Exceptional Kitchen Design With New Rules for Style and Function !
A functional kitchen is much better than a stylish one, BELIEVE ME. However, that doesn't mean you can't have both. Meld style AND function for your most exceptional kitchen design yet.
Kitchens are the one area in a home that must be incredibly functional. So exceptional kitchen design is not a luxury, it’s an imperative! If you can't work easily in a space, find everything you need and be cool under cooking pressure then you may not have a functional kitchen.
When re-designing your kitchen floor plan and/or renovating, always keep in mind how YOU use your kitchen. Don’t worry about what they’re doing on The Block unless one of their ideas suits your lifestyle in the kitchen.
When I discuss a new kitchen design and custom joinery with our clients, I ask them to disregard what they think about kitchens in general. Instead, focus on their use of their own kitchen. I ask them to consciously study how they use their current kitchen and what pain points they currently have.
Each household is different and has different needs. For example, not everyone wants, or needs, a separate Butler’s Pantry. We often design a highly functional appliance station in the kitchen. This is usually a generous storage area with a stone countertop contained behind large doors.
It’s where small appliances are stored - toaster, kettle, air fryer, microwave, thermomix, etc - which don’t have to be moved every time you want to use them. This incudes a luxury tea and coffee station, which we designed for our Toorak Gardens clients. Everything is kept neatly behind bi-fold or cavity fold-back doors. Below is our Toorak Gardens three-zone kitchen designed and specified by Plush Design Interiors.
A luxurious three-zone kitchen we designed and specified in Toorak Gardens. Our Associate Designer, Renee Panteli, is showing the the and coffee station. Images by Claudine Burgess.
Exceptional Kitchen Design Depends on How YOU Use It
Families will use a kitchen differently from singles, for example. People who love to cook will have different needs from people who virtually only use the microwave.
Positioning of appliances can be a highly personal area depending on preference and usage. Some people like the cook top in the centre island, some like a sink and others prefer neither.
If you want a kitchen merely for show and using the microwave, then your use of the space will be different from someone who loves to cook and entertain for family and guests. It’s important to have a space that functions well rather than simply a good-looking kitchen.
Some people like bar stools at the centre island and others prefer chairs only at a dining table. So think about how much of a hub you want the kitchen to be. Will children do their homework on countertop space? Perhaps a small study area can be incorporated into the design?
YOUR kitchen! YOUR way! Believe me, exceptional kitchen design depends on YOU. A designer can only interpret what you really need, not include the latest trend that may not be how you live your life. The examples below show how different our kitchen designs are - no cookie-cutter design for us!
Kitchens shown above from our Toorak Gardens, Hazelwood Park, Crafers, and Bridgewater #2 projects. All images by Claudine Burgess Photography.
What Special Needs Do You Have?
In an open plan space, do you want to hide dirty dishes in a Butler’s Pantry? Will you have people eating at the counter or do you prefer sitting at a table? How about casual drop-down dining at the centre island?
Do you need a drawer for your vast collection of spices close to the cooktop, or can they be relegated to the pantry?
Do you have items that are exceptionally long or high that need to be stored? Such as presentation platters or olive oil tins?
What special storage or cooking equipment will you need? Do you bake and roll pastry so often you need a marble counter top?
Are you a ‘messy’ cook that gets sauce and liquids over splashbacks? Then a splashback with few, or no, grout lines is for you.
Some clients have asked me if they should put the main fridge in the pantry. If you have kids that use the fridge fifty times a day, then maybe not. If you are an avid cook and are back and forth to the fridge, then maybe not. If you don’t like how a fridge looks, then use integrated joinery to hide it.
Your functional kitchen design is specific to you.
How Many People Will Use The Kitchen?
There are as many ways to create a functional kitchen as there are people. So when renovating, consider how many people will use the space at one time. Think about the traffic flow and easy access to the pantry, fridge, oven, and appliances.
Natural light is usually a bonus, however think about whether you have too much or too little. Do you need more task lighting? How about accent lighting for when the kitchen isn’t in use but you have an open concept floor plan? Can you make design changes to accommodate this?
Are you someone who likes to have things on display? Or do you prefer seamless cupboards with all appliances integrated and hidden?
Kitchens show above from our Largs Bay, Crafers, Hazelwood Park, and Bridgewater #1 projects. All images by Claudine Burgess Photography.
Get The Floor Plan Right First
There are generally no right or wrong answers if you’re honest about how YOU use your kitchen. However, get the floor plan right FIRST and then turn your attention to colours and surfaces.
If you get caught up deciding on colours and surfaces you'll miss important decisions for your exceptional kitchen design. Get the floor plan and flow right FIRST because you're other decisions will flow from that.
It’s your home, so love where you live.
Functional Kitchen Design Elements + Accessories To Consider
Island or peninsula counters
Pendant, linear, strip, and/or flush lighting
New or cabinet upgrades
Updated appliances
Smart home integration
Special storage (such as spice jars or tall olive oil containers)
New tapware
Attractive bar stools
Potted plants
Chopping block
Task lighting
Open shelving
Colourful cookbooks
Patterned splashback
Decorative kitchen mat
Recycling bins -
Window treatments
Interior design and joinery concepts for a Norton Summit project - reclaimed barn in a Spanish style and the main house kitchen in a French/Italian hybrid style. Renders of our designs by Maria Georgiou.
Plush Design Interiors use + recommends;
Spartan Appliances and Harvey Norman for a full range of well-priced and superior quality kitchen appliances
Routleys and Reece for kitchen sinks and tapware
Beacon Lighting and Bloomingdales for kitchen pendants + dining lighting
We work with many high-quality Australian brands and suppliers for a full range of everything you need for your kitchen renovation. Please ask us how we can save you time + money.
Two and Four Hour Consultations Now Available
Looking to elevate your home's interior design? You can be your own designer with expert guidance! Our professional interior design consultations, available in two and four-hour sessions, are perfect for anyone wanting to improve their home’s look and feel.
In these personalised consultations, we cover everything you need for your home interior design, renovation, or styling project. Discuss topics like space planning, furniture selection, colour schemes, lighting, materials, and more. Our expert advice will help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Book your two or four-hour consultation today and start turning your design dreams into reality. With the right plan and professional insights, you can create a beautiful and functional home that reflects your unique style.
Ready to get started? Contact us now to schedule your consultation and unlock the potential of your home! See also our Services page.