Kitchen Renovation Blog | Smith & Smith

11

Apr

The finer details of kitchen renovation

Learn about the finer points of pulling a kitchen renovation together. From door profiles to lighting, we prepare you for all aspects of kitchen design.

16

Mar

Silica-Free Benchtop Alternatives

Silica-free benchtop materials that keep stonemasons safer. There are already many wonderful alternatives to engineered stone on the market. With better knowledge about silica and how it affects the health of those who work with it, there has been a push to find more healthy alternatives to engineered stone. Engineered stone typically has a high silica content and can cause silicosis if proper safety precautions are not taken. Silicosis is a condition that affects those working with products that contain silica. While it can be mitigated with proper protective equipment, it is safer still to work with materials that are silica-free or are low in silica.

06

Feb

How do I use a mood board to plan my kitchen renovation?

A mood board is a visual representation of your design ideas and inspiration for a particular project. It can be a helpful tool for organizing and refining your design concepts, and it’s particularly useful for kitchen renovations. Each one of us can appreciate many styles and finishes, the trick is to refine these into a […]

03

Jan

Tips for planning your kitchen remodel – the big picture

This blog post is the first in a series which will cover the groundwork of planning a kitchen remodel. Topics include: • The big picture • How do I use a mood board to plan my kitchen renovation? • The finer details Renovating a kitchen can be a daunting task, but it can also be […]

28

Feb

20 splashback ideas that could transform your kitchen

Splashbacks are aptly named. Even if you are the cleanest cook, your splashback will get grubby. Oil splashes, condensation and fatty residue that eludes your extractor fan will all end up on your kitchen walls. Making a careful splashback selection can reduce the evidence of this grime during cooking as well as make cleaning up […]

31

Jan

The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid in Kitchen Lighting

Domestic lighting, including kitchen lighting, can be the difference between a beautiful, healthful home and a house that feels more like an office than a place where people want to live. Light is practical as well as mood-altering – for better or worse. Getting lighting right requires research and planning. Don’t make the mistake of […]

30

Nov

Butler’s pantry functionality without the butler’s pantry price tag.

A butler’s pantry is infinitely useful if you have the space and the budget to include one but what if your home is too small for a butler’s pantry. Aspects of the convenience and storage of a butler’s pantry can be gained through other means – even within the smallest of homes! The top reasons […]

29

Oct

Butler’s Pantry: Is It The New Kitchen Necessity?

Who needs a butler’s pantry? What is the use of another (very tiny) kitchen right next to a perfectly functional larger one? It seems that everyone desires a butler’s pantry these days. What is the appeal? Do they really perform a function that is impossible in the main kitchen? Clients with a variety of budgets […]

27

Sep

What is the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Kitchen Styles?

Contemporary kitchen and Modern kitchen are terms that are often used interchangeably. While this is not a problem in everyday speech, confusion can arise if you are talking to architects or interior designers. At Smith & Smith, we are aware that ‘modern’, for many, has come to mean contemporary. We use the terms interchangeably on […]

30

Aug

How to Achieve a Showpiece Industrial Kitchen

Industrial kitchen style is very now. ‘Industrial’ generally brings to mind a combination of the Brutalist raw concrete of 1960’s car parks and rusty mechanical parts. It certainly doesn’t sound warm and inviting. BUT it is possible to create a warm and inviting industrial kitchen. There are steps involved but it can be done and […]

23

Jul

The Ultimate Guide: French Provincial Kitchens

The French Provincial kitchen style falls under the country or traditional kitchens heading. Similar to Hamptons style kitchens in some ways, French Provincial kitchens have their roots in the centuries-old chateaus of France. These kitchens are traditional, beautiful and highly detailed. They celebrate the skilled craftsmen who put them together for function as well as […]

29

Jun

7 Steps to Hamptons Style Kitchen Heaven

Love Hamptons Style Kitchens but don't know how to make it work in your home? No matter what your style of home, a Hamptons style kitchen can work! We give you expert tips on how to make this popular style look perfect in your home.

27

May

Designing the Ultimate Eco-Friendly Kitchen for Your Melbourne Home

More and more homeowners are choosing to incorporate eco-friendly features and materials into their modern kitchen designs as sustainability becomes an ever-growing priority for society. Considering the kitchen is where we consume a large percentage of our household power, from lighting to keeping food cold, to the myriad of cooking appliances we have at our […]

23

May

Choosing the Right Colour Scheme for Your Modern Kitchen

The modern kitchen is so much more than a place to cook and eat. It’s also a communal space for families to gather and talk, play games, finish school assignments and socialise. You will ultimately spend many hours in your kitchen, which is why it’s so important that the look and feel of the room […]

06

May

Choosing Benchtop Materials Best Suited For Your Kitchen Remodel

Benchtops are one of the most important aspects to consider when it comes to kitchen remodel projects. Benchtops in your kitchen are used daily and are often subject to wear. Benchtops play an important role when it comes to adding to the style and functionality of your kitchen. Picking a benchtop material is a process […]

13

Mar

The Surprising Thing About Classic Style Kitchens

Classic style kitchens don’t have surprises – that is the point! …or is it? Before we get to the surprises, let’s look deeper into classic style kitchens to make sure we are on the same page. Classic kitchens are designed to never go out of style. Classic colours, profiles, decoration and materials are combined to […]

06

Feb

Laundry Luxe 101 – Renovation Ideas for your Laundry

Walk into any home built over 30 years ago and chances are the laundry is a separate room with a single trough cabinet in one corner. These days, everything must work hard to earn its place in our home. People are spending more on laundries now than ever before. This does not always mean going […]

01

Jan

Kitchen Design Trends 2019 – Part 2

Last month we began looking at the kitchen trends that will take us through 2019. This month we continue that post. Trends may be started in magazines but they can only continue if they are practical, beautiful and people actually want these things in their homes. 1. Pared Back Hamptons The Hamptons/Cape Cod style has […]

11

Dec

Kitchen Design Trends 2019 – Part 1

Look anywhere on the web and you can find ideas for kitchen design trends in 2019 – only here do we give you the tips you need to incorporate the style into your new kitchen. Learn how to incorporate current trends in your new kitchen and tweak them to suit your lifestyle needs. We asked […]

12

Nov

10 Classic Kitchen Mouldings To Amp Up The Warmth And Wow

Why do some timber kitchens look paper-thin and others look sturdy and well built? What is it that makes one painted kitchens look cheap and another luxurious? How do you set your kitchen apart? The difference is in how you approach the details. Bespoke components add the substance to timber or painted kitchens, without feeling […]