cost of the material.
  •          Granite can be permanently stained if you seal it with a pre-existing stain.
  •          It can crack when hit by a hard, sharp object like a meat cleaver.
  •         Because it’s so heavy, granite often requires additional structural support, especially in spans and cantilevers.
  •          Once glued onto the cabinets, granite is quite difficult to remove, and may result in damage to the cabinets.

Here’s a link to our main supplier of granite benchtops – here you can browse through the different colours and find out where they are from, there also some finished projects on there too (don’t be afraid to pop down to their showroom and have a chat! they won’t bite!) https://www.stone.co.nz/

Cinnamon

Tasty Cinnamon Rolls

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I was digging around my recipes and i found this fine little gem, i had made it on the weekend and they lasted all about two days before they were gone out of sight! very popular i will definitely making some more this week! keep reading to find out how to make these tasty Cinnamon Rolls.

 

For the Dough:

2x Cups self-raising flour

1x pinch of salt

90g Butter (cubed)

2/3 cup of milk

 

For the Filling:

120g Butter (softened)

4x Tbsp brown sugar

2x tsp cinnamon sugar (or half cinnamon powder and half white sugar)

 

For the Icing:

1x Cup icing sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp Boiling water

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Sift flour and salt into bowl, then rub chopped butter into flour using your finger tips.
3. Make a well in the centre and add almost all the milk. Mix lightly to make a soft dough (add the rest of the milk if necessary).
4. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
5. Roll out dough to a 25 x 40cm rectangle of 5mm thickness.
6. To make the filling; beat the butter with Brown Sugar and cinnamon sugar with electric beaters until light and fluffy. Spread evenly over the dough rectangle.
7. Roll up dough from the long side and using a sharp knife, slice the dough into 3cm pieces.
8. Place scroll pieces into the holes in a muffin tin, greased tray cut-side up. (Avoid using a baking tray, as the contents will leak/spread).  Cook for 20-30 minutes or until golden.
9. Drizzle with icing.
10. To make the icing; combine Icing Sugar and boiling water in a small bowl beat until smooth.

Get going in the kitchen and give this a tasty treat a try, grab the kids and get them involved – such a rewarding activity that everyone will love!

 

P.S Take a photo and let us know on our Facebook page how great these were.