Posts

Spring

Make Your Kitchen Spring Ready!

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What pops to mind when you hear or see the word spring? For me it’s a feeling of freshness, a window of new beginnings and a great chance for ideas to bloom. This is a great chance to spice up your kitchen and give it that “Spring” feeling, don’t run away in fear this will cost an arm and a leg because it certainly doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket.

 

Get that feeling of freshness:

Starting small at a very low cost (or if any cost at all) Firstly, gather some flowers and a pretty vase that draws you in – this will give that feeling of a crisp, fresh feel. No need for a large, over-the-top floral arrangement… just a few stems will do the trick! Change it up with colours to compliment the season, here’s a few:

  • Lavender/Purple
  • Rapture Rose (Intense pink)
  • Sky Blue
  • Peach
  • Yellow

Just to name a few, feel free to incorporate any coloured flowers you like!

A window for new beginnings:

When was the last time you fully renovated your cooking utensils range? Swap out the cutting board that has seen better days and the plain plastic cooking utensils and replace them with ones that have a little more energy, Spring is also a great excuse to biff all your tea towels that have seen better days and replace them with new, fresh ones.

New ideas to bloom? I think yes!

Forget about making a huge investment – a small painting or framed quote is an affordable way to own a piece of original art. Get creative and visit your local opshop or even get one of the kids to paint you a picture!  You can frame it and then rest it on your benchtop, or even hang it up on an empty piece of your kitchen wall.

Bring the texture in

Wood and natural wovens are such a golden addition to any space, they add a bit of texture to the area and interest as well as warmth. Find a large bowl and fill it with fruit and your kitchen will be screaming its spring ready.

This is a few ways to get your kitchen in the spring season and will be easy to change when the next season is on the way! Some of these ideas can be incorporated with other seasons anyway

Butler sink

The Butler sink – Must have sink 2018

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A couple of weeks ago, one of our suppliers had come to us and proposed an updated brochure of beloved sinks and mixers we use with a few new additions thrown in here and there and let me tell you – we are in for a jolly good treat!

One sink that particularly stuck out to us was the butler sink (or otherwise known as the farmhouse sink) I decided to do a bit of research on this gem and prepare to be amazed – there is a bit of history behind the idea designers had whilst designing this little beauty.

Let’s start with the history so we can appreciate it even more knowing is origination.

You will notice this sink has many different names it goes by depending on what part of the world you live in, here in NZ and Australia we most commonly identify these as a Butler sink or Farmhouse sink, but they are also called apron front (mostly in the US), London and Belfast. (I’m going to stick with using Butler sink for this blog) London and Belfast are in fact two specific designs of farmhouse sink – read a little more about this below.

The Butler sink originated in a time when there was no running water, so in this time we all used buckets (or pales if you will) of water, the idea behind the sink was that it was a place to hold large amounts of water – water that had to be collected by hand with buckets and barrels from nearby water wells, lakes or rivers.

The two original iconic Butler style sinks, which emerged in Ireland and Britain in the late 17th century, were the London and the Belfast sink. They were both of similar design, however – each had their own noticeable different characteristics designed to suit the area they would be used for. The Belfast sink was deep and had an overflow so that excess water could be easily drained away instead of flowing over the sides of the sink. Unlike Belfast, the London sink was designed to be shallower and had no overflow so that every drop could be kept inside the sink.

The design of the sink means that the user can stand directly at the front of the basin – with no cabinets or benchtop in between. This made the Butler sink more comfortable to use for women who would, in olden days, spend some of their day at the sink, preparing food, washing dishes, washing clothes and even washing babies.

Practicality of the size:

While you could still wash your baby in today’s Butler sink, you’ll probably find it more useful for washing large pots, baking/oven trays etc. – items that you would generally struggle to wash in a typical sink, and – if one large bowl isn’t enough, you can find several double bowl options, too.

Installation:

Originally, Butler sinks were designed to sit slightly to the front of the cabinets so that any water that spilled over down the front of the sink it would run directly to the floor instead of flowing on and damaging the cabinets, this is still how Butler sinks are typically installed in a kitchen.

They are also installed just under the benchtop level so that the bench can slightly overhang the sides of the sink, making it easy to wipe water from the bench straight into the sink.

Whats the material?

White Butler sinks are most commonly made from either fireclay or porcelain.

Fireclay sinks are made of clay, which is heated to an extremely high temperature that makes the sink very hard and durable. It also gives the sink its beautiful high shine. The durability of fireclay means that it is very resistant to scratches and chips and is also very easy to clean.

Porcelain sinks are a ceramic material, again heated to high temperatures, although not quite as high as fireclay. They look like fireclay sinks but are less expensive. Porcelain sinks are not quite as durable as fireclay and are more prone to chipping and discoloration.

There are many other options regarding copper colors & stainless steel which both have many benefits.

There is a modern version which unlike the butler sink, it sits on top of the benchtop and has a space for a tap hole incorporated into the sink, eliminating the need to have a benchtop run around the back of the sink. The fact that this sink sits on top of the bench eliminates the risk of water finding its way down the sides of the sink, making for a more water tight option – although not as authentic as the original design.

If you’re needing inspo, don’t fret! i have you covered….https://www.pinterest.nz

 

Toe Kicks

Why toe kicks are a MUST in the kitchen.

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This blog is about an aspect in your kitchen you probably didn’t even know existed – the all mighty toe kicks. The toe kick for those who don’t know is a small panel located under your cabinets where the doors usually end, the toe kick covers the space from then to the flooring. It turns out that paying a little attention to this hidden away spot can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your kitchen.

There’s a reason the toe kick exists to begin with, the next time you’re standing in front of your kitchen sink or working at the benchtop, take a look down at your toes, chances are you won’t be able to see your toes because they’re actually positioned underneath the front edge of your cabinets, in the toe kick.

When you stand at your kitchen sink or cook at the bench, chances are your feet are positioned so that your toes are in the toe kick, without this little foot cubby hole you’d either bang your toes into the front of your cabinets, or have to learn over awkwardly to reach things at the back of your benchtop. It’s a helpful little ergonomic detail that’s so common that most people don’t think about it at all. (Bathroom cabinets that go all the way to the floor also have these.)

The toe kick can actually be more than just a practical thing in the kitchen – in most kitchens the toe kick is either painted black or the same color as the cabinets, to make it as invisible as possible. Although, some people like to make a statement out of these toe kicks, there is many different colors you can make these (you can even get a mirrored one! how snazzy is that?) reason being is it can actually be a good, simple way to tie in the color scheme of your cabinetry with the benchtop right up to the handles.

So there you have it, a toe kick is pretty much a tiny compartment for your feet to sit so you have a lot more comfort while working in the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

Mangatapere Beauty – New Kitchen In Whangarei

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Check out this beautiful new kitchen in Mangatapere created for Trevor and Cheryl Barfoote by Next Edition Kitchens LTD, Get in touch today with the team on (09)4303074 to get your new kitchen!

Choices

Kitchen Professional or General Contractor?

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This time of year is the time everyone decides the kitchen needs some TLC or a whole new look, finding the best, creative kitchen wizard can become a nightmare if you leave this too long, bookings come in and out the door like crazy and delays occur with the kitchen installation dates and even manufacturing of the project BUT the reason home owners decide to suck it up and work around the talented lass/lad is because of the exceptional knowledge and organizing they take care of instead of you stressing out wondering if you have sorted everything and prepared all the subcontractors etc. also, you generally just end up dealing with the wizard himself opposed to making countless contact to different places here and there to sort everything.

Quality VS. Value:

Sure, we all tend to naturally go for what’s cheaper but if your looking for a quality job that will stand the test of time (and a definite guarantee on this one!) then a professional kitchen designer, manufacturer and installer is 100% the way to go. In many purchasing situations – a great deal is the desired outcome, the same goes for a standard renovation. A ‘too good to be true’ price could result in low-grade products and a hasty installation. A professional kitchen designer can offer you peace of mind that your investment is backed by their guarantee, and even more value in the form of reliability, expert advice and customer service another bonus is a lot of kitchen professionals can offer more customization around your ideas and style.

Reliability:

Most homeowners are more open to spending a little extra if it buys them peace of mind. A general contractor generally can’t offer the same level of reliability as a professional can – and in saying this, it’s not a deliberate situation they are constantly in but more so because they have many other projects that may come to be a priority, or some may be more urgent to complete than others. Some (not all) general contractors may have proof of the proper business licenses and insurances, but that’s usually where the credentials stop. A kitchen professional will have more resources to prove that his/her work is certified and reliable. Read reviews on the business pages, ask around locally to see who people recommend and make sure you won’t get into a catastrophe.

Level of expertise:

From your appointment to your installation, a kitchen specialist can offer you an elevated level of expert advice. For instance, Next Edition Kitchens LTD has a team of kitchen designers that are dedicated to finding the most current trends and helping you design your dream kitchen. Because most of its products are made and manufactured in its on-site facility, every member of Next Edition Kitchens LTD family is equipped to answer any question you may have, as well as offer expert advice regarding your personal wants and needs.

Customer Service:

Now this is probably one of the most important aspects — specialized professionals have the ability to tend to your needs from before your consultation appointment is scheduled, to, well – after your project is completed. Where a general contractor may be over-worked and too busy to work with your busy schedule, a professional kitchen company has employees ready to help. Oftentimes, a professional can schedule your appointment and installation when it’s most convenient for you. If you have questions or concerns, a professional company will always be there to answer your phone calls. Should you have to reach them for any reason after your installation, the same holds true. Whereas, it can be nearly impossible with a contractor. But you can rest assured that a professional will be around—and flexible—after your job is completed.

There are plenty of instances where a general contractor is a viable option, but for kitchen re-modelling specifically, a specialist is the way to go. The kitchen can be an especially demanding room to renovate, and a true professional has the level of expertise and reliability that is in line with those demands. No wonder more homeowners are choosing kitchen specialists for their kitchen re-modelling projects!

 

NEKL

Handles VS. No Handles

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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.

 

 

 

 

The Heart of the Home

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Thinking of giving your home some TLC and updating but just don’t know where to start? Now-a-days the Kitchen and the Bathroom seems to be the heart of the house, these rooms make a statement about the age, style, standard and functionality of your house. In the end, you’ll not only have a beautiful kitchen to enjoy but also add significantly to your home’s value.

Holiday season seems to attract the most attention towards your kitchen so what better time to have a re-styled kitchen, right? I mean, what an awesome time to showcase all that hard work and those creative ideas, plus – imagine baking that delicious, family favorite Christmas cake in your new oven…

I have gathered some handy tips and tricks from the Director of Next Edition Kitchens who does custom builds, renovations (anything you could ever dream of really!) for when it comes to renovating because let’s be honest, the thought of all the organizing involved just makes you want to pull your hair out!

  • Know what you want – Style is everything, it can lift the mood and make being in the kitchen more inviting rather than a boring chore on your daily list of “things to do”– make sure you research current trends and previous trends and take bits and pieces of what you like and what you don’t like. Google, Instagram, Pinterest and Magazines all have some amazing ideas and inspirations.
  • Set a budget – When it comes to actually getting the renovations underway the scariest part can be the budget, it can throw you off a bit if you get prices back which is more than you expected to spend but if you pre-set a budget and let the designer or cabinetry maker know, they will try and keep it within that price range but also keeping in mind your style.
  • Practicality of the renovation – The definition of a renovation is giving a “facelift” to some of/a majority of your existing kitchen – also taking into consideration the most used aspects of your current kitchen, try not to change it up too much and to mainly focus on what’s going to make it your paradise while also keeping the practical, most used areas up to scratch with a bit of TLC . Sometimes, all you need is a fresh lick of paint and perhaps a nice splash-back while chucking in that wine rack you’ve always dreamt off… this could be a hint for bottles of wine to flow in for gifts? After all, what’s a wine rack without bottles to fill it up!
  • Who will be carrying out the renovations? Some people are very DIY and love to get their hands dirty amongst all the hard work but others are more on the designing side – if you don’t have much time to carry out the works or just can’t be bothered and would rather lax out on the beach and return to a lovely little surprise then definitely consider your options of getting someone else to handle all the constructing and installment, local & passionate joiners are the way to go, lets take Next Edition Kitchens for example – locally owned and operated, the team is highly qualified and very time efficient, they can custom build just about anything and are very flexible with great prices that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, did I just mention relaxing while someone else takes care of all the tiring work while keeping within or around your budget? Yes, I sure did!
  • When do you want it? Choose a date that won’t be the busy period, around early mid-year is the best time to renovate it gives you a lengthy period to make all final decisions (and make sure that the hubby or wife has given approval) getting feedback, changing your mind and also looking around for different ideas… this time of year also has the most free space opposed to getting a renovation all sorted in the New Year rush when everyone wants new kitchens for the family celebration, it gives you a sense of flexibility as well to work around your work hours or your hobbies that may require the most attention closer to the end of the year.

Don’t wait another day dreaming of what it could be and make it happen today – get inspired now, get a nice, cold refreshment (and maybe a few nibbles) make a list & grab some photos and head down to your local kitchen maker for a chat over some ideas!