Those at the Kitchen Design Academy know what makes kitchens amazing, and since 2012 they’ve been a premier educator of kitchen and bathroom designers. Based in Melbourne and approved internationally, the academy has, in fact, trained kitchen designers globally.

Provided exclusively online, the Kitchen Design Academy’s learning programs offer students the flexibility to learn wherever they choose and at a pace that suits, while the courses cater to every
level of interest.

The Certificate in Kitchen Design Essentials is an achievable seven-module course aimed at DIY enthusiasts. The Certificate in Kitchen Design is more extensive, with 14 modules aimed at producing kitchen design professionals.

The Diploma in Kitchen and Bathroom Design builds on this, with another four modules on bathroom design, covering 18 modules in total.

There’s even an Advance Certificate in Kitchen Design offering five modules for existing kitchen designers wanting to refine their skills.

The intention is to provide a course to suit every need and lifestyle so that Kitchen Design Academy students are set up for success.

For more information

Kitchen Design Academy

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The former basic kit home kitchen which lacked thought in materials and design has now been completely transformed into a jaw-dropping space thanks to Anita Nader Interior Design, Mii Kitchen and CAV’ART Designer Stone.

The beautiful natural stone is the centrepiece to this kitchen renovation and was selected from CAV’ART Designer Stone in Taj Mahal Quartzite in a honed profile.

The stone is juxtaposed with custom American oak cabinetry and panels that have been stained in a black Japan varnish. The result is a high-end and luxurious aesthetic that emanates class and character.

The generous island bench offers plenty of surface space for meal preparation and entertaining. One of the main considerations when designing this renovation was working with the existing space, as well as the existing locations of the appliances. This was to help eliminate further costs of trades for any changes.

The spectacular stone was also used as the backdrop for the kitchen’s wine storage, ensuring a consistent use of materials throughout this space. Subtle brass accents have also been incorporated throughout the colour palette and work cohesively with matt-black selections and the existing timber flooring. A striking balance of texture and tone works perfectly within this kitchen to create a refined and luxe atmosphere.

Design: Anita Nader Interior Design
Joinery: Mii Kitchen
Photography: Simon Whitbread

For more information

CAV’ART DESIGNER STONE

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With a brief for a black-and-white kitchen theme, the team at Degabriele Kitchens have knocked it out of the park with this luxuriously moody makeover. Found inside a traditional home in Drummoyne, the new kitchen needed to exude a modern traditional aesthetic.

The location of the kitchen sees natural light surrounding the room, with swathes of sunshine flowing into the space. This enviable positioning made working with a dark colour palette more conducive to functional family living. Indeed, for a space with such dark features, the kitchen is surprisingly light and airy.

Custom-made gold powder-coated integrated handles, combined with warm and natural lighting as well as a layout that balances form and function, work to offset the dominant black colouring.

The joinery, a sumptuous dark veneer, facilitates an interesting and textured surface that imbues the space with depth and ties in with the black window frames. Creating a sense of sophistication that is simultaneously warm and welcoming, this kitchen is one to pin on your moldboard.

Like what you see? Degabriele Kitchens has proudly designed and manufactured bespoke joinery in Sydney for more than 40 years. Today, the company employs over 30 talented cabinetmakers and apprentices and is about to open its third showroom, which will sit next door to its flagship store in Willoughby. Meanwhile, pop in to the current store to select materials
and fittings for your next project.

Design Degabriele Kitchens

For more information

Degabriele Kitchens

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On the day homeowner Claire went shopping for her AGA eR7 Series 160 at a local store, she also happened to be the lucky winner of an AGA eR3 Series 60. Now the owner of two AGA cookers, Claire has fully utilised both units in different areas of her home and they are an indispensable part of her family’s lifestyle.

The AGA eR7 has pride of place in the large family kitchen. Illuminated by a generously sized skylight, this newly built kitchen is the true heart of the home, with family members taking turns making delicious, restaurant-worthy meals to be shared. Whether it’s porridge in the morning or scrumptious casseroles for dinner, all the cooks agree the AGA cooker is a versatile and much-loved asset in the home.

Meanwhile, the smaller AGA eR3 60 plays an important role in the alfresco area downstairs, where the family does a lot of entertaining. This spot was initially meant to house only a pizza oven and barbecue, but after Claire won the AGA eR3 60 cooker in the competition, this area was redesigned and an entire kitchenette built around the AGA cooker. Serving as a pizza oven and barbecue, the compact cooker has made it much easier to create meals and entertain in this alfresco space.

For more information visit 

AGA Australia 

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Starting with the kitchen sink market, Buildmat has expanded its range to include the supply of above-standard industry products to provide an innovative range for designers and homeowners who want more than what the industry has been offering.

A 100-per-cent Australian-owned and -operated online retailer, Buildmat is based in Melbourne and lives by the motto, “If it’s not a product we will have in our own home, then we won’t be selling it.” From bathroom basins and tapware to laundry tubs, faucets, mixers and even the kitchen sink, this premium manufacturer is an award-winning business with plenty on offer.

Handcrafted from 304-grade, 1.5mm-thick stainless steel — on average more than 0.5mm thicker than its competitors — Buildmat sinks are made to last. Formed in modern clean lines and slightly rounded corners for an easy-to-clean finish, these hardy offerings include a brushed hairline look for a matt aesthetic that suits most modern kitchens. Designed in Melbourne, these handmade sinks and basins are a reflection of the innovation for which Buildmat is known. With a focus on product development and a desire to meet customers’ needs, Buildmat has brought several effective products to market that defied convention.

It continues that tradition today, always looking to the future to ensure the best products for its clients — which is why the company was award the 2020 Architecture Masterprize Product Design Award.

More than just an award-winning company, Buildmat understands the importance of educating its customers so they can make the right choice for their projects, guaranteeing a successful outcome and product satisfaction for years to come.

In addition to its market-leading sink range, Buildmat also supplies an extensive range of premium architectural products, from elegant and durable tapware to bespoke kitchen accessories made to the exact specifications of its stainless-steel sinks.

For more information

Buildmat

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This is the first AGA collection to feature models that combine both cast-iron radiant heat cooking and conventional cooking, so they take flexibility to a whole new level. The mix of ovens, hotplates and an induction hob means you have a cooker for all seasons and one that makes it very easy to manage energy usage.

Compared to a conventional oven, cooking with the AGA 3 Series 160i (pictured), is a simpler and more forgiving process. Cast-iron radiant heat is more even and offers greater predictability.

The temperature range of a conventional oven can vary vastly, especially when opening and closing its doors. This is unlike the AGA cooker, which has minimal to zero variability in temperature change when opening the oven door.

Researchers at the national centre for food manufacturing at the University of Lincoln spent 18 months examining differences between AGA ovens and conventional ovens. Evidence was produced that confirmed an AGA provides a better more effortless cooking experience, which improves how food tastes, looks and smells.

To find out more about AGA’s range of cookers, click here: agaaustralia.com.au

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The team at Seavern brightened up a room that hasn’t been revamped since the 1980s. A lot of love went into this redesign. The homeowners enjoy regularly hosting guests, so accessibility and ease of storage were paramount. To accommodate this, the bench was kept oversized, so anyone in the kitchen could get involved in the cooking and entertaining experience. A concealed pantry with plenty of generous storage was also added to reduce clutter and and keep ingredients at arm’s reach.

To top it off, the laundry acts as a connection to the space, with an added mudroom feature and powder room. Rest assured that if you’re ever invited to wine and dine in this spectacular area, the hosts have definitely got you covered!

But what we truly love about this kitchen is the subtle detail of the mango timber trim, servery and chopping block. Traditionally milled from a fallen mango tree on the property, the material holds a special place in the hearts of the homeowners. The team at Seavern cleverly incorporated the mango timber as a vibrant contrast to the clean white palette, adding a hint of welcoming warmth. To finish off, the concrete flooring grounds the entire area that ensures cohesive coastal style that’s pleasing to the eye.

The result is a modern farmhouse feel that invites you in with its mixture of warmth and cool contemporary aesthetic.

Designers Cassie Flinn and Daniel Stuchbury
Builder Seavern. Architectural Joiners
Photographer Coco + Palm Productions

For more information

Seavern

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Its Drummoyne-based showroom displays an impressive array of kitchens and wardrobes to suit the tastes of many. Whether you’re looking for a modern design or something with a little more old-world charm, you can rest assured knowing that Eurolife has state-of-the-art finishes and materials on display with the highest of technological accessories, interior fittings and the most practical and innovate storage solutions at your fingertips.

Eurolife is very proud of its extensive network, collaborating with some of the most renowned Italian designers and suppliers of kitchens, wardrobes and furniture. Stosa Cucine and Presotto Italia are just a few of the many brands Eurolife has the privilege of offering through its Sydney showroom.

The team is highly trained, with many years of experience in interior design and joinery detailing. There is even an interior architect in-house to fulfil every customer order to the highest quality. Once your designs are ready to be installed, Eurolife provides a complete interior design and joinery fit-out service thanks to its professional carpenters. This ensures everything from kitchens and laundries to wardrobes and bedroom furniture is executed to the highest standard. Eurolife even specialises in joinery and cabinetry for living and dining areas, home offices and study spaces.

Eurolife’s greatest asset, however, is that clients deal directly with the company owners, giving them peace of mind that they will always receive outstanding products and service. It also works with suppliers who provide environmentally sustainable materials, ensuring products are made from materials that do not contain any toxic substances such as formaldehyde.

Great products at reasonable prices that are packaged with incredible service are hard to come by, but Eurolife offers all this and more. It doesn’t get much better than that!

For more information

Eurolife

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It is for this reason that The Kitchen House’s philosophy is to work closely with each client in a one-on-one design process so as to create a unique, homely and functional kitchen to fit with your busy lifestyle.

For this project in Double Bay, the client chose a Shaker-style kitchen. This timeless design fits most style of homes, always looking fresh and inviting. Simple in style but elegant in appearance, this versatile kitchen design gives you the option of either a traditional charm or modern edge.

The quality of the craftsmanship in the cabinetry and simplicity of style makes this kitchen both durable and functionable.

Features:

• 40mm CaesarStone benchtop with pencil edge
• Mixed appliances
• Stainless steel cutlery tray
• Integrated dishwasher and washing machine
• Kleenmaid washer/dryer. Subway tiled splashback

For More Information:

The Kitchen House

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They get fixated on following a trend or making it a sell-able solution for the next home owner and forget to think about their own primary objectives; how you cook, entertain, use and live in your kitchen is of paramount importance to getting the right design solution. People often buy an “appliance package” and forget to think about the specific needs of their personal cooking requirements. Spend time thinking about how the space will be used. Do you like to work in an open space? Are you a messy cook and need a private work space hidden from the visitors? Is the kitchen an integrated part of the home or a separate work zone?

What other activities aside from cooking happen in the kitchen that the space is currently challenged to provide eg: homework, entertaining clients, craft, computer, watching TV, working from home. How could you “design in” these activities into the uniform design of the kitchen fit out.

Avoid the cliche

Trends come and go and are not sound investment decisions when it comes to sustainable interior design solutions. Try to avoid cliché styles and match your materials and finishes to the architectural details of your home. Look to the colours in the window frames, the colours of the facade of your home, the flooring, the light features and the site that it sits in for clues.

Stretch out your space

For examples in the ‘Mckenna Kitchen’ featured in Grand Designs Australia Magazine issue 6.2, St James Whitting designed a “non-study” into the space – an area to the right of the functional cooking zone of the kitchen, equipped with IT facilities such as an iPad docking station and charging pads for lap tops, i Pads and smart phones so that teenage children cold use the space for homework, whilst feeling part of the evening activities.

This was materially streamlined into the design to create an “optical stretch” in the kitchen – by repeating the joinery and bench materials in a cantilevered study bench with functional storage it makes the entire kitchen space 30% bigger in length visually.

Create interiors that you can transform

Our Iandra Kitchen design encompassed a movable island bench for the ultimate foodie in you – featuring a butcher’s block counter top and integrated waste and recycling bins to enable the client to transform their kitchen from a galley – to U shape or L shape with ease and even take the cooking experience outdoors when needed!

Restrict your palette

How can you avoid installing a kitchen that will date, but you want something relevant by today’s fads too? Is there a happy medium?

Classic design in form, shape and material selection will never date. Stick to a restricted palette of no more than 5 materials, finishes and colours (including your appliances) using quality materials and finishes sourced from sustainable suppliers.

What are some of the biggest trends coming through now that may be best avoided? A kitchen is a big investment – is that why most people play it safe?
Create “trends” in temporary decorative items such as stools, lighting small appliances that can be easily replaced. Utilise architectural restraint in the construction elements of your kitchen including cupboard doors and bench tops.

Read the architecture of your home

All the clues you need are already in the building, look at the architecture of your home carefully and emulate the lines, shapes, colours, tones and textures found elsewhere in the home in the kitchen. Use these design clues in your kitchen design. The cross cut timber floating table in the McKenna kitchen was chosen to replicate the natural solid timber flooring palette and the clients love of orienteering in the Australian bush.

PHOTOGRAPH your house and lay it out on a board then analyse it – you will be surprised what you find. Repeat these colours and shapes in sophisticated applications. Research your appliances and invest in items that are handed often so that they last the test of time.

Nice is a four letter word…

A quality kitchen including joinery, bench tops, installation, lighting, appliances, rough in, hook up and installation of all trades costs on average $50k. Australia is renowned for playing it “safe”. Dulux Antique White USA is the most over used paint colour for wall paints and joinery in the nation. The international community is braver and bolder and more personalised. Choose items that give you GOOSEBUMPS!

Nice is a four-letter word that the design duo at St James Whitting refuses to use – ever! A colour, a material, a product must be EXCEPTIONAL in your eyes to be worth investing your hard-earned money in. Don’t design for the next user – they might just demolish the entire house and build a new one! Design your kitchen so that it takes the grunt out of cooking. Make a space that you long to come home to, that is a sanctuary at the end of a long day’s work, a family kitchen, a private kitchenette for one, a couple’s kitchen and above all YOUR KITCHEN. Safe is boring and soooo very 1990’s.

Financially, a kitchen is a big investment, what are some of key considerations that homeowners need to take in before they commit? For example, how will they use the kitchen, cupboard heights, etc. Australia has a BCA – the Building Code of Australia – this is set up so that we don’t need to stress over the logistics and ergonomics of design. Before starting the design process, the most important thing is to understand how the kitchen is going to be used. Think about this over your lifetime.

Design for your future

Follow the principles of inclusive design. Ovens under bench tops are difficult to bend down into and get heavy items out of. They are also dangerous to young children when installed at this under bench level. Install ovens at a god ergonomic waist height – consider side opening oven doors, use two drawer dishwashers side by side instead of the traditional single door model. Make your workload easier! Create a circulation diagram of your activities in the kitchen. What happens during the day in your current kitchen? Then look at the limitations of the current design and what is frustrating about its layout and functionality. How could this be improved? What storage requirements don’t you have and how could you allocate for these? The aesthetics of the kitchen is one thing, but functionality is another. As the internationally renowned designer Le Corbusier is famous for saying, “The house is a machine for living in”.

IKEA Australia design their kitchens by laying out all the pots and pans and items to be stored in the cupboards on the floor and designing a space to fit everything in!

Cluster your work space

Cluster your work spaces and design solutions for these needs, for example; a coffee and tea corner, a Thermomix station, an after-school snack cupboard or a his-n-hers pantry. We have even had clients that have colour-coded joinery to meet the needs of the homeowners!

There are many studies that have defined six general zones in a kitchen

1. Pantry Zone: food storage; canned products; refrigerator and cold storage
2. Storage Zone: appliances, utensils, cooking equipment
3. Sink Zone: cleaning area, washing space
4. Preparation Zone: a large counter space to work on
5. Cooking Zone: cook-top and oven
6. Entertaining Zone: how we gather, share a meal or entertain

Not everything always needs replacing – be sustainable with your renovation needs

If your joinery and internal storage needs are functional and in great condition, think carefully about maintaining the existing resources and creating a new lease of life on your kitchen by curating a sophisticated suite of cutting edge appliances and tapware to change the focus of the colour palette, shape and form of the existing space.

We are currently working sustainable kitchen renovation utilising existing joinery and working with beautiful yet cost-effective construction materials and pairing it with high quality original and long-lasting iconic furniture, light fittings and feature tiles.

This is of value in apartment living where often the footprint of a kitchen remains the same.

In the Albany kitchen, contemporary chic charcoal appliances and professional stainless steel fixtures and fittings replaced the clients’ 17-year-old ovens and cooktop to reinvent the existing granite, joinery and palette.

It is interesting to note as you dine out for lunch or dinner, look at how our commercial interiors have become more, homely – with antique furniture and home made lighting and homewares, and our homes have become uber professional with kitchens that look like restaurants!

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