A Heat, Scratch & Stain Resistant Benchtop? YES PLEASE!

Are you on the hunt for a heat resistant, stain resistant and highly scratch resistant benchtop? Well, look no further! We have just the perfect thing for you… read on!

Dekton is offered in an array of sizes so is totally custom to your design and style needs and wants which they also arrive in large slabs to cover the space needed minimizing joins as much as possible.

With this many benefits, you’ll be in love with Dekton and won’t regret specifying if for your new kitchen

  • High UV Resistance – Dekton is highly resistant to UV rays and has superior colour fastness so it doesn’t fade over time, making it the perfect choice for both interior and exterior applications.
  • High Scratch Resistance – Dekton is a highly scratch-resistant material. Utensils will not scratch it. However, we do recommend that chopping boards are used to ensure the upkeep of your benchtop.
  • Stain Resistance – Kids spilt some raspberry juice, or you’ve nipped over the Tumeric? The new Dekton surface is highly resilient thanks to its low porosity, resisting accidental stains from domestic use as well as from chemical agents. Even tough stains such as wine, coffee, ink, and rust can be easily cleaned.
  • High Resistance To Heat & Fire – Dekton withstands high temperatures without burning, scorching or cracking. Hot Pots and Appliances like Crock Pots can be placed directly on the surface with no worry of damage.
  • Resistant To Abrasion – Dekton is even more resistant to abrasion than granite making it the ideal surface for commercial applications and high traffic areas such as flooring. While other surfaces show wear over time, Dekton’s finish will last for the life of the product and never needs to be re-surfaced or re-finished.
  • Easier to Clean – Dekton is non-porous and never needs to be sealed. It naturally prevents liquids and gasses from penetrating the surface, making it a low maintenance surface that is easier to clean.

Heritage Charm

A new kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean super modern or minimal and this kitchen is a perfect example of a warm, inviting space that perfectly aligns with the rest of the home’s aesthetic.

On kitchen benchtops, drainage grooves can be useful, as they allow water and other liquids to easily drain into the sink. Whilst not essential they do make life easier when cleaning up!

Adding interest to your kitchen with a stylised front profile can give your kitchen the sort of character and depth that makes our hearts sing.

Send us a message today to see how we can help you and your kitchen!

 

Black & White Forever

When it comes to creating a good base for your kitchen, here at NEKL we are firm believers that you cannot go wrong with classic black & white!

Think of metalware as jewellery for your kitchen- adorn it in brushed nickel, rose gold or brass.

And don’t forget you can easily add colour & interest with all the little things make the house a home eg. the jug + toaster, tea towels, salt + pepper holders, bowls + jars for on counter storage, utensil jar… the list goes on!

If you too are looking for a good base in your kitchen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more info today!

Green with Envy

 

The colour green evokes feelings of calm, renewal and growth, so it’s a fitting choice for the kitchen which is often the place you both start & finish the day in.

This gorgeous green is by Resene, paired with white Rhynoply, cutout handles and Caesarstone Clamshell benchtops.

The raw edging on the Rhynoply adds texture and complements the natural tones in the benchtop. Both the clients & NEK could not be happier with the end result!

It would also be remiss of us to not mention that pearly splashback, that ties the whole look together!

Get in touch today to start bringing your kitchen dreams to life!

Perfectly Imperfect

 

A white kitchen needn’t be safe, especially when it is contrasted with beautiful concrete benchtops like these!

Concrete is a great material for those seeking a customised material, with a natural sensibility. It’s adaptable to suit your taste, adds depth and that ‘perfectly imperfect’ look we just love.

To add some warmth + detail to the kitchen, wood-look over units were installed along the side wall.

If you love the look of this kitchen, get in touch with us & we can work together to create something completely custom for you & your home!

What to plant in your Garden this August

Wondering what to plant in your Garden this August?

Spring is coming knocking and what better time to get your garden tools out of the garden shed and get a head start on planning & creating your perfect spring garden.

August is the perfect time to start sprouting seed potatoes, most potato crops take around 3 months to mature so will need to be in the ground for the month of September if you want those yummy homegrown Christmas potatoes! Leading up to spring there’s more to do in the vege garden than you think – from planning what you can and will grow to prepping the area for when the time is ready.

Spring is all about the power of the flower, Magnolias, blossom trees, daffodils. tulips and a whole range more are beginning to put on a floral bloom to say goodbye to the winter season.

The buds on fruit trees may be starting to plump getting ready to evolve into blossom as the days get longer and the temperatures slowly get warmer.

*Continue planting strawberries too for a summer harvest.

To the Northland Gardener:

Here’s a little guide which is specially for our local gardeners in the Northland:

PLAN TO PLANT NOW:

  • Asparagus
  • Beetroot
  • Bok choi
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Coriander
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Mesclun
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin and squash
  • Radish
  • Rhubarb
  • Rocket
  • Silverbeet
  • Spinach
  • Spring onions
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tomatoes

HARVEST NOW:

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Mesclun
  • Onions
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Rhubarb
  • Rocket
  • Silverbeet
  • Spinach

TO START THINKING ABOUT:

Dig in your compost and sheep pellets before planting to replenish nutrients used by previous crops.

Prepare potato beds ready for planting by digging over the soil to a depth of 30cm. Next, add plenty of compost or sheep pellets. Blend Potato Food into the soil prior to planting.

Once tomatoes are available in store you can start planting in Tomato Mix, specially blended with extra potassium to encourage big juicy crops.

Feed vegetables already planted with premium fertiliser to give them the nutrients they need to grow.

Keep an eye out for weeds. As soon as the soil warms up, everything – including those ghastly weeds – will start to grow. Apply layers of pea straw mulch on areas that are going to lie bare for another month or two, as this will help prevent weeds from becoming established.

Here’s a few more which are recommended to look at planting in August:

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.

 

 

Delicious, Tummy-warming Apple Crumble

Delicious, Tummy-warming Apple Crumble

After a quick, cheap evening treat for after dinner? i bet you probably have all the ingredients in your household as the recipe is SO SIMPLE and just absolutely a family favorite to warm your bellies in this cold winter chill.

  • ½ cup plain flour
  • ¼ cup rolled oats
  • ¼ cup desiccated coconut
  • ¼ cup Soft Brown Sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 75g butter
  • 5-6 Apples
  • 2 Tbsp Golden Syrup
  • 2 Tbsp Raw Sugar

Preheat oven to 180°C on fan-bake.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, oats, coconut, brown sugar & cinnamon all together and the rub the butter into the mixture with your hands until it becomes crumbly.

Peel and cut the apples into thin slices (not too thin!) and place them in the oven proof dish – drizzle some golden syrup over the apples.

Spread the crumble mix evenly on top of the apples to completely cover the oven dish and sprinkle your raw sugar over the top to give it the caramelised taste.

Cook for 30-40 minutes or until the apples are cooked. Serve with vanilla bean ice cream, freshly whipped cream or warm custard for a delicious winters desert!

TIP* Add in some additional fruit with the apple, plums, peaches, pears or mixed berries would complement this just superbly!  

Kitchens 101: 5 Quick Questions

 

 

The kitchen can be one of the most daunting rooms in the house when it comes to renovating, especially as it can also be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate!

We want to ensure you get it absolutely right for you & your family, so have put together these easy to answer questions to help you figure out what you need + what you want in a kitchen.

  1. Who spends time in your kitchen and doing what?
  2. Do you intend to entertain in your kitchen? What do you envision that to look like? Do you want friends sitting at the island whilst you face them cooking? Or do you not want anyone watching you cook and clean?
  3. What do you want to see from your kitchen? Ie the backyard, the television, the view, the pool.
  4. When you bring home the groceries, how easy is it to carry them in from the car to the kitchen?
  5. What annoys you the most about your current kitchen?

Whether you love to cook or you’d rather not, the kitchen is the heart of the home & it is vital that it captures the overall look and feel of the rest of your home.

 

Wood Grain Cabinetry

Wood grain cabinetry can be inviting yet quite quizzing to incorporate in a design, luckily, our Designers have the knowledge and confidence on how to easily present a great contrast using even the most difficult, seeming colours.

Wood grains are the common culprit for a desired look in the kitchen due to the aesthetic look they give and the feel of a natural, relaxing yet modern environment.

There are many different tones of wood grains out there to choose from to suit your colour theme.

The obvious question on your mind is probably “Why is wood gains sifted to the back of the design process for clients?” well, the truth is, is that the key to an exquisite design and completed outcome is having an experienced and passionate Designer by your side each step of the way who can and will consider every and any colour you have in mind instead of putting it in the “too hard” basket – Our designer LOVES working with wood grains and would recommend pairing a wood grain with a not-too-busy benchtop, using a wood grain becomes your main statement piece because of the grains running through the sheet being very eye catching so pairing with a highly patterned benchtop may cause too much attention in too many areas of your kitchen.

Ideally, we would pair a softly patterned (light marbled effect, for example) with your wood grained cabinetry.

The beauty with wood grains is you can still go lighter or darker with your theme, a lot of popular pictures on Pinterest and Magazines are only really showcasing the lighter colours as it is the default “go to” but as said above, there are so many different tones of wood grains and benchtops to tie in with the contrast and all it takes is a wonderful, knowledgeable Designer to help you explore your options.

Get in touch with us today on (09)430 3074 to discuss your options today!