advice
1 choose unfussy finishes
When it comes to creating a feeling of spaciousness, the
details are super important. To achieve a streamlined look,
consider minimalist hardware or handle-less drawers and
cupboards. Similarly, keeping the colour scheme simple
and choosing high-gloss finishes will bounce light around
the room and create the illusion of space. And if you love
integrated kitchens (but your budget won’t stretch that far),
get the look with all-white cabinetry and white appliances.2 install a mirrored splashback
We know mirrors make rooms appear bigger and brighter,
so it makes sense that mirrored kitchen wall surfaces will
have the same space-enhancing effect. Best of all, they’re
a dream to clean – oil and sauce splashes come right off.
But you can’t install any old glass! Heat-resistant mirrors
are designed to be used in cooking areas because they’re
strong enough to withstand impact and high temperatures.3 be sneaky with storage
Compact kitchens tend to be short on storage space, but
that’s easily fixed! Rearrange or install extra shelving in your
glassware cabinets to maximise that space – for example,
tumblers need less height than Champagne flutes. You can
even retrofit this hack by cutting extra shelves from a sheet
of melamine (it will cost under $10) and inserting brackets
into your cabinet’s shelf holes to support them. Attaching
slim baskets and spice racks to the backs of doors will also
free up bench space. If you’re renting, hang the caddy on
the door using suction caps instead of drilling screws.4 and be picky about your appliances
Low on bench space? Only keep the appliances, utensils,
homewares and pantry goods that you use on a regular
basis, and look for smaller alternatives. For example, ditch
the electric citrus juicer for a manual hand-held one, or buy
one appliance with multiple cooking functions. To keep
your bench clutter-free, dedicate a cabinet to your toaster
and kettle, taking them out only when you use them. Rstyle tip Make your storage work for you and
create a tea and coffee station by keeping your
tea, coffee and kettle together in a cupboard
next to where you store your teacups and mugstextellelovelock|ph
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g^lisa^burdenBEHIND CLOSED DOORS TOP 9kg/5kg Front Load
washer dryer combo with True Steam, $1599, LG. Storage
box in Blue, $12.99, and tea towel in Blue, $7.99, H&M Home.
Garment care duo, $45, Ms Brown. Reverence Aromatic hand
wash, $40, Aesop. MIDDLE 4 Slice Euro toaster in Blue, $39,
and Euro kettle in Blue (1.7L), $39, Kmart. Stone dinner plates
in Shell Pink and Tortoiseshell, $160 each, Dinosaur Designs.
Organic Beauty Queen loose leaf tea, $18 for 50g, Organic
Turmeric Ginger Ninja loose leaf tea, $16 for 100g, Ooh La La
loose leaf tea, $26 for 120g, Berry Boost loose leaf tea, $26 for
120g, Fair Trade Certified Organic English Breakfast loose leaf
tea, $12 for 100g, and Lychee Bay Lookout loose leaf tea, $26
for 120g, all T2. Borosilicate cup in Yellow, $40, Hay. Mother of
Pearl dish, as before. BOTTOM Waterford wineglasses, vintage
tumblers, Wedgwood teacups, Libbey highball glasses and
Royal Doulton mugs, all homeowner’s own.
@reallivingmag
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