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Dark panels in kitchen - Grey

How to maintain those dark colored panels/benchtops

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As gorgeous and elegant as dark colored panels and bench-tops are they can definitely become a challenge when it comes to finger marks, food splatters etc, a lot of people are hesitant to go with these colors as they want to avoid that nightmare as some would call it – but I’m here to tell you that it is not as bad as you think.

Whether it’s a matt, satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish, finger marks and water spills always stand out and can be hard to remove sometimes.

Because of the way the light reflects off a dark surface, the marks are often more obvious than on a lighter colour surface. If the mark is from an oily product, (for example oily fingers from cooking) removing this with a standard household cleaning spray can sometimes be ineffective as it doesn’t break down the oil. The other consideration is the streak marks that can be left behind by the cleaning product itself.

There is so many products out there people will try to upsell to you saying “it works wonders, cleaning will be a breeze” BUT this is not always the case – you’d be amazed to find how easy it is to clean up marks using warm, soapy water (you can even add in a dash of disinfectant to keep it hygienic but don’t use too much!) with a microfibre cloth – most times this will clean the cabinets leaving them nice and shiny with no marks whatsoever but sometimes, it can leave a water marks, the trick to this is actually window cleaner (it’s safe and leaves the clean look you’re going for.) On a laminate door, a mixture of eucalyptus oil and water in a spray works well to break down the grease and won’t leave streak marks.

*Always use a microfiber cloth when wiping your doors as this will avoid fine scratches from appearing (especially important if the door is a gloss finish). The best brand we have come across for this is Norwex as their ultra-fine fibers are incredible gentle yet extremely absorbent. You can find these down at our showroom or even online!

Regardless of the finish you choose, dark cabinets will generally be more work to maintain the cleanliness, however – by sticking to this cleaning guide, I promise you will be at peace with your lovely, clean outcome.

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.

 

 

 

 

Carrot Cake

Never Fail Moist Carrot Cake

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Who likes Carrot Cake? what better time to start making this delicious treat for Easter time?

 

Ingredients:

  • 3x Eggs
  • 2x Cups brown sugar
  • 1x Cup oil
  • 3x Cups grated carrot
  • 2 1/4x Cups of high grade flour
  • 1/2x Cup milk (Warmed)
  • 2x tsp Baking soda
  •  1/2x Cup walnuts (if desired)
  • 1/2x Cup Crushed pineapple (Optional)

Preheat oven to 160°C bake. Beat eggs and Brown Sugar together.

Add oil then all other ingredients – mix well.

Pour into a large, well-greased cake tin.

 

Bake for 35 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Stand in the tin for 20 mins then turn out and cool on a cake rack.

Spread with cream cheese icing when cold.

 

Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 50g Butter- softened
  • 1/2x Cup cream cheese
  • 2x Cups Icing Sugar
  • 1x tsp Vanilla
  • 2-3x Tbsp milk to mix

Put icing on when cake is cool, store in a container in your cupboard to keep moisture.

 

Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your taste, it’s certainly a family favorite that won’t go to waste!

 

 

Utensils - Organised kitchen

How-To Organize Your Kitchen EASILY

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Is your kitchen well overdue for some re-organizing? No matter how much room you may have (or may not have) in the kitchen – it is do-able to have a lovely, organised kitchen that won’t give you nightmares.

We are always on the hunt for a magic answer or even a cleaning fairy that would come around each day and have everything clean and organised with the flick of the wand before we get home, if you are sick of searching and dreaming of the day this will come – read ahead and get all the exclusive ideas from the professionals (and tricks and tips that ACTUALLY make life 100% easier when keeping the kitchen in pristine condition!)

Step one – start from scratch by pulling everything out of cupboards and drawers, one-by-one otherwise you’ll get lost in amoungst all the food & cooking utensils (this is the part where you can get the kids involved or if you prefer it by yourself, go for gold.)

After everything is pulled out, wipe down the shelves and drawers – you’ll be surprised how much dust builds up over time.

Start by putting the least used utensils in the bottom drawers and things like canned foods at the top of the cabinet as these seem to last longer and aren’t everyday things we may tend to grab for when we open the pantry make sure you remove things that may not belong in the kitchen (we all have the fruit bowl that’s filled with everything BUT fruit) – then as you go down, try placing all the everyday necessities in the middle shelves as you will find it easier going into the cupboard, grabbing what you need and placing it back especially if its right in front of you (we are all human and find this the fastest and least time-taking method) right at the bottom should be a shelf for things like your potato box or even bigger appliances.

***Be sure to check expiry dates on all food before you place it back in cupboards as you may have something dated from 2001 that you never knew was hiding away in there.***

Step two – Put things in the exact same spot after use, this will help keep the organisation in place and will get you familiar where everything is along with your family catching on as well (there will be no excuse for them to not dry and put away dishes anymore!)

Step three – Keep your purchases (unless its food, of course) to a minimum, if you already have all the needed appliances then really think about future purchases, ask yourself “How many times will this actually get used? Is it going to replace any appliance I already have that may do the similar thing? Where will I store this? Etc.” try avoiding purchases that are only going to be used very rarely – ask  your friends and family as they are usually bound to have one you can use.

Step four – Pinterest organisation DIY ideas, this has been my saviour and has some wonderful ideas for storing many different things in your kitchen which makes it look tidy while keeping it all out of the way.

Step five – Always keep up to date with kitchen renovation ideas, kitchen renovations can be costly but they can also be great for a budget, when you slowly renovate the kitchen bit-by-bit you’ll be saving money and time with making the most of what you have with possible DIY ideas to temporarily add on to your kitchen and these ideas can simply be buying a couple of stick on hooks to place inside your cabinet door to hold numerous kitchen utensils – the benefit of exploring these cheap (yet fantastic, budget friendly ideas) is that you will slowly make these more of a permanent add-on and find what works for you as you could then go to Next Edition Kitchen’s or your local cabinetry place and get a hook rack custom made if the stick on hooks are working well for you.

It’s all trial and error but it’s a very good idea to get into.

With doing DIY ideas, you can get the family involved as well and have some fun while also teaching them important skills and encouraging organisation to be up-kept in the kitchen which will pan into all areas of the house.

So, what are you waiting for? be your own cleaning fairy and be the envy of all your friends and family with the cleanest kitchen ever laid eyes on!

Kitchen

Old kitchen trends that have made a comeback

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We all knew this would happen at some point, lets just say living in the 70’s and beyond looked to be a creative era and in this aspect it’s making a huge comeback that everyone just loves, look no further than the kitchen, where a variety of once relived kitchen trends are stealing the spotlight again and leaving us in question as to why they ever left.

1. Pull out chopping boards – We’ve all been in an older kitchen and noticed a little drawer which pulls out to be a chopping board, reason why we love this is firstly, it has it’s very own storage sorted out (no excuses for misplacing it in the wrong cupboard/drawer) it’s got many uses for different design ideas –  one that i like is having one above your pull-out bins as you can have a hole cut into the edge of the chopping board so when you finish cutting food up there’s a little long-drop for your scraps, how easy would cleaning that up be!?

2. Colorful Cabinetry –  Once upon a few years ago (we’re talking 50’s, 60’s and 70’s) kitchens would be in a range of colours – red, green, blue, yellow, pink, orange, purple you name it, these where the normal. Venturing in to the coming years a lot of wood finishes came into trend pushing the colours aside and then the whites an your more natural colours shined upon our designs and was the most common colours (still is to this date) but now….. colour has made a fast approached comeback and the colours aren’t so bad, they are more subtler than the ones from the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s (we promise)

3. Shiny kickboards and handles – I’m not saying every kitchen had this feature but some of them did, the handles would come in many different, antique looking styles which we still have a few around today so this comeback wasn’t much of a surprise BUT we love the look so we thought we’d mention this one too.

4. Tiled Splashbacks – Tiled splashbacks were a more DIY job for making your kitchen look a bit unique and spruced up, there’s no denying how cost efficient this was and the outcome had everyone blown away as it was seen as “creative” and “quirky” – this has made an extravagant comeback as it was slowly introduced by the textures glass splashbacks are offered in.

 

So now we come to an old but new era yet again, it’s one we’ve all been waiting for so we can shine our true colours with creativity and bring back some good old childhood memories.

Whats your thoughts?

 

 

 

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/

Cupboards

Cleaning out those Cluttered Cupboards

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Almost that time to do that dreaded spring clean? Don’t worry, de-cluttering can be a sad yet oddly satisfying time, getting rid of all the Tupperware containers you don’t use but still keep because it will defs get used (but let’s be honest, the only use it’s had is collecting spiderwebs and dust…)

I am always on the ‘procrastinating’ train for cleaning out my cupboards, every time I open them I’m pretty sure I could get lost in there! It’s pretty scary.

I have decided to share my knowledge after finally getting lost in my Tupperware & pots/pans cupboards (I found my way out after 2 days) on how to keep your cupboards up to date and spiderweb free – whether it’s the organization or some handy little DIY projects.

  • Going through my Tupperware cupboards I had to really ask myself whether or not I really needed 57 containers in a small corner cupboard just stacking up on top of each other, some with lost lids and some with cracks in them, now – I’m that person who will literally find any excuse to keep things (call me Whangarei’s #1 Tupperware hoarder if you will…) I pulled every single container out and decided what use is a container without a lid or one that’s about to split in half on me? I threw those ones away and there was already light beaming from the start of my cupboard, I organized biggest to smallest leaving the bigger ones at the back – I had matched them all up with there lids and you would not believe how much room I had – not to mention how clean and tidy it was!
  • If you are wanting to get a little more sorted on a new level of organized, I would highly recommend investing in a shelf called a “Lazy Susan” you can pull this handy little shelf out to avoid bending down all the time to get whatever you have put at the back of the cupboard and it avoids giving you that extra room to have things you don’t use hiding at the back awaiting that slim chance that it may get used. Another benefit of this is that it’s so easy to keep clean, who doesn’t like the sound of that?
  • If you are stuck on what you think you may use in the future – think back to when you last used that container/pot/pan, if you haven’t pulled it out of the cupboard and its looking like a spiders playground with all the cobwebs on it then definitely throw that away, or better yet – take it out give it a good clean and go donate it to the salvation army, this is very rewarding and it gets rid of those containers you don’t need!
  • Search ideas on Pinterest and Google on how to create special, dedicated little pockets to hang on the inside on the door to hold things like utensils/dish-washing brushes etc.
  • Have a garage sale, having a garage sale can encourage you to not only de-clutter your kitchen cupboards but a lot of the other areas in your house while also getting a little something back – fun idea to team up with friends and family!

 

Check out these ideas:

https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/255579347577140286/

https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/135882113733755469/

https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/417005246723758378/

https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/323414816964781794/

Splashback

Getting ‘Glassy’ in the kitchen?

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Thinking about getting ‘Glassy’ in the kitchen? Then this is the article for you, we have created the top 5 reasons as to why you should consider this eye-catching detail!

If you are wanting to remove your current splashback and install another one here is how you would go about it:

While there are many ways you can do it I would highly recommend doing it the “Next Edition” way – we have tried and swear by this safe, easy and efficient way, Start by getting qualified tradies in to cap the pipes and disconnect the electricity. Once the room is isolated, remove everything attached to the walls including the tap ware and light switches.

Use a brick bolster and a mash hammer to remove the tiles. Start in the top corner of a row and work your way down and across. Use your wrecking bar if you need a bit of leverage. You want sure footing while you are working. So, keep clearing the broken tiles away as you go. In some older houses, tiled walls are backed with asbestos. If you come across any, stop work immediately and contact your local council for advice.

If you have a current glass one that’s silicone/glued on, you would carefully cut around the edging of the splashback and find a wee space to get a good grip on and carefully try to remove making sure the glass doesn’t break if possible, then any extra silicone left on the remaining surface you would either scrape it off or use some acetone to lift it off.

*Please remember to wear safety gear, gloves are a very much needed necessity.

  • No fuss installation:

Whether you want to do this yourself or get someone else in to do it for you – the end results are simple and stunning with no mess to clean (count us in!)

 

  • Long lasting Glass:

Glass can stand the test of time. And that’s why it’s ideal in the kitchen – a space that can really take a hammering over the years. Since splashbacks are made from toughened glass, they can stand against oil splatters, cleaning products, food splatters – that means you can cook up a storm without worrying about warping, blackening, fading or cracking & not to mention how EASY they are to clean, all you need is a bit of warm soapy water to get most of the food/oil/dust off and then give it a quick dry and shine it up with some glass cleaner.

 

  • A Statement to modernize your kitchen in a cost-effective way:

As we know, renovation can be lengthy and sometimes costly for some – we are constantly looking for different ways to suit our needs while keeping our wallets happy but also giving our kitchens a bit of glamorizing –  There’s nothing quite like the shine of a glossy glass splashback. Its reflective surface opens the kitchen space, adds a touch of luxury and splashes light around the room year-round. With only a couple of steps to install your splashback it is time efficient but also adds a statement to give that eye-catching detail your kitchen may just need.

 

  • A Splashback you can tailor to be your slice of paradise:

To create a custom kitchen that truly reflects you, the right colour palette is crucial. Luckily, glass splashbacks come in a rainbow of colours and shades – vibrant blues and reds, pretty pink, daring black, sparkling white, gorgeous green – and any other colour you can imagine, now-a-days you can even get as creative as possible and get a picture off google or you could even paint your own! The options are endless.

 

  • It’s a No to bacteria from Splashbacks!

Bacteria breeds in spaces such as the kitchen and bathroom, particularly on tile grout and in cracks. Since glass splashbacks are shiny, slippery surfaces with no grout, keeping bacteria away is no task for splashbacks!

 

 

 

After reading this article, have you asked yourself if it’s the next step for you but are questioning “where do I enquire?” head down to your local hardware stores and kitchen manufacturers who will gladly assist you with an offer you can’t refuse!