Mistake 1: Not thinking about the splashback early

The right splashback can really make a kitchen pop. Think about it early on in the design phase so you can decide if you’re going for a statement material, an experimental finish or tiles, and if you want it to be tall, short or cover the entire wall.

Mistake 2: Too much colour

Having a colourful kitchen isn’t a bad thing, but it can date quickly. You’re better to go with neutral permanent fixtures, cabinetry and appliances, then inject colour via lighting, stools, art and accessories. These can be changed out and updated easily and without great cost.

Mistake 3: Choosing the wrong benchtop

You’d be hard-pressed to make any kitchen design mistakes using marble and natural stone – they’re both luxurious and gorgeous options for kitchen benchtops. But it’s important to be honest about your expectations of wear and tear on your workspaces. If you are less inclined to clean up every spill as soon as it happens to stop it staining a marble bench top, natural stone may not be for you. While many of us love the patina of a home that shows signs of the life lived, those who prefer an enduring pristine finish might opt for benchtop alternatives such as laminate, granite or porcelain instead.

Mistake 4: Not allowing enough space

If you’re installing a new kitchen it’s important to allow enough room between drawers, doors and appliances to cater to handles and knobs, as well as how much space you need to open a fridge or dishwasher drawer.

Inadequate space in a kitchen layout is one of the most common kitchen design mistakes and one that may haunt you for years if you don’t get it right. Ideally, you want enough space that every drawer and door could be open without any one hitting the other.

Mistake 5: Not extending cabinetry to the ceiling

Leaving a gap between the top of your kitchen cabinetry and the ceiling is one of those age-old kitchen design mistakes that not only creates a space that gathers dust and dirt, but can make your ceiling feel lower and the room more cramped.

For a more polished look that won’t create dust-catching nooks, extend your cabinetry all the way to the ceiling.

Mistake 6: Poor lighting design

Kitchens need excellent lighting for cooking and cleaning, so don’t skimp on it. If you’re going for a pendant light, bigger is better. If your kitchen doesn’t have a window (like some apartments) or is poorly lit, invest in some bright LED downlights or strip task lighting.

Mistake 7: Going overboard with the open shelving

While open kitchen shelving is a wonderful opportunity to showcase a beloved stoneware collection or colour-coordinated teaware, it isn’t particularly practical when it comes to the everyday use of the kitchen.

A good kitchen has an even mix of concealed and open shelving and storage, so all the things that are used often then hastily stuffed back away (often in a mess) can be hidden behind doors, while the things that are used for special occasions and easily kept tidy are left on display.

The post 7 of the most common kitchen design fails appeared first on Home Beautiful.

It worked, but times have changed and we’ve realised not everyone wants the same thing from their kitchen space. Just as some people love to entertain guests and others happily spend hours baking up a solitary storm, so too will their dream kitchens have quite different needs.

Enter the ‘zone’ method, a more versatile approach that allows a kitchen to be customised to suit the specific needs of each home chef. If you’re planning a kitchen layout, zoning is a practical way to go. Here are five different zones to consider, plus the top appliances and tricks to tailor them to your exact needs.

The cooking zone

One of the fundamentals of every great kitchen, the cooking zone usually comprises an oven, cooktop and microwave. You might stack them vertically with the oven sitting under the cooktop, or you may prefer to separate them so the oven can be mounted at a custom height. Either way, allow plenty of bench space around these appliances and keep frequently used cooking utensils stored within easy reach.

When planning your cooking zone, be realistic about the type of food you cook and how you like to prepare it. For example, if you enjoy chatting to other members of your household while you cook, consider positioning your cooking zone appliances in a kitchen island, instead of around the perimeter. The Westinghouse WHI955BD 90cm Induction Cooktop is ideal for this, as it heats up quickly but the safer induction surface doesn’t feel hot to the touch. Home chefs also love the cooktop’s cutting-edge BoilProtect feature, which detects rising bubbles in boiling water and automatically reduces to a low simmer to prevent boiling over (BoilProtect applies to stainless steel and enamelled pots filled with water only).

Alternatively, a freestanding cooker offers extra versatility and generally boasts a large cooking capacity that’s brilliant for bigger households. The Westinghouse WFEP9757DD 90cm Freestanding Electric Cooker combines a safe and efficient 5-zone induction cooktop with a spacious 125-litre oven complete with 10 innovative functions to take your cooking zone to the next level. These include an AirFry function to cook crispy, crunchy foods with less oil, and Roast +Steam for the juiciest roast dinner you’ll ever cook.

The baking zone

The right oven is also a centrepiece of this zone but if you take baking seriously, you’ll want to kit out the area with some specific features. Be sure to install additional powerpoints and extra bench space in your baking zone so you can use a mixer or food processor. Store other tools – such as measuring cups, whisks, rolling pins and baking pans – nearby so you can seamlessly transfer your mixture from bowl to pan to oven.

Speaking of the oven, Westinghouse is always happy to help bakers achieve their very best results. The new Westinghouse WVEP6918DD 60cm Pyrolytic Oven boasts 19 different cooking programs including a Bake +Steam function that gives bread, cakes, pastries and scones a crispier crust, fluffier centre and the perfect rise. 

The consumables zone

Having a well-organised space to store food keeps every kitchen running efficiently. Ideally, your fridge/freezer and pantry should be grouped together so you can easily move between the two when preparing food. Adding bench space nearby makes the consumables zone even more practical when you’re unpacking groceries.

The drinks zone

Ready to get creative? A drinks zone can be adapted to suit your beverage of choice. Ice on tap? No problem. The Westinghouse 564L French door fridge in matte charcoal black (WQE5650BA) has an automatic icemaker. If you’re a coffee devotee, set aside space to create your own barista-style hub, complete with espresso machine, bean grinder and an airtight container to keep your beans fresh. Position your favourite mug nearby so everything is exactly where it should be to brew the perfect cup.

If cocktails are more your speed, set up a dedicated cart or cabinet to house your preferred spirits plus a set of bar tools such as a shaker, strainer and muddler. Give this zone extra flair by adding your favourite decorative cocktail glasses.  

The cleaning zone

Just as important as your cooking areas, a well-planned cleaning zone allows you to scrape and stack dirty dishes with ease. Ideally it will be ordered from left to right, moving from garbage and food waste bins to the sink and then on to the dishwasher. Fast wash cycles make for entertaining or high-rotation use dishes is made easy with the Westinghouse Freestanding Dishwasher in Dark Stainless (WSF6608KXA).

One appliance you don’t need to worry about scrubbing clean is your oven, thanks to the pyrolytic self-cleaning function in Westinghouse’s new Kitchen range of electric ovens. Simply tap the button and leave the oven to heat to an incredibly high temperature, turning grease and splashes into ash that is easily wiped away.

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To help you design the perfect kitchen for your space, we’ve compiled a list of standard layouts to help you pick the one that’s right for you. Whether you love luxury kitchens, traditions kitchens or modern contemporary styles, we’ve got all the kitchen inspo you need.

1. Galley

The galley layout is made up of two parallel countertops with a walkway in between – perfect for the organised chef. This style was originally designed for compact cooking zones on boats, so it’s ideal for smaller homes. An important benefit of this layout is having all of your appliances easily accessible. The downside? The galley can lack storage and can feel a little antisocial – so if you like to entertain, it may not be right for you. One solution is to make the second countertop a kitchen island bench.

“Galley kitchens or L-shaped kitchens with an island are ideal for entertaining as they offer accessibility from all sides” Jeneile Kirk, Kaboodle

2. U shape

A U-shaped kitchen is made up of three walls featuring bench space and cabinetry within a fair amount of floor area. “U-shaped kitchens provide plenty of storage options for a medium-sized kitchen,” says Jeneile Kirk of Kaboodle. Keep in mind that this design, while great for storage, can reduce the space in a small kitchen to one cook only.

“Kitchen design comes down to how you use your kitchen. Everyone’s needs are different.” Rebecca Pountney, Yellow Letterbox

3. One wall

As the name suggests, all of the appliances and cabinetry run along one wall, giving the kitchen a greater sense of openness. After small kitchen ideas? This layout fits the brief. One-wall designs are particularly popular in smaller homes and apartments. However, careful planning is required to ensure that adequate room is available for food prep, as the sink, cooktop and refrigerator can take up most of the space. One solution is to use the dining table for extra workspace or include a wheeled butcher’s block.

4. L shape

“Everything is moving towards a more open-plan style,” says Daniel Bertuccio of Eurolinx. The L-shape is ideal for this, as well as being one of the most modern kitchen designs and efficient layouts. Comprising two adjacent countertops, the style suits both small and medium kitchens. A big plus is that the L-shape easily supports the working triangle – the imaginary line between the sink, cooktop and fridge. However, be aware that applying this style in a large kitchen can mean your appliances are spread out too widely, disrupting the efficiency of the design.

5. G-shape

Basically a U-shape with an added peninsula, the G-shaped layout can be used in just about any size of kitchen. Best attached to an open-plan living area, this design allows for plenty of storage room, extra counter space and multiple cooks. Throw in some stools and you also have an ideal seating area when guests come to visit. Bear in mind that size does matter when it comes to the length of your bench — you don’t want your peninsula to be too long and thus make you feel trapped.

The post 5 of the best kitchen layout ideas appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Like a classic white t-shirt in your wardrobe, this staple tool of home decorating hits the top of the list for interior design must-haves time again for its sheer versatility.

Just as a classic white t-shirt plays nicely with other decorative layers of colour and texture, white subway tiles can be relied upon as a base from which to work – an elegant shape that wraps around any interior space to fit perfectly – negotiating its curves and corners with aplomb.

We can’t think of an interior decorating situation that this quiet achiever wouldn’t be welcome in and, more than simply a safe choice, its appearance of quiet elegance anchors a scheme with style. Nuances can be executed to take things in a particular style direction with a coloured grout, a bevelled edge or a textured surface, or a real departure might be to lay them in a way other than the conventional “stretcher bond” or brick wall pattern.

White subway tiles are both budget- and design-friendly in the home, says HB editor-in-chief Wendy Moore. “It’s an affordable, classic look and it means you can really splash out on a design feature elsewhere in the space,” she says.

Here are five great examples of kitchen designs that do just that.

1. Secret service

The stunning navy blue cabinetry is allowed to take centre stage in this kitchen, though the white subway tiles do the heavy lifting in terms of functionality. A white grout is chosen to ensure they fade into the background and blend seamlessly with the white cabinetry overhead.

2. Blond ambition

Not quite disappearing from view, these tiles have been given a very light grey grout to bring definition to the pattern. This introduces texture to an all-white scheme and breaks up the larger format surfaces, whilst providing a background for timber details to come to the fore.

3. Contemporary country

Gone but not forgotten, white grout is once again used with the white subway tiles in this kitchen that draws on shaker-style cabinetry and timber benchtops to bring a note of classic country, with a touch of modern butcher shop chic.

4. Stainless style

A light grey grout ties in subtly here with almost all of the design elements in this kitchen, including the steel-coloured benchtop below and the natural veins in the marble island bench. Above the grout lines are reflected in the shiny steel frames of show-stopping glass pendant lights and again in stainless steel appliances.

5. Hello yellow

Touches of citrus in this kitchen shine like the sun, as do the white subway tiles – this time made from glass. The shimmery surface picks up the ample light streaming in and bounces it around the room.

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