The Ten Things Every Family Kitchen Needs2/6/2019 3:22:49 PM
With the trend for open pla... With the trend for open plan living showing no signs of slowing, our kitchens have well and truly cemented their place as the heart of the home. From food prep to dining to homework and relaxing, these days the kitchen is often the most lived in room of the house. A durable work surfaceIn a hardworking family kitchen you need a work surface that is attractive and tough. At Linwyk Kitchens we have a choice of worktop solutions including a wide range of laminates which are a cost-effective and popular choice with families. Also available is Encore, natural wood, durable granite and Corian® which offers a uniform finish with the option to integrate the sink; perfect for those looking for a minimalist look. Wipe clean wallsFrom food splatters to sticky fingers, kitchen walls can see a lot of action. Around food preparation areas wall tiles are a must and around the rest of the kitchen opt for an endurance paint specially designed for kitchens as it will offer increased resistance to grease and stains and will be tough enough to be wiped clean without damaging the paint surface. An eating areaAn open plan living/dining area often tops the ‘must have’ list of many house buyers so creating an eating area within your kitchen makes sense. If your kitchen can already accommodate a dining table, great news, if, however, your kitchen is small and an extension isn’t on the agenda, look for other ways to make it into a more sociable space – for example, could you sacrifice counter space for a breakfast bar? A place to relaxIf you really want your kitchen to be the heart of the home make it a place people can relax by installing a comfy sofa. Opt for a wipe clean finish, such as leather, as it will be less likely to absorb cooking smells and will be easy to clean. The latest techUpdating your kitchen is the perfect time to add some up-to-date technology, popular choices include a wireless sound system and a TV and don’t forget to include a charging area for all those gadgets. A place for the kids to playThe great thing about a family kitchen is that it is a space where everybody can interact while doing their own thing. To encourage the kids to spend time in the kitchen (and to help keep the place organised), create a toy storage area – a few baskets will do, include table top games and craft stuff to encourage family friendly activities. Child locksKitchens are full of hazards; asides from the risk of burns and scalds there are sharp knives, toxic substances and of course cupboards and drawers that can trap little fingers. Soft close cupboards and drawersTeenagers? Reduce the opportunity for door slamming with soft close cupboards and drawers! As well as no more slamming, the soft close action minimises the wear and tear on hinges. A family sized oven and hobHere at Linwyk Kitchens we have a wide choice of appliances from leading manufacturers. For large families, opting for extra hobs is a great way to make cooking meals easier. Adaptable lightingDepending on the time of day, your kitchen is likely to be used differently. In the morning, most families find the kitchen is a hive of activity while by the evening it is a place to relax and chat. Given the different activities your kitchen sees, installing an adaptable lighting solution is a must, think focused task lighting for food preparation, and ambient lighting for dining. |
Your Ultimate Guide to the Do's and Don'ts of a Ki1/23/2019 2:50:05 PM
You’d be hard-pressed to f... You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t have a dream-worthy kitchen remodel in mind. Most of us long for the day when we’ll finally be able to customize our cooking spaces. However, when that day finally arrives, doing so can feel like a Herculean task. There are so many unknowns: How do you even start something like this? Which improvements will appeal to buyers down the road? DO: Consider how you’ll use the spaceWhen most people think about a kitchen remodel, they have a similar finished product in mind: professional-grade stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and a huge island. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with this vision, it’s important to keep in mind that it isn’t your only option. Rather than just meeting the status quo, consider how your family will actually use the kitchen. DON’T: Neglect your budgetThis is true for all remodelling projects, but it’s especially important where kitchens are concerned. The average remodel costs thousands, so you need to make sure you’re spending your money wisely. As you design your ideal space, make two lists — a must-have list and a wish list. Then, price out each of your desired projects and compare them to your budget. The lists will give you a clearer idea of where to invest the bulk of your money and where to try and save. DO: Pay special attention to the layoutThe layout is a crucial element of a kitchen remodel, yet it is one of the most overlooked. It won’t matter how nice your new refrigerator is if you’re unable to open it fully because your countertop gets in the way. To ensure your new space functions the way it’s supposed to, hire a contractor who will help you draw up a working layout. DON’T: Forget about storageKitchens are often one of the most overstuffed spaces in a home. Between cooking equipment and food storage, homeowners often find that they don’t have enough space to store what they need. If you’re going to spend the money on a remodel, be certain you include storage options that are both functional and stylish. DO: Make sure there’s enough lightingThere are so many visual components to cooking a meal — chopping up ingredients, measuring them out, reading the stove temperature. The last thing you want is to attempt any of these while squinting for more light. For this reason, kitchen lighting is one occasion where more really is more. DON’T: Play it too safeReturn on investment, or how much equity you’ll get out of an improvement when you go to sell your house, is a common topic among those considering a kitchen remodel. It’s not hard to see why when you think about how often buyers name an updated kitchen as a top priority. Unfortunately, though, this intense focus often leads homeowners to settle for cookie-cutter designs. We’d argue that choosing a happy medium and adding a little personality will help your finished product stand out from the crowd. |
How to organise your wardrobe in 4 simple steps8/27/2018 12:51:56 PM
It's time to assess your wardro...
It's time to assess your wardrobe. Take a breath, gather your strength and take the bull by the horns.
Step 1. Sort through your clothes
Step 2. Store seasonal and bulky itemsIf you own a huge walk-in robe with oodles of storage space, fantastic! You won’t be needing this next tip. For those who don't, read on...Seasonal items take up a lot of necessary space in your wardrobe. Consider storing them in vacuum seal bags and then stacking them on the top shelves of your wardrobe, or in another room of your home.Not only do vacuum bags take up less space they are also great for keeping out dust and bugs. You can also store bulky items in a spare wardrobe if you have access to one. Step 3: Re-arrange clothes for frequency of useNow that you’ve reduced the quantity of clothes it’s time to refill your wardrobe. Keep your wardrobe organised and easy to use by grouping your clothes by type.Start at one end of your hanging space and hang small items such as tops, shorts, skirts, and then work your way towards larger items such as pants and dresses. Use this method for shoes and accessories too. Push your spring and summer shoes to the front of your shoe rack and winter shoes to the back. You’ll save time having everything you need arranged for their frequency of use. Step 4: Return everything to its placeYour goal is to be able to see everything inside your wardrobe upon opening its doors.Keep your wardrobe sorted by returning everything to its place after use and after washing. It sounds simple, because it is! The few minutes it takes to return your clothes to their rightful place works wonders in maintaining an organised wardrobe. Create good habits and a sorted wardrobe will follow! |
Smart Storage: Making the Most Out of Your Kitchen6/27/2018 11:30:35 AM
In the modern age, where kitchens a...
In the modern age, where kitchens are replete with all kinds of gadgets, pots, utensils and containers, having adequate storage space can mean the difference between functionality and impracticality.
It is vitally important that your kitchen has the space to allow for efficient, comfortable home cooking. Today, kitchen cabinets are so much more than a simple storage space. They are flexible, highly versatile focal points that can be adapted to suit your cooking needs. Linwyk Kitchens would like to share with you some stylish, practical ideas for making your kitchen a dream space for smart storage. Create a Stress-Free SpaceLife is busy, hours are long and the last thing you want to come home to is a space that is cluttered and doesn’t allow for efficient end of day cooking. There are certain ways you can remodel your kitchen to allow for a clean, stress-free space.When considering your renovation, have your kitchen custom-designed to the dimensions of the space. This will create an optimised space where freedom of movement and adaptability is paramount. Benches, islands and cabinets will be modified to suit their location and in turn you will have a comfortable, practical space to cook. The Efficiency of the IslandOriginally, the kitchen island was something that would be installed after renovation, opting for a mobile mini-island that barely served any purpose. Households are now viewing the kitchen island as something that serves many purposes. Having a kitchen island installed that allows under-counter appliances, seating, serving and, of course, a countertop for cooking is one of the most efficient ways you can optimise your kitchen space. The kitchen island is an effective installation for the open-plan, streamlined kitchen space, and one that will make cooking an efficient and stress-free process. Open Storage SolutionsInstalling open shelves not only helps to free up the space but also keeps everything within view and ease of reach. By installing open shelves in your kitchen, you make finding all your drinkware, plates and appliances a breeze, and it’s great for when you have friends and family helping in the kitchen.Also, have knife slots installed in your butchers block to further create an open, effective cooking space. Optimise Your CabinetryOne thing people become frustrated with after purchasing a house is the wasted space that comes with cabinets. Optimise your cabinetry. Have cabinets installed that suit the number and type of appliances you have. You can also install certain appliances that will free up and optimise your cabinet space. This includes appliance garages, roll-out trays for pots and pans, tray dividers and pull-out draws for herbs and spices. One of our favourite appliances for optimising cabinet space is the corner cabinet carousel, an appliance which allows you to pull out kitchen accessories from those dark and dingy corners of the cabinet. Organise Your ProductsThis almost goes without saying, but you want to organise your kitchen appliances so that they can be used in order of how and when they are used. By storing cooking essentials like herbs, spices, vinegar and oil together you are making the cooking process easier and more enjoyable. The same goes for storage of plates, glasses and mugs, store them close to the dishwasher so that once you have washed them they can be easily transferred to their cabinet. Contact Our Team to Get StartedThe team at Linwyk Kitchens are masters in creating stylish, optimised kitchen spaces for Sydney homes and businesses. We have the skills and experience to create designs that will not only allow for a practical cooking experience, but will also wow friends and family with its aesthetic style. If you would like to get started on creating an optimised, storage-friendly kitchen space, feel free to get in contact with our friendly team of staff. We are committed to providing an exceptional standard of service, and will be happy to assist you with any enquiries you have regarding our kitchen remodelling designs. |