We spoke with Sharon Piconi, general manager at Stylemaster Homes, to get the scoop on what goes into creating their award winning kitchen and her top five tips to look for when building yours.
The Fundamentals
The first step to any good kitchen is considering position and scale. Sharon says both are key design fundamentals in incorporating your kitchen into the overall layout of your home.
“People generally prefer to have a kitchen towards the rear of the home, where they can overlook the pool or garden, making it easier for entertaining in the alfresco or connecting to living spaces,” she says.
“The size of the kitchen is important as well. It shouldn’t be too overpowered or underpowered to service the needs of the number of people sharing the home.
“If the home design allows for it, larger kitchens are desirable.”
Sharon says lighting is also an important element that shouldn’t be overlooked.
“It’s so important to balance your task and feature lighting in a functional space like a kitchen,” she says.
Making it Fit
When designing a kitchen you need to consider how the space works with the rest of the home - in terms of functionality and styling.
"Ensure any relevant barstools, feature lighting or nearby artwork complements the character and scale of the kitchen, as well as the surrounding elements of the home,” says Sharon.
"An overarching understanding of how busy families best multitask their daily duties is not always something you can 'see' up front, but we consider it a must have in a modern kitchen.
“When thinking about your design what’s more convenient than unloading the grocery shopping straight into a butler’s pantry positioned directly off the garage.
It’s the little decisions about how the kitchen will work with the other elements of the home that brings a design together.
Consider Longevity
Trends come and go, so make sure you are designing a kitchen that’s going to last.
“Small removable items like handles are inexpensive to replace but entire bench tops or full walls of cabinetry are not, so it is important to know the difference between a passing trend and a style that’s here to stay,” says Sharon.
“Luxury appliances and focused functionality never go out of style. A great dynamic space and working layout with loads of storage is an essential that stands the test of time.”
Finish with Styling
Styling can be a fun way to bring a sense of personality into your home. Sharon says when styling your kitchen choose a balance of functional items, with those that inspire happiness.
“Items such as trays, timber boards and bowls for fresh produce combined with objects like greenery, cookbooks and sculptural pieces generally make a kitchen feel inviting," she says.
“Make sure you are styling for practicality, as bench space is premium whilst prepping, cooking and serving.”
When it comes to trends people are loving right now, Sharon says feature stonework and curves, particularly in central islands, are key design statements.
Dark tones are another hot trend popping up, but Sharon says it is important to find a balance.
“Dark tones always add drama, so look for contrast and an abundance of natural light to keep it feeling balanced," she says.
Extra Special Extras
With the fundamentals and perfect styling out of the way, it is time to choose those little extras that make your dream kitchen feel like home.
Sharon says one thing high on many people’s wish list is a butler’s pantry.
“Some customers even prefer a second kitchen in their butler’s pantry to keep their messy prep concealed with their beautiful kitchens on show,” she says.
“Windows in backsplashes and decorative integration with the surrounding living spaces are also highly desirable considerations.”
Stylemaster’s Milan home, on display in the Ellendale Display Village, features an award-winning kitchen that will inspire anyone wondering how to incorporate these ideas into their own kitchen.
“Our Milan kitchen perfectly flows into the living and alfresco beyond, without overtaking the floor plan designed for a 10 metre-wide block," says Sharon.
“We have PITT burners directly integrated into the kitchen bench, the window in the splash back overlooks beautiful greenery and the kitchen flows onto a butler’s pantry and laundry.”
To see Stylemaster's award-winning kitchen first hand, visit the Milan display at the Ellendale Display Village, located at 324 Canvey Road, Upper Kedron. The display is currently open by appointment so please visit www.stylemasterhomes.com.au or call 07 3368 9700 to book.