Eclectic design: Appreciation for varied styling options

Eclectic design is defined as mixing elements of both traditional and modern (contemporary) styles. When planning to create this form of kitchen design; homeowners and professionals look towards a broad range of sources for their inspiration. These ideas are then combined to create the overall finish.

Here is an example of a client project Granite Planet completed stonework for in Glen Iris, Victoria. Elevated throughout the entire household is a rich blend of colours and materials.

THE KITCHEN

In the featured home, the kitchen here boasts a number of different tastes, from its subway tiles, white Corian benchtops, elegant Black Leather Granite island bench, mesh overhead cabinets and wooden elements. Check it out!

Caulfield South Provinicial Kitchen by Antic Cabinet Makers

Granite Planet completed the stonework for this Caulfield South Kitchen and Butler's Pantry.

All splashbacks and benchtops are dressed in Calacutta marble (natural stone).

GUEST BLOG: Making the right decisions when planning for your next Kitchen

When it comes to Interior Design in today’s home, it’s clear that the Kitchen is the main hub.

With more focus on the Kitchen and open plan Living/Dining areas, it is important to make this the main attraction and spare no expense with the materials and finishes. If you think about Real Estate agents and what advice they give prior to Sale, it’s always in regards to the Kitchen.

In my opinion, when it comes to making the right selection for your home, id suggest, ‘keep it simple Simon’.

Fashion and trends change so quickly, so select something classic and timeless. Bold statements and too much colour don’t always pay off, so try not to get too fancy. It’s important to use a mix of materials to give the space warmth and depth.

A white Kitchen is beautiful, but maybe consider different textures or introducing a little bit of timber somewhere to add character.

To give your kitchen personality, select a door and drawer profile that suits the style and period of your home. Choose a stone, concrete or timber bench-top apposed to laminate, it always adds class. Finally, make sure the splash-back is complimentary to your furniture and interior colours of your home. This is often this first item to date a Kitchen.

By keeping the Kitchen concept simple, elegant, timeless and classic, this will allow you to inject more colour and personality into other areas of your home that are easier and less costly to change over time.

If you are looking to renovate, extend or build a new kitchen, make sure you get the layout right. It needs to be ergonomic and flow easily from one side to the other.

To find out more about kitchen layouts or advice with your material selections, contact kristen@ivore.com.au or call Kristen on 0416 050 188.

www.ivore.com.au

INDUSTRY MUST SEE - Calacatta Nuvo™ (2014)

Prepare to be wowed!

It's finally here and everyone is talking about the reveal of Caesarstone's latest colour - Calacatta Nuvo™ 5131. Based on the natural elegance of Calacatta marble, this stone surface option has been engineered to look the part, but represent man-made qualities of being stain resistant, heat resistant and non-porous.

A perfect material choice for the kitchen, in order to get that classy marble look with the qualities of a man-made stone. The design has been described to feature a white backdrop with large grey veins, which is reflective of what we all have come to know over the years when dealing with the natural Calacatta marble stone.

If you are in the market and are looking for a stone colour, do not miss out on visiting the Caesarstone Showroom today.

Repost from +Caesarstone Australia

CAESARSTONE'S RECOMMENDATIONS

"As Calacatta Nuvo™ incorporates large veins with some small unique natural variation between slabs, we encourage those of you that select this design to view your actual full slabs first hand at the stonemason prior to them commencing fabrication."

"With Calacatta Nuvo’s wide vein pattern, we recommend selecting mitred aprons to achieve the best surface-to-edge pattern continuity for any bench top greater than 20mm thick."

See video: A Day in the Life of Calacatta Nuvo by Caesarstone - http://youtu.be/XzRFp8S-dpk

ARTICLE SOURCE
Caesarstone Surfaces Australia - http://www.caesarstone.com.au/colour/5131-calacatta-nuvo

How to plan a perfect kitchen layout

Does your kitchen "shape" your lifestyle? A kitchen's layout is imperative when it comes down to functionality. When choosing a layout, consider how the positioning of the stove, sink and fridge will affect the way a kitchen is used. Workspace productivity can be dictated by the placement of these objects in the kitchen.

Click here to read more about the most popular kitchen layouts and design considerations.

#kitchen #shape #layouts #design #victoria #academy #galley #island #ushape #lshape #gshape #singleline #benchtops #melbourne #gallery

A Butler's Pantry

A Butler's Pantry is also known as a utility room in the home. It's highly effective when it comes to food preparation, cooking and cleaning up. This trending addition to the home is usually a hidden area, away from the main showcase kitchen. One of the primary benefits involves prevention of the main kitchen from being ruined, due to frequent use.

The Butler's Pantry space can be transitional, where it leads to more than one room in the home.

In a Butler's Pantry, appliances are carefully tucked away; such as, the microwave, toaster, dishwasher and sink. Extra storage can be incorporated into this area, with an additional pantry or the main pantry for access to food during meal preparation. An added bonus is that it's away from all the hustle and bustle of the family/kids and guests!

 

 Cabinet Maker: Sash Antic

The Butler's Pantry design can incorporate standard features that are easy to clean and simple in appearance. Engineered stone surfaces often feature in this room and can be purchased in a standard stone range. Engineered stone is easily maintainable (non porous, heat and stain resistant qualities). If you have any questions about affordable benchtops in Melbourne for your Butler's Pantry, please feel free to email info@graniteplanet.com.au.

#hideaway #butlers #pantry #kitchen #help #transitionalspace #benchtops #melbourne

www.graniteplanet.com.au

Definition of a modern kitchen in 2014

Granite Planet (www.graniteplanet.com.au) engaged in stonework for this kitchen located in Brighton, Victoria. It is a perfect example of a design that accentuates style principles of an ultra modern kitchen.

We're talking led light effects, strong horizontal lines, slimline components, simple design techniques, open-plan living, integrated / drop-in kitchen appliances, light coloured cabinetry, TV set-up, bar fridge integration and automatic doors ... plus more!

Have you ever seen automatic doors that reveal and hide away the main fridge and pantry? Be sure to check this video out and see the latest in innovation:

VIDEO BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Antic Cabinet Makers (http://www.antic.com.au/)
Custom Joinery Since 1978 - PH: 9798 8945.

Stone featured: Caesarstone Pure White 1411- "Pure White is the purest, cleanest, dense white available. This colour meets the ongoing demand for “new” whites and combines modern style with durability" - Caesarstone Australia.

Cleaning and maintaining your stone benchtops - news alert

Granite Planet are now selling cleaning products to our customers for their stone surfaces.

After great demand, followed by careful research and testing, Granite Planet have introduced Lithofin into the product mix. On range we have sealers, cleaning agents, colour enhancers and polishers for both indoor and outdoor household or commercial projects.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – LITHOFIN MN EASY-CLEAN

The big question our clients ask our team is, "What do we clean our benchtop with?"

Lithofin MN Easy-Clean is an every-day cleaner that can be used on small surfaces. It cleans, protects and enhances the stone surface. It comes in a spray and can be applied directly onto the stone surface, leaving a pleasant odour - whilst removing the everyday occurrences of dirt and grime.  

As Lithofin MN Easy-Clean can be used on both natural and engineered stone, it is recommended for the daily cleaning of your bathroom vanity tops, stone table tops, kitchen benchtops, stone cladding and stone splashbacks. It's safe in the kitchen, as there are no health concerns, due to the product being specifically designed to be used around food preparation areas.

Buy now? Click here.

In addition to using a cleaning product, the following maintenance tips should be applied in order to ensure your stone surface is well protected;

• Do not allow food or dirt to dry and harden on your stone.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
• Use table mats, coasters, hot plates, chopping boards to rest items on / prepare food.
• Don’t spray onto hot areas.
• Use a soft wet cloth – for example a micro-fibre cleaning rag.
• Try to avoid direct application of any acidic or potent chemicals.

For more tips and tricks, check out the Granite Planet Care Recommendations here.

Important: Please check individual stone supplier warranties before using these products.

Choosing the right colour scheme - interior and exterior design

What is your favourite colour in the home?

Choosing a colour scheme for the home interior is a very important decision, that can play an influential role in the way a person feels and how the home is viewed by others. Colour can even shape a properties perceived value.

Colour is in everything and when applied in a business environment, it's significance can push success. As an example, shop fit-outs utilises colour strategically, as it can shape the moods of their patrons. Think about the colour "red", as it has be known to be associated with enticing one's appetite, which can explain why restaurants such as KFC, McDonalds, Red Rooster and Pizza Hut are all using it as their winning brand colour.

At some point in time, choosing a colour will impact each and every one of us. The final decision on what colour(s) to use in interior and exterior projects can stem from a person's emotions, taste & style, existing fads, from current infrastructure, via industry trends and professional advice. 

Here's a list of popular colours and observations in 2014:

Colour Categories	Associations
Orange	Better health, warmth and increased energy.
Red	Feelings of being hot/warm, brings on a sense of appetite and romantic.
Yellow	Clean, fresh and vibrant aura.
Pink	Calming, gender oriented (youth based) and feminine.
Purple	Romantic, wealthy, light and relaxing. Note: Can look artificial.
Green	Encourages hard work, motivating and excels concentration.
Blue	Fresh, gender oriented (youth based), cool and clean.
Brown	Earthy, neutral/natural and trendy. Note: Can cause depression in some people.
Black	Dark, mysterious and can make the space look tight/closed off.
White	Clean, timeless and relaxing. White can represent all fixed elements and the movable objects and people can add to the colour.
Bright Colours	Space, fresh, clean and pleasant.
Complex Colours/Shades	Can suggest higher budgets.
Individual Preference	1. "Paint the inside of your closet a bright and cheerful colour FOR A "good morning" SURPRISE..." - Erin McLaughlin (editor-in-chief, style at home). 2. Find a colour that looks good on you and reflect it! "You want to look good when you check yourself in the bathroom mirror. Having a favorite color in the background really does help... " - Philip Rudy.

  

References:

style at home

Philip Rudy