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Whether you are building a new home or renovating, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where family and friends come together to share meals, where kids sit and do homework at the island bench and where we entertain our guests. The kitchen is no longer just the place where we cook and eat, the modern Australian kitchen is the hub of the home. With some careful planning, you can ensure that your new kitchen will suit the needs of your family for years to come. 

Here are 6 tips for planning your new kitchen.

1. Budget – Yep, the word no one likes to hear when planning a new house build or renovation. Fortunately there are many fantastic affordable materials available so you can achieve your dream kitchen no matter what budget. Once you have worked out your budget, you can get cracking on designing the perfect kitchen for you and your family.

2. Consider how you will use the kitchen – Are you a cook and need space for a large oven and lots of bench space? Do you want the kids to do their homework on the bench while you cook dinner or do you want a dedicated e-zone for the family nearby? What about when you come home with all the groceries? Where will you put them? Do you want a butlers pantry for extra storage and to hide mess or will a regular walk  in pantry do?  By considering how you and your family will use the space, you will make sure that the space will work for you.

3. Layout – The traditional way to zone a kitchen is the ‘triangle’ where you position your fridge, oven and sink in a triangle layout. This can work really well in a smaller space, but as kitchens are getting bigger, more open and the traditional layout is changing, the ‘triangle’method doesn’t work as well. A new way of thinking is to have all your appliances in locations where you will use them most. For example you may want your coffee machine on the main bench or you may prefer to have it hidden in the walk in pantry out of sight. Also consider having cooking zones where appliances are near each other and a work zone – space  where you may place your laptop, chargers and other devices.

4. Lighting – Kitchen lighting is very important but one area that is often overlooked. You want to make sure that there is enough lighting overhead, especially in the food prep area.

5. Be Inspired – Hop onto Pinterest, read magazines, and visit showrooms so you can start to get an idea of colours and styles for your new kitchen. We have a kitchen board on Pinterest to get you started.

6. Seek professional help – Once you have your ideas all together, go visit a professional who will help you put all your ideas into action for your new kitchen.

What tips do you have for planning a new kitchen?