Posts Tagged ‘willoughby’
Kitchen Fundamentals: cupboards
Cupboards, more crucial than you may have realised
When starting to plan your kitchen renovation you may get quickly waylaid by the glitz and the glamour of appliances. However a kitchen is not built around your oven, rather it is your preference for cupboards that dictates a kitchens design. This is not simply because they provide the façade for your kitchen but more because they compose the bulk of your kitchen. So let’s look at three sections of cabinets; materials, Design and functionality/features.
Materials:
Wood is the most common option as the range that it affords is staggering. It also allows for a range of budgets from cheap and nasty birch to bourgeois ebony. Metal is another viable choice which is not given to the aging/warping of wood, however it does not come with such a range of colours and styles. They are exceedingly durable but at a raise in price above wood. The cheapest option is laminate, but they come in a myriad of colours!
Design:
The design is largely constituted by the type of door panel. The most common categories are slab, raised or recessed. A Slab look makes for a clean modern look for your kitchen whereas a raised or recessed panel can give it a more traditional/country feel.
Functionality/Features:
The options here are endless but so we will just make mention of a few items to wet your appetite.
- The walk in pantry – If you have the space they are invaluable
- Soft Closing Drawers – So your pubescent offspring will never be able to close a kitchen cupboard in anger again
- Deep drawers – To store deep things, great for that ever increasing collection of canned vegetables
- Spice racks – Because nothing says OCD better than a meticulously organised spice rack
- Roll out trays in base cabinets – so that you never have to forage the dark recesses of your cupboards again
- Rubbish Bin in base cabinets – Hide them away so they don’t sully your kitchens appearance
For any and all queries about your kitchen renovation, please do not hesitate to call Rosemary on 99 675 675
Bathroom Renovation Trends in 2010 – Eco Friendly, of course
like it or not, it's a hot topic
whether you’re a skeptic or an environmental radical you can’t deny that it is the trend of 2010. Beyond ideals and the aversion of extinction, creating a “green” bathroom is often cost effective as you are essentially trying to use less. Beyond this we should also consider the global microcosm of Sydney; Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens is based in Willoughby and primarily services the north shore and it is our duty (as “north shorers”) to take the first step in this and take up the slack of the developing world (read “the west”). So if you are looking to expiate your eco-guilt or if you just wish to drop your bathrooms carbon footprint into conversation there are several things you need to consider.
Low-Flow Toilets
These are not simply toilets with that half flush option that we in Australia are so familiar with but rather toilets that reduce flow dramatically without compromising their original purpose.
Energy Efficient Lighting
If you haven’t installed these already for savings alone then get on it
Low Flow Shower Heads
In the same vein as Low-Flow toilets, Bathrooms hog the most water in the home after the Laundry. Curbing the usage, however possible, is key.
Sustainable Building Products
When designing your renovated bathroom, opt for materials made of recycled or renewable sources
So if it’s the parallels with cost cutting or displaced polar bears consider the environment as you consider your new bathroom. For any and all questions regarding your dream bathroom please do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675
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
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
