A Kitchen Joiner Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
A kitchen joiner reveals three important things he wishes every client understood before the start of a project
Planning a new kitchen? Knowing a few basic things beforehand will make the selection and installation process quicker and smoother, says kitchen joiner and director at Bondi Kitchens, Chris Ruffé.
Here, he discusses the top three essentials he wishes everyone undergoing a kitchen design project knew.
Here, he discusses the top three essentials he wishes everyone undergoing a kitchen design project knew.
Think carefully about layout. Get out the grid paper and plan your dream kitchen design – how you would like to use the space every day.
Next up, finishes. A well-designed kitchen should be easy to clean. Choose durable, low-maintenance finishes. Also, think about how you want to open and close drawers and doors. It might sound basic, but this is something you’ll be doing every day. For example, don’t sacrifice shelf space or hardware for pure aesthetics, because nobody wants a dysfunctional door.
I tend to avoid ‘tip-on’ or push-to-open mechanisms because I find they often fail over time. In my view, you can’t beat a soft-closing hinge. Add a finger-recessed detail to match, and your life (and bank account) will be all the better for it.
Renovating your kitchen? Find joinery professionals and cabinet makers near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Next up, finishes. A well-designed kitchen should be easy to clean. Choose durable, low-maintenance finishes. Also, think about how you want to open and close drawers and doors. It might sound basic, but this is something you’ll be doing every day. For example, don’t sacrifice shelf space or hardware for pure aesthetics, because nobody wants a dysfunctional door.
I tend to avoid ‘tip-on’ or push-to-open mechanisms because I find they often fail over time. In my view, you can’t beat a soft-closing hinge. Add a finger-recessed detail to match, and your life (and bank account) will be all the better for it.
Renovating your kitchen? Find joinery professionals and cabinet makers near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
2. Don’t be fooled by fancy finishes
Sometimes the more expensive and glamorous options aren’t the best ones. When it comes to performance and upkeep, luxurious materials such as solid timber and marble are often second best to many of the newer, high-tech materials on the market – and these cost considerably less.
Timber veneer is a great alternative to solid timber. The latest styles will give you a naturally textured finish, plus they are lightweight and easy to install. Birch plywood is another appealing option for kitchen cabinetry. It has a soft texture and can be stained in different colours.
If you love the look of marble, but not the upkeep and price, consider a lookalike product such as engineered stone. Or consider solid surfaces such as Corian and Fenix, which are waterproof and can be moulded into different shapes for a seamless look.
Sometimes the more expensive and glamorous options aren’t the best ones. When it comes to performance and upkeep, luxurious materials such as solid timber and marble are often second best to many of the newer, high-tech materials on the market – and these cost considerably less.
Timber veneer is a great alternative to solid timber. The latest styles will give you a naturally textured finish, plus they are lightweight and easy to install. Birch plywood is another appealing option for kitchen cabinetry. It has a soft texture and can be stained in different colours.
If you love the look of marble, but not the upkeep and price, consider a lookalike product such as engineered stone. Or consider solid surfaces such as Corian and Fenix, which are waterproof and can be moulded into different shapes for a seamless look.
Laminate is also well worth considering. It’s hardy, affordable, easy to care for, and you’ll find styles that imitate everything from marble and exotic timber species to granite. As well as cabinetry finishes, you can now find anti-fungal and antibacterial finishes that can be used on benchtops.
3. Size does matter
It’s true – size does matter. Paying attention to clearances should be the starting point of any good kitchen layout. For example, the distance between the island bench and the back bench is very important for usability and traffic flow. If it’s too tight or too wide, your kitchen can feel cramped or poorly proportioned. We recommend allowing at least one metre between parallel base units, room size allowing.
You should also consider the height and thickness of cabinetry in relation to the overall space, in order to create a balanced feel.
See more stunning kitchens by talented Australian designers
It’s true – size does matter. Paying attention to clearances should be the starting point of any good kitchen layout. For example, the distance between the island bench and the back bench is very important for usability and traffic flow. If it’s too tight or too wide, your kitchen can feel cramped or poorly proportioned. We recommend allowing at least one metre between parallel base units, room size allowing.
You should also consider the height and thickness of cabinetry in relation to the overall space, in order to create a balanced feel.
See more stunning kitchens by talented Australian designers
We recommend the following standard proportions:
Base cabinet height: 900 millimetres is the European standard, and is based around appliance dimensions. However, with people getting taller, there is a trend to go as high as 920 or even 950 millimetres.
Clearance heights between base and overhead cabinets: 650 to 700 millimetres. It’s also important to check the range hood and stovetop specs and their required distance from each other.
Overhead cabinets: We’d recommend taking them to ceiling height, as this allows you to maximise your storage potential.
Benchtop thickness: 20 millimetres for stone and stone-like materials such as marble and Caesarstone; 12 millimetres for thin and fabricated materials such as Corian, Fenix, glass and stainless steel.
Tip: You can have any benchtop ‘beefed up’ to look as thick as you want, using a manufacturing technique called a ‘mitred apron’. A wide panel is installed at the front of the benchtop to create the illusion of thickness.
Island overhang: Leave a 300-millimetre allowance for stools and knee space.
Base cabinet height: 900 millimetres is the European standard, and is based around appliance dimensions. However, with people getting taller, there is a trend to go as high as 920 or even 950 millimetres.
Clearance heights between base and overhead cabinets: 650 to 700 millimetres. It’s also important to check the range hood and stovetop specs and their required distance from each other.
Overhead cabinets: We’d recommend taking them to ceiling height, as this allows you to maximise your storage potential.
Benchtop thickness: 20 millimetres for stone and stone-like materials such as marble and Caesarstone; 12 millimetres for thin and fabricated materials such as Corian, Fenix, glass and stainless steel.
Tip: You can have any benchtop ‘beefed up’ to look as thick as you want, using a manufacturing technique called a ‘mitred apron’. A wide panel is installed at the front of the benchtop to create the illusion of thickness.
Island overhang: Leave a 300-millimetre allowance for stools and knee space.
The one thing I always get asked is…
‘Which colour should I choose?’ A kitchen is an investment and it’s also the heart of the home, so it’s essential that it ages gracefully. For this reason, I always recommend choosing black or white cabinetry. If you want to add colour and personality, introduce it through smaller details such as handles, tapware and furnishings.
‘Which colour should I choose?’ A kitchen is an investment and it’s also the heart of the home, so it’s essential that it ages gracefully. For this reason, I always recommend choosing black or white cabinetry. If you want to add colour and personality, introduce it through smaller details such as handles, tapware and furnishings.
My golden nugget
Consider your kitchen appliances carefully, as what you choose will have a significant effect on not just the look, but the functionality of your kitchen. Also pay careful attention to appliance measurements – they generally have a minimum clearance distance and if these aren’t adhered to, your warranty will most likely be voided.
And don’t be tempted to install appliances yourself. We always recommend calling in a professional, particularly with appliances that need to be seamlessly integrated into your kitchen design.
Consider your kitchen appliances carefully, as what you choose will have a significant effect on not just the look, but the functionality of your kitchen. Also pay careful attention to appliance measurements – they generally have a minimum clearance distance and if these aren’t adhered to, your warranty will most likely be voided.
And don’t be tempted to install appliances yourself. We always recommend calling in a professional, particularly with appliances that need to be seamlessly integrated into your kitchen design.
Your turn
What was the most useful part of hiring a joiner for your kitchen renovation? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
You won’t want to miss this insightful guide if you’re renovating – A Plumber Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
What was the most useful part of hiring a joiner for your kitchen renovation? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
You won’t want to miss this insightful guide if you’re renovating – A Plumber Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
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Many of our clients will overlook this and create a gorgeous, fashionable kitchen without factoring in how liveable it will be. Choosing the finishes is certainly fun, but if your kitchen isn’t functional, it will never look or perform the way you want it to. The most important question to ask yourself is ‘How do I want to use this space?’
Create a checklist of the features and functions that are the most important to you. This list will generally include storage, ergonomics, usability, and space in which you can eat, cook and entertain.