Kitchen Renovation Trends: Range Hood Ducting Options
An Essential Part of any kitchen
Range hoods are essential to any kitchen. Without them you are left with a thin film of grease covering all exposed surfaces and the sound of the smoke alarm resonating in your ears. Your choice of range hood becomes more important depending on what you intend to be cooking. If lots of stir fry’s are on the menu then you will need a range hood of some force in order to remove all the airborne oils. There are essentially three types of range hood ducting options to consider when renovating your kitchen.
In ceiling
The gasses will be vented into the ceiling space. You will need to ensure sufficient airflow exists in the attic space so that the gases can get away.
Carbon filter
This will filter the gasses, oils, smoke etc and eject clean air but the filter must be changed at regular intervals.
Outer wall
Send it straight outside for mother nature to worry about, she loves it.
The ducted option (in ceiling, outer wall) is always preferable and a renovation is the perfect time to knock a hole in the wall and not have to replace a carbon filter ever again. Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens have all the trades to ensure that the work will occur without hassles and all under one project manager.
For any and all enquiries about range hood installation call Linda on 99 675 675
Kitchen Safety Upgrades: Eddy Currents (induction cooktops)
only the pan acts as a heating element
A current may not immediately conjure up an image of safety in a kitchen. Those that have ever dabbled in physics may well be familiar Eddy and any of you who have ever braved a roller coaster have most likely been in his safe hands.
In short, by varying an electromagnetic field we induce a current in an inductor whose field opposes our electromagnetic field. To the layman, it heats your saucepan and only your saucepan, the plate does not get hot. The saucepan itself is now the cooking element.
No more leaving the plate on, itching for some innocent to rest their elbow upon it, your stove now simply wills water into boiling. So, yes, you can put rubber stops on all your corners and child lock the cupboards below the sink but here is an element of kitchen safety that is a hell of a lot cooler. Add to this that the surface is not as hot as electric or gas and so a spillage will not remain baked on for further generations to discern your eating habits.
Besides the safety element here are some pros and cons of induction cook tops
Pros
- Change heat instantly and precisely
- No wasted heat (for those who are green minded)
Cons
- Your cooking saucepans etc have to be made of conductive material
- They are pricier than your average gas or electric cooker
For any and all enquiries regarding the installation of an induction cook top into your new kitchen renovation please do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675
Bathroom Design Keyword: “Open Space”
How do you make a little space look bigger?
Lining the walls of your bathroom with mirrors will certainly have your bathroom stretching out to infinity. However it is not the most orthodox choice and perhaps only suitable for the more narcissistic among us. Here are two key elements for attaining “Open Space”
1. Jostling your Bath and Window
Jostling either does not sound easy, or in the latter case cheap, but the finer points of how these two are placed can dramatically change your perception of a bathroom. Invariably a bath should not be placed below a window, compare…
a) A bath jutting out from the window.
b) Seeing the floor all the way up to the window wall.
Our eye picks up the vertical plane of the front of the bath. If it sits below the window the room is perceived to be smaller. Not to mention not having to awkwardly reach over the bath to open the window (a more significant hassle if you are without an exhaust fan)
2. Knock Down a Wall or Two
When you have exhausted the possibility of shifting the elements around it’s time to produce a sledge hammer. Many bathrooms are separated into 2 or three compartmentalized units (basin, toilet, bath/shower) each walled off from one another. At the obvious sacrifice of multiple people using the facilities at once (or as the children leave) you may join all these areas together and reclaim more “Open Space” so you can fit in a corner spa or a double bowl vanity.
Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens are licensed builders (only those with builder’s licenses rather then just renovation licences can knock down walls) and are therefore able to provide the convenience of not only a new bathroom Layout but an entirely new bathroom.
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- 1: Before wall removal
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- 2: Before wall removal
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- 1: After wall removal
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- 2: after wall removal
For any and all enquiries about these or other options for redeeming some coveted Open Space do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675
Heating Up Your Renovated Bathroom #2 – Towel Rails / Racks
believe it or not, this is a heated towel rail
At one time or another we have all experienced the pleasure of dryer-fresh clothes, that minute or two where they impart their toasty warmth to your cold morning skin. And if not then I advise you to go into the laundry and begin cooking your underwear immediately because you are missing out.
And I can also make the assumption that we are also too familiar with the towel that just doesn’t manage to dry in between showers, that really only succeeds in smearing the previous days water over you, imparting the musty presence of showers past into your bathroom.
So let us consider the second heating option for your bathroom renovation, the heated towel rail. Far from the image of the ugly ribbed radiator sitting in the centre of your feng shui bathroom, messing up your chi flows, heated towel rails can add a minimalist flair (if there is a such a thing) that is both eye catching and agreeable. And the running costs, we’re talking a couple of cents per day.
The most common installation sees a direct connection to the mains, with a manual on-off switch and timer at your disposal ensuring warm towels every morning and evening. The range of styles is ever widening ensuring that your specific desires for your renovated bathroom are met and exceeded.
For any and all enquiries about these or other options for heating your bathrooms please do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675
Heating Up Your Renovated Bathroom #1 – Ondol
the stove present below a Korean Palace
For those in the know Ondol is the traditional form of heating employed by our industrious friends the Koreans. Whilst its traditional form saw actual stoves beneath Korean palaces, it is now common practice to have electrically heated floors in the modern Korean home.
However this is not one of those space age Japanese toilets (also heated) where integration into the west is unforeseeable. Rather the modest Ondol has found its way into bathroom renovations. Far from reducing the aesthetic of a bathroom it is barely detectable (besides the obvious warmth) and can be installed in conjunction with practically all the regular surfaces you would choose for your newly renovated bathroom. So consider these Ondol options and consider stepping out of the warm shower and no longer contending with the frigid bathroom floor that winter bears.
Electric:
Much like your electric stove top, there are coils residing beneath the surface that will provide resistance and thus heat when fed an electric current.
Hot Water:
Here we see hot water piped in coils transferring the heat to its surroundings. This may be sourced from your regular hot water supply though size is a consideration. This is normally used in Europe and America where homes have extensive water boilers but not so much in Australia where the climate is warmer.
Cross Section of Modern Ondol Installation
Other options for heating a room (to be discussed in further posts) are using wall heaters, heated towel rails, IXLs or equivalent.
For further information about the installation of heated floors and any and all bathroom renovations please do not hesitate to call
Linda 99 675 675
Kitchen Renovation Trends
Making the kitchen the true heart of your home
With the emphasis these days being on family entertainment and creating more of a focus on cooking and getting together with family and friends in the home, it seems that kitchen renovation trends for 2010 are moving towards making the kitchen another well-loved and much-used living area of the house.
Rather than closing the kitchen off somewhere in the back of the house, the trend is to open up the kitchen to the main living area and preferably link it directly to your outdoor entertaining area. This creates the ideal space for social gatherings and allows you to entertain, cook and socialise all at the same time, something that helps with our time-poor lives.
With the move towards integrating the kitchen with your main living areas, colours tend towards a more neutral palate that can then be co-ordinated and made to work with the rest of the colour palate in the home. A kitchen is a significant investment and by staying with neutral whites, off-whites or natural timbers you can update the colours in the rest of the room without having to go to the expense of changing costly features in the kitchen.
And, creating a modern look and welcoming ambiance, by moving towards a sleek, uncluttered finish with handle-free drawers and doors and appliances tucked neatly away, helps integrate the spaces and turns the kitchen into a room for entertaining rather than just a room that is functional.
If you have any questions about how to create the ideal kitchen for entertaining and everyday family life, call me on 99 675 675
Linda
Hollywood Bathrooms & Kitchens
www.hollywoodbathrooms.com.au
www.hollywoodkitchens.com.au
Willoughby, Sydney
Bathroom Renovation Trends
Is Your Bathroom a Haven yet?
When it comes to renovating your bathroom and choosing designs and finishes, it seems that the key considerations this year are providing an inner sanctuary with a zen-like feel and embracing the concept of the wet room.
Both of these concepts are a move towards simple, clean and uncluttered lines that make your bathroom both a practical and beautiful place to spend time.
The wet-room concept places the shower as the focal point of your design with clean, uncluttered lines and a lack of traditional shower screens. For this style of bathroom your bathroom preparation and waterproofing is paramount as the absence of a traditional shower base is replaced by a gently sloping floor and drain. To make the most of this style of bathroom you need to opt for fittings that are floating, rather than traditional fixed options to create a sense of space. This is ideal for making a small bathroom appear large.
Building on this concept is the idea of creating a zen sanctuary. The focus with this design is still clean lines but places emphasis on the retreat qualities of the bathroom to provide an enticing sanctuary that removes the stresses and pressures of today’s fast-paced life.
Simple colours, vessel basins and a focus on eco-friendly fixtures feature highly in this style of design.
If you have any questions about how to create the perfect bathroom haven for your home, call me on 99 675 675
Linda
Hollywood Bathrooms & Kitchens
Willoughby
When three is the perfect number!
When you’re thinking about redesigning your kitchen the most important consideration is the layout of the main work areas in connection to each other. This is known as the ‘work triangle’.
Making sure that you have the most efficient use of space between your sink, fridge and cooktop is the best starting point when you’re looking at a new design. Think about how often you move between each of these spaces in your kitchen, and what practical considerations you need to take account of, for instance, draining cooked pasta – travelling from one side of the kitchen to the other with a pot of boiling hot water may not be the idea solution. Realestate.com.au has a comprehensive article on how to work out your kitchen layout efficiently and effectively, taking natural flow into consideration.
Sometimes you are dictated by existing services such as plumbing and electricity supplies which may be too costly to relocate. However, if you can factor this into your kitchen renovation budget without exceeding what you’re comfortable with, it is a good idea to start from scratch so that you can get the most efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing end result. Remember, your kitchen is a significant investment in your home, and it’s a space you use most often. Getting it right can dictate how you feel about being in your home.
You need to be sensible about your new kitchen design in terms of budget, finishes and, especially layout. But, don’t be in a hurry to simply change everything about your existing kitchen. Even if you don’t like the way your kitchen looks, the original designer may have already taken all the practical use issues into consideration and reinventing the wheel may not give you a better solution.
It’s important to really think about how the existing kitchen works or doesn’t work, and practical usage of the kitchen is the only way to find out. This is especially true if you have just moved into your house. If you’re not replacing the kitchen before you move in, take the time to use it as you plan to in the future, at different times of the day. This will give you an indication of where the light falls, both natural and electric, as well as knowing whether the existing layout is functional and practical.
If you have any concerns or questions about the practical considerations for your kitchen, just call Andre on 9967 5675
Linda
Hollywood Bathrooms & Kitchens
Getting the bathroom basics right
Waterproofing – An Absolute Fundamental of Bathroom Renovations
We all want our finished, renovated bathroom to look stunning but, before you get to that stage you need to deal with the fundamentals.
Waterproofing is probably the most crucial aspect of any bathroom renovation. Making sure it’s done right will save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.
The Building Code of Australia and the Australian Standard (AS 3740-2004) for the minimum standards in relation to waterproofing includes the following:
waterproof the whole floor within the shower recess
need to waterproof at least 100mm over the hob or step down onto the bathroom floor
waterproof at least 150mm up the walls inside the shower walls
waterproof at least 1800mm high on the vertical angle between any two walls in the shower
waterproof the entire bathroom floor if it is made from timber, plywood or particleboard, or if it is above the ground floor of the house
At Hollywood Bathrooms all of our tradespeople are fully licensed and trained in their trade. This means that you get the peace of mind that your bathroom is waterproofed up to and, in fact, beyond the industry standard. For instance, we feel that waterproofing the whole of the shower is the best option. Refer to attached photo
If you have any concerns or questions about the preparation needed when renovating a bathroom, just call Andre on 99 675 675
Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens
Inspired Renovations
Willoughby, Sydney