What’s your favourite kitchen trend? Pastel cabinetry from the 1950s, retro wallpaper of the 1970s or 1990s minimalism? While these fads can be gorgeous and fun, they don’t exactly have staying power!
At Farquhar Design Kitchens in Te Puke and Papamoa, we love bold kitchen trends, but we also know that building or renovating a kitchen is a big task – one you’re not likely to take on again for a long time. We also appreciate that kitchen trends can sometimes get in the way of practicality, which is why our team of kitchen designers has created this list of tips for building a kitchen that is both timeless and functional.
- Quality Counts
The kitchen is the household’s most used room – and the most expensive to renovate. You aren’t going to do it again in a hurry, so you may as well get it right the first time. Investing in quality materials for benchtops and cabinetry, excellent appliances and skilled craftsmanship means that your kitchen will look great, work well and stand up to the years of use to come.
- Neutral Wall Colours
At FD Kitchens, we love when clients across Papamoa, Te Puke and Tauranga want bold paint colours and wallpaper patterns in their kitchens – but these magazine-worthy kitchens aren’t for everyone. If you are after a kitchen that won’t date, stick to neutral wall colours like off-whites, beiges and greys and add a pop of colour through accessories and artwork instead.
- Adequate Storage
Minimalist trends have led to the disappearance of cabinets and pantries, which looks great in print but is an absolute pain when it comes time to cook. If your kitchen is for use and not just for show, adequate storage is always in vogue! To renovate or build a functional kitchen, adequate storage space is a must.
- Excellent Lighting
Getting kitchen lighting right serves two purposes: it makes for a beautiful space and lets you see what you are doing. While dim lighting might create a nice ambiance in the lounge, a bright kitchen is pretty important when chopping veggies or checking doneness of chicken.
Use classic lighting options like down lights or track lighting, but if you have the room you can add some personality with a bespoke hanging pendant which is easy to change if the styles shift. And don’t forget to pay attention to the less exciting but very useful lighting details like cabinet and pantry lighting.
- A Big Sink
For a kitchen that is as functional as it is beautiful, a large sink is essential. A sink isn’t the kitchen’s most exciting feature, so people are often tempted to keep it small – instead embrace a big sink and jazz it up with nice tapware. Trust the kitchen design experts at FD Kitchens – a sink big enough for you to get the dishes done easily, quickly and without spilling water onto the floor is well worth the real estate it takes in the kitchen.
If you are building or renovating a kitchen in Papamoa or Te Puke and want it to stay attractive and functional for years to come, get in touch with FD Kitchens – 07 573 4170.