Get the perfect kitchen with The Block judge Neale Whitaker

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A kitchen is the heart of every home and must boast practicality. Whether you’re cooking a Sunday night roast for the family, preparing for a dinner party, or making school lunches for your kids early Monday morning, a well-designed kitchen enhances the entire living area of your home.

Neale Whitaker, judge on The Block and Cosentino ambassador, shares his top five tips for homeowners looking to revamp their kitchens. With these tips you’ll be cooking up a storm in style!

Keep potential buyers in mind

While your kitchen makeover can be styled to meet your tastes, consider its potential appeal to a buyer should you decide to sell. Kitchens can make or break a sale so it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing surfaces, splashbacks and appliances. “For me the kitchen is the heart of each apartment and I believe it is for buyers too. Real estate guru John McGrath claims that ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell houses’ and he’s right. The kitchens in this series certainly didn’t disappoint,” Whitaker says.

Plan, plan and plan again

Kitchen renovations are expensive, so make sure you have a clear idea of the design you want. Put your requirements first and think about what you aim to get out of your kitchen in terms of entertainment and catering.

Contestants Ebony and Luke did this perfectly by making the bold decision to remove a wall in the planning stages of their design.

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Opt for neutral palettes

It’s not every year that a kitchen is fully renovated. Since most homeowners renovate their kitchen every five to 10 years, it is wise to choose neutral surfaces and cabinetry that can be easily and inexpensively updated with new stools, lighting or kitchen accessories.

This season’s teams ensured to choose colours and styles that would not age quickly. Townsville couple, Kingi and Caro won over the judges in their kitchen reveal, balancing the bolder elements elegantly with fresh tones of Silestone Blanco Zeus on their benches.

“The contestants have nailed it for future home owners as they’ll be able to rely on their kitchens to stay beautiful for years to come,” Gary Isherwood, Area Manager for Cosentino Australia says.

Storage is crucial

Pots and pans take up a lot of room, as do your hundred coffee cups. You can never have enough storage space in a kitchen. Shay and Dean reclaimed space in their kitchen design and created a hidden butler’s pantry to give future homeowners plenty of storage options. While the luxury of a butler’s pantry isn’t in everyone’s budget, still maximise your storage options with an adequate amount of drawers and cupboards.

Subtle but smart features

To create a sense of space in the kitchen, try implementing soft-close cabinetry (integrated handles) concealed appliances and mirrored splashbacks. Consider the aesthetic relationship between splashbacks, floors, work surfaces and joinery. Modern combinations like Silestone quartz surfaces complemented by timber, brick and matt laminates can have a great visual effect and still feel timeless.

“The couples’ surface choices from the Silestone range gave each kitchen a uniquely luxurious and contemporary profile,” Whitaker shares.

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Words: Chanel Zagon

Images: The Good Guys