Your Home and Garden – September 2019

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Just as you express your personality in living areas with signature

pieces, the new breed of kitchens needs the same touch. Hang a bold

painting by the bench that reflects the style of decor in your living area.

Including a few statement appliances can also enhance this

melding of boundaries between areas. For example, the Breville

Barista Touch coff ee machine not only makes great coff ee but

also lends a sophisticated European touch to a kitchen benchtop.

Finishing details such as placing a sculptural fruit bowl or vase

on the benchtop are another way to enhance the ambience.

4 MULTIFUNCTIONAL

Kitchens are a hub of creativity and cooking is often a pastime

that we share with others. To make your kitchen the life of the

party, you need a multi-zone space that can easily accommodate

the kids doing homework, your friends coming round for drinks,

or those big family feasts that need plenty of bench space.

To cope with these demands ensure you have multiple work surfaces for

easy prepping and consider the practical positioning of key appliances like

your fridge and oven. Central islands with integrated seating are a stylish

and practical solution that bridges the space between your kitchen, living

and dining zones. The best bit is you can hide extra storage and your

dishwasher in the island, keeping the area tidy and ready for entertaining.

Thanks to the growing trend for benchtops and cupboards
to look like considered pieces of furniture, and with the
messier functions often hidden out of sight, kitchens now
play a starring role in your overall entertaining space.
The key to achieving this at home is to integrate appliances
with your cabinetry. Choose appliances that feature integrated
panelling – this creates a seamless look and helps to blur the
lines between the kitchen and living area. Fisher & Paykel have
a range of integrated appliances including a French Door Fridge
Freezer and Double DishDrawer that both feature all the latest
technology and front panels that make them ‘disappear’.
If you want an easy update, painting existing cabinetry in a
modern palette and installing a new benchtop and splashback
can make a dramatic diff erence and give that wow factor.

2 CONTINUITY

3 MAKE A STATEMENT

5 ELEGANCE

This is a word that never used to be associated with kitchens but these days

many cooking spaces reflect this quality in spades. It’s not just a combination

of colour palette, cabinetry and lighting but also attention to detail. Gone are

the days when you would fill a chilly bin with ice to keep wine or beer cool when

friends came over – there are now alternatives such as the Fisher & Paykel

Wine Fridge that are not only practical but give kitchens a real touch of class.

When selecting small appliances look for styles and colours that

echo the dominant colourway in your living space and segue into

your overall design scheme, such as Breville’s Luxe Kettle, and

select from a single range so you have a consistent style.

JEREMY’S

TOP TIP

When choosing appliances take your

lifestyle into account – a family will

need a big fridge but couples may

opt for a smaller unit with a wine

fridge for entertaining.

YH&G + NOEL LEEMING