HIDDEN GEMS: 7 MUST-HAVE ADDITIONS TO YOUR KITCHEN PLANS
We haven't met a kitchen lover who doesn't get a buzz out of a clever kitchen innovation and we want to show you some of our favourites. These hidden gems are just some of the many additions you might choose to enhance the elegance and functionality of your kitchen. So, if you’re planning a kitchen renovation these seven fun features should definitely be on your radar.
1) POP-UP PLUGS
We don’t think you can ever have enough power points in a kitchen but this comes with the challenge of where to install them without ruining your design aesthetic. And that’s where pop-up power outlets save the day. This ingenious solution is installed by your sparkie and neatly concealed within a stone or timber bench top. When you want power, simply press the top of the unit and it pops up, using an electric lift, ready for action.
2) RUBBISH SORTING SYSTEM
Our audience loves trash talk… whenever we share the rubbish bins in a kitchen the crowd goes wild! Sorting the trash is no one’s favourite job, so making it as easy as possible with a handy rubbish sorting solution is a must-have in our books if you’re designing a new kitchen.
Our fave bins are those concealed within a slide-out drawer with separate units for recycling, composting and everyday waste. Most come with a little handle to make taking out the trash a breeze. If you have room, ask your cabinet maker to install a small inner drawer above the bins (concealed within the same pull-out door) to store your bin liners.
3) INTEGRATED APPLIANCES
If you love a kitchen that looks more like a beautiful designer piece of furniture than its commercial counterpart with all the appliances on show, integrating the appliances will help you achieve this. Fridges, freezers and dishwashers all come with integrated options that will cleverly conceal them within the cabinetry for a seamless designer look.
4) A KITCHEN WITH POCKETS!
If your heart desires a fully seamless kitchen, pocket doors could be the answer to hiding those appliances that can’t be fully hidden when integrated, like your oven and microwave. Yes, you’ll need the doors open while you’re using these appliances but when you’re not, they’ll be a cabinetry chameleon.
5) FILL ‘EM UP
We’re seeing pot fillers popping up as luxe design inclusions in high-end kitchens everywhere. And if you’re still wondering what that extra tap above the stove is, there’s your answer - it’s an extendable tap mounted on the wall above the stove and to pasta lovers and large families, it might just be a godsend. It’s designed to fill pots of water directly on the stove rather than in the sink, saving strain on your arms and back and reducing mess from lapping liquids. When it comes to cleaning up, you can leave your pots on the stovetop and fill them to soak right there.
The beautiful kitchen of Reno Schooler Amanda Di Giglio
6) HYDRATION STATION
If you’re a water lover of the chilled, sparkling and boiling varieties, you’ll go ga-ga for a water filter tap. They’re a sizeable investment and will take up some real estate on your kitchen bench but you’ll never have to wait for the kettle to boil again, you’ll never buy another bottle of sparking water and you’ll have no excuse to not stay hydrated all day long.
Reno School Student Charlotte Crivelli’s kitchen at Magnolia House
7) SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
Standard cupboards and drawers have their role but it’s the out-of-the-box cabinetry solutions that get us most excited. Have you considered an integrated oil drawer? A storage solution for all your spices? Or a corner cupboard to rival all corner cupboards? We love them all!
Three Birds House 14
Styling Schooler Jacinta Nicholson’s spice rack