Knowing today ... what will be needed tomorrow ...
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A new kitchen is a major purchase and on average the life of a kitchen is 20 years. Many kitchen buyers compare this purchase with that of a new car. When buying a new car you research and test drive different models, get information on standard and optional equipment such as electric and heated seats. But who keeps a car for 20 years?
On average we spend approximately 2 hours per day in the kitchen. That adds up to a massive 14,000 hours over 20 years. Requirements of kitchen users can change over time, the body ages, injuries and accidents occur and movement becomes difficult. So how can you ensure the kitchen you purchase today will meet your needs in 20 years?
At Blum we use a new tool, the AGE EXPLORER, in our research and development to test new and existing products. This enables us to determine whether or not they will continue to offer ergonomic advantages to kitchen users in the long-term. The suit simulates physical limitations which can occur over time and allows the wearer to experience physical limitations in a realistic way. The suit
provides restrictions to movement, sight, touch and hearing. We have found pull-outs instead of shelves in base cabinets make kitchen work easier along with full extension drawers instead of single extension which provides a clear overview and total access.
To design, we have to look to where we have been. Isn’t it amusing how a kitchen in 1940’s depicts similar attributes to a kitchen in 2011.
Notice the use of natural light in both images; the windows are inviting the outside foliage inside while giving a view for people gathering in the kitchen.
Built in and freestanding tables and chairs; more than ever the integration of different styles of seating within a kitchen space is blurring the lines between dining rooms, media/lounge rooms and general living spaces. Helping create that appealing open plan look we all enjoy.
Clever use of material; between textures, finishes, colour, patterns, aggregates, natural, engineered & application the materials selected while always bring together a project for either its simplicity & boldness.
The unique nature of natural timber is making a well-deserved comeback. For a bold gesture or classic look the natural timber feel and texture brings a certain luxury to a space.
Natural Timber Veneers used for architectural cabinetry with a horizontal grain direction give that flat panelled clean appearance.
The veneers are produced by slicing or peeling selected logs. Sliced at approximately 0.6mm (this is normal thickness for the Australian market) or peeled at various thicknesses. Several methods are used to create various grain patterns. The most commonly produced pattern is a crown cut or quarter cut grain.
Natural timbers are generally clear lacquered in a 2-pak poly-urethane in a satin, gloss or fully choked grain gloss finish.
Miele exclusive launch of the new Mastercool range of refrigeration
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
I recently attended the exclusive launch of the new Miele Mastercool range of refrigeration at Goldstar Electrics in the Ferry Road Brickworks Centre. The night was a great meet and great with Miele staff from the Sydney & Brisbane offices, followed by a wine tasting from Witches Falls Winery. Which, with some cheese & dip platters made for a good event.
As you may know, Miele appliances are renowned for their quality, reliability, style and reputation as the top of the luxury line in the appliance industry. With a reputation like this, Miele can be a value-added point of difference to your client’s requirements.
Miele is the largest privately owned major appliance manufacturer in the world
8 manufacturing plants in Germany
Dedicated Australian Architectural Website www.MieleBim.com.au
Tested to perform for 20 years under normal household use
All products are serviced by Miele technicians & Certified Service Agents
Spare parts are available for 15 years after a model is discontinued
Miele is an attraction to your projects that signifies quality
Over 110 years of continuous research, development and innovation
Operations in 47 countries & proudly celebrating 30 years in Australia
At the Royal Pines Resort, I attended the launch to see and hear about the latest updates & new products that Laminex has introduced to the market.
It was a great night to be amongst cabinetmakers, designers & builders alike, with drinks and nibbles to top off the event.
I was particularly impressed with the use and range of the Fusion surfaces, as creativity and flair can really come together.
The kitchen is now the central hub of the home where family and friends come together, we now expect much more from this space – ‘making living spaces work beautifully’...
I recently spent an evening with a good friend Rick Prince, to get the latest trends direct from Europe and hear from renowned award winning designer Mal Corboy as he gave us his take on Eurocucina 2010.
Our favourite was the “Michelangelo’s Kitchen”, which was a brief history on where kitchens have been over the last 400 years and how they had evolved over the generations. This presentation slideshow even showed a blink into the future concepts of our kitchens and life spaces.
A great night and even better to know the HIA is getting involved with the Gold Coast Kitchen & Bathroom industry.
This is a wrap of the hottest trends seen at Eurocucina 2010, and considering I couldn't be there let's see what KBQ's managing editor Melanie Gardener from complete home had to say about the great event.
From the moment you approach the large, red building it's clear that this is no ordinary fair. Thousands of people stream towards the three entrances with voices from all nationalities merging into a cacophony of noice that is almost overwhelming. I love the busyness of the stands; the chattering of voices; and that we are encouraged to touch, feel, open, slide, close and play.
It's very interesting talking to the variety of people within the travelling group as all have picked up on different aspects of the show, depending on their experience and interests. This makes for some great conversations as everyone expresses their impressions and ideas.
From my perspective, there were a few things that stood out straightaway.
•Repeat of the cantilevered benchtops that were seen two years ago but more natural wood tones being used
•Hidden work spaces — areas allocated for prep or work space that are designed to be hidden behind doors that open and then slot back into the cabinetry to keep them out of the way (and can close to hide the mess)
•We saw lots of cupboards with stainless-steel interiors, giving them an industrial appearance that was hidden behind the door, particularly behind lift-up units
•Cube systems — lots of boxes of different widths and heights used together to make a feature of a space
•More soft boundaries — using pieces to create a border between the kitchen and the adjoining room but making it a "soft" boundary ie a more open structure to allow light and air to flow through (not a solid wall or structure)
•Plenty of custom hoods that integrate the same materials used in the kitchen such as a benchtop or door finishes
•Some lovely curves — particularly on island benches to soften what is sometimes a very bulky item
•More handles than I would have expected to see and, when used, very chunky
•Lots of lighting features, particularly within cabinets with LED lighting strips and similar
•Some lovely use of pressed stainless-steel units that incorporate a sink, cooktop and drainer in one piece
I hope this helps you on your next dream kitchen project, also you can click here to see more images of the big event.
Living outdoors has never been so popular. With new homes and renovations always planning with the outdoor space in mind, this area will blur the lines between inside and out.
We always recommend that your new outdoor BBQ or kitchen be covered over to help preserve the life of the space as direct water, sunlight and our general weather can affect your investment. This is why material choice is vital. We recommend using only stone, aluminum powder coated steel and concrete this will help stand the test of time. Look for appliances than can be outside, and range hoods to be used should always be commercially rated as the domestic range hood won’t keep up with the heat and smoke of a BBQ.
To help bring your inside out, we are only a phone call away.
Laminex has just released a powder coated door & panel product which is a first with having both sides of the door or panel in the same colour and finish. As opposed to the traditional 2-pac poly urethane door which generally is the white satin board finish, unless paintwork on the back of the doors is requested by the customer or designer this has always been a downfall in a superior product.
Create a warm and inviting space with Laminex® Surround Coated doors & panels. Fully enveloped, this quality surface offers a unique seamless appearance and a suede finish you can’t help but touch. Laminex Surround Coated doors & panels are moisture resistant, durable and easy to clean.
Available in 8 standard colours, the range also complements many decors from the wider Laminex Colour palette range making them an easy choice when looking for a total solution. Produced locally using the latest technology, this is an Environmental Choice Australia certified product (GECA). Covered by a 7 year limited warranty* you can relax knowing you’ll enjoy your Laminex Surround Coated doors & panels well into the future.
Lifestyle Joinery turns 5, what a great achievement. It is a credit to all of its customers, friends, family, contractors, suppliers, local banker, clients, alliances, and affiliations.
So thank you to everyone who has ever helped, talked or who has been involved with us.
We look forward to an ever changing future ahead of us, and will strive to bring professional service with a smile.
Extra high wall cabinets with no handles keep to room feeling larger, while wall papered splash backs are the perfect way to personalize your new kitchen. Combined with great kitchenware and appliances and cool furnishings your space will be transformed in no time.
Either deciding on keeping to the classic whites, or by adding character to the space with pattern, colour and texture, the options are endless.
Your Zip Hydro Tap at home or Office brings you the convenience of both filtered boiling water and filtered chilled water, instantly.
In a kitchen at home or the busy office at work, the Zip does the following;
• Saves time- not waiting for water to boil • Saves Energy- no energy wasted boiling more water than needed • Saves Space- no cluttered kitchen counters • Saves Money- costs less to run than most kettles • Saves Shopping- having your own filtered drinking water at home • Saves Storage- gone are the bulky drinking water bottles in the fridge
The Formica Classic Collection Board Range combines modern trends with popular classics to create the ideal solution for domestic and commercial interiors. From the the bench tops, doors to desks and furniture, Formica brings practical long lasting appeal to kitchens, bathrooms, laundries & offices.
Developed & owned by the Laminex Group, this range helps bring an affordable laminate board and laminate to the market without compromising on quality. All 30 colours are all the same pricing, helping personalize a space without worrying about any price increases.
Feel free to ask for a flyer pdf, or a sample to view this range.
A low-voltage supply enables the Kado Lux heated towel rail to be safely installed in most locations within the bathroom. This 12-volt modular rail can be installed in multiples of up to six rails in one set.
The Kado Lux stainless steel heated towel rail is available in three widths 432mm, 632mm and 832mm. There are no visible cables near the rails, with pre-wiring within the wall cavity. The Kado Lux is low-profile- extending only 60mm from the wall. This makes for a perfect fit in small spaces.
Using an exclusive patented technology, the Gessi Just mixer illuminates water flow with coloured light without any connections either to electricity or to a battery. It’s the water flow itself- running through a turbine- that produces the energy necessary for lighting.
As the water passes, an LED connected to a temperature sensor lights up with colours in the range between blue, violet and red, according to the water temperature. Then, thanks to the refractive process of light, the whole water jet is coloured, producing an exciting and spectacular effect and visually representing the temperature of the water emitted. This helps prevent useless energy waste and scalding.
Abey’s exquisite Barazza Select collection provides a glimpse into the future of kitchen design with its flush fitting profile and coordinated design themes such as raindrop profile drainer board pattern which is also carried through cooktops, ovens and accessories, creating a cohesive style like no other.
We use and recommend Abey for any of our projects.
Where do you start with Kitchen Benchtop Materials?
Saturday, May 02, 2009
When bringing that WOW factor to your home or investment, a simple selection of the right materials for your kitchen work surfaces is paramount. With so many options available, I feel the best way to maximize your space is to incorporate 2 materials in one kitchen.
Thinking of going natural? Why not mix an exotic granite or marble with a beautiful Solid Timber.
Or mix Engineered Stone with Stainless Steel for that cleaner, fresh look.
You can mix the latest Laminate Gloss finish’s with a seamless Resin Based solid surface such as Corian for sink areas, so there are no seen joins for water to create problems down the track?
Your options really are endless but ultimately being creative with your bench top material selection can really enhance the overall appeal of your space.
In todays kitchens, bathrooms & built in cabinetry, the use of LED lighting has opened up a whole new element to lighting. These are the the advantages of Using LEDs (Light Emitting Diode)
• LEDs produce more light per watt than incandescent bulbs do: this is useful in battery powered or energy-saving devices. • LEDs can emit light of an intended colour without the use of colour filters that traditional lighting methods require. This is more efficient and can lower initial costs. • The solid package of an LED can be designed to focus its light. Incandescent and fluorescent sources often require an external reflector to collect light and direct it in a usable manner. • When used in applications where dimming is required, LEDs do not change their colour tint as the current passing through them is lowered, unlike incandescent lamps which turn yellow. • LEDs are ideal for use in applications that are subject to frequent on-off cycling, unlike fluorescent lamps that burn out more quickly when cycled frequently. • LEDs, being solid state components, are difficult to damage with external shock. Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs are easily broken if dropped. • LEDs have an extremely long life span, approximately 100,000 hours. Fluorescent tubes typically are rated at approximately 10,000 hours, and incandescent light bulbs at approximately 1,000 - 2,000 hours. • LEDs mostly fail by dimming over time, rather than the abrupt burn-out of incandescent bulbs • LEDs light up very quickly, achieving full brightness in microseconds. • LEDs can be very small and are easily populated onto printed circuit boards.
Feel free to ask us how we can incorporate LEDs on your next project.
Laminex Freestyle 30mm Surfaces, is an elegant range of solid surface combining both aesthetic appeal and practical advantages. Developed from a blend of polyester and acrylic resins, it is incredibly durable and is ideal for your next benchtop.
Thinking of something different or special for your home?
Lifestyle Joinery & Yellow Goat Design is proud to bring you a brand new concept in architectural wall paneling and screening. We call these 3D and 3Dr relief screens.
3D - Instead of cutting a pattern right through a sheet of material in the traditional way, we have developed a method of etching around the pattern in the material to a depth of about 3mm, leaving the pattern standing proud of its granite like background.
3Dr - This is the reverse of 3D, we etch the actual pattern into the surface to a depth of approximately 3mm, leaving the glossy background surface raised above the pattern.
