GO CHUNKY

Have cabinetry built from thicker board (for example 32mm). Standard wardrobe internals are usually made from 16-18mm white melamine board.  The photo’s below show the same white cabinetry in both 18mm and 32mm board.  The difference speaks for itself.

PHOTO 1                                                                                             PHOTO 2

16mm Board - Adjustable shelves – exposed holes                     32mm Board – Fixed shelves – no holes

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Exposed holes for adjustable shelving can cheapen the look of your cabinetry (Photo 1). Taking some time to plan what you want to store in each section of the wardrobe before building will enable you to request fixed shelving so that exposed holes will not be seen (Photo 2).  These small details will give the wardrobe a cleaner, crisper look and will look more like custom made cabinetry than flat-pack cabinetry.

This can be seen in the above photos.

ADD COLOUR

Light coloured laminate can tend to look a little like flat-pack cabinetry. Give it that wow factor by adding some colour or detail.  If you don’t want to bring in any colour in the cabinetry, an accent chair or artwork will lift the space, as can be seen below in one of The Block reveals this week.

LIGHTING

Make an impact with strip lighting to highlight features of your wardrobe. An inexpensive way to bring instant luxe to your wardrobe.

A SPOT FOR EVERYTHING

By carefully planning exactly what you need in your wardrobe, every inch of space can be utilised. Here are some clever ideas.

CLEVER USE OF MIRRORS

In room reveal from The Block, a floor to ceiling mirror has been used along one wall, creating a sense of spaciousness.

by Belinda Kuchel

September 2018

Some of the key elements of Coastal design are:

Relaxed and unfussy

Coastal life is comfortable, relaxed and unfussy and interiors in this style reflect these attributes.

It’s all about casually arranged furnishings in simple, natural and durable textiles and surfaces. Upholstered pieces dressed in slipcovers in linens, cottons or denims reflect the casual laid back mood of this style.

Oversized armchairs and sofas work well with this style as do distressed wooden coffee tables and woven wicker stools.

Colours that reflect the coast

Clear blues, sea greens, creamy whites and beige all reflect the hues of the sand and water.

In relation to wood tones, greyish tone woods such as ash or whitewashing and pickling woods are the perfect accompaniment to this style.

Nautical Accents

Nautical accents don’t need to be overdone, a few well-chosen touches such as shells, coral, driftwood and sea creatures add to the authenticity of this look.

Natural Light

Coastal interiors are bright and cheerful.

Many windows to bring in the sunlight to reflect off of the pale colour palette is a key to this style.

Window Treatments

Light, sheer curtains, rattan or wooden blinds or linen Roman shades will all work well and allow for adequate breezy airflow.

Noir design uses black or a very-dark colour scheme to create a moody, bold and dramatic space.

This masculine style does not favour frivolous detailing or colour.

Key elements to achieving this look include:

Dark wall colour

Shades such as black, navy, charcoal or grey will achieve this look.

Aged timber, herringbone or concrete floors

This style can take on a modern or traditional feel depending on the flooring chosen.

Create texture with layering

Fabrics such as velvet and tweed work well for soft furnishings.

Use of rugs and heavy drapery add a touch of warmth to the space.

Introduce accent highlights and light timbers for contrast

Timber highlights soften this dramatic look as can be seen in this

Prestige Kitchen & Cabinets take on Noir style kitchen.

This style stems from buildings found close to the pulse of the city hub.

Key features

Exposed brickwork, aged plastered walls, large warehouse style windows, black framed windows and aged timber or concrete flooring are all key elements of this style.

Inner Urban is about open living, so ensure there is a connection throughout by selecting a feature colour and carrying this throughout the separate spaces by picking it up in artwork, furnishings or kitchen splashback.

Oversized

Oversized furniture and artwork lend themselves to this style.

Furniture

You can make your own rules with this style and play with the unconventional.

Select large modern pieces, lower bed bases and inject your own flair by using other objects such as suitcases or crates as side tables or shelving.

Accessories

Add splashes of colour and texture with artwork, books and soft furnishings.

Choose modern feature lighting.

Adding hints of back and metallic will modernise this look.

Start with a clean slate

A common theme of all the fabulous Nordic homes we love is their simplicity.

Strip your room back to basics to achieve a blank canvas that you can begin layering with furniture and décor.

White walls

We know, we know… painting can be such a pain! But if you really want to commit to the Scandinavian interior style, you won’t regret giving your walls a fresh coat of paint.

Bright white with occasional grey feature walls seem to be the recipe for success.

Clean lines

Anything clean line, simple, timber or with light upholstery is generally workable — you’ll be amazed at what a new throw and fresh cushions can do for a sofa.

In a kitchen this can be achieved with square lines and handle-less cabinetry.

Sharp edges on benchtops and waterfall benchtops (as seen below) fit perfectly with Scandinavian design.

As can be seen in the kitchen below (built by Prestige Kitchens & Cabinets), custom made furniture can flow through into other rooms to continue the Scandinavian theme throughout your dining/living space.

Layers, layers, layers

Once you’re set on your furniture, add interest and warmth through layering. Sheepskin or natural material (linen, cotton or wool knit) throws and cushions in various textures are a must!

The best Scandi interiors mix up the textures of layers to create interest — think cowhide rug, linen throw, knitted cushions, sheepskin and maybe even a velvet cushion or two.

Black and white wall art

Blackand white wall art is another staple of a Scandinavian interior.

Rest artwork against a wall, along a shelf or hang a cluster on the wall, there no one way of doing it right!

Geometry

Look for décor and soft furnishings that play on geometry. Lighting, accessories or a tiled splashback can be a great way to introduce geometry into a kitchen.

Soft splashes of colour

While blacks, whites and greys dominate Scandi interiors, they’re not all monochromatic.

Blush pinks and icy blues, muted greens and even yellows all suit this style — what’s important is to keep it restrained, adding colour through cushions, throws, rugs and decorative pieces.

Timber accents

Light, natural timbers are another must-have in a Scandi interior. You may already have timber accents in your home with exposed beams or timber shelving.

If not, look at adding a few pops of timber — it will add warmth and an organic texture — such as a wooden stool or the oh-so-popular timber and leather strap shelving.

Bring in the greenery

It’s rare you’ll see a Scandinavian interior without an indoor plant. Perhaps it’s because of the climate or maybe just because they’ve got great style!

Light it up

Floor lamps, table lamps, candle holders and loads of natural light — look at any way you can bring light into your home!

There are so many Scandi lighting options available — from exposed bulbs to intricate timber pendants, droplet lights to grasshopper floor lamps.

Simple window treatments

Keeping with the theme of light, you want to allow as much natural light as possible into your Scandi style home. Keep all window fixtures simple, modern and minimalistic.

Floor rug

As you know the Scandi style is all about layering and this applies to the floor too. Few Scandi rooms are without a floor rug (you’ll even see them in the kitchen!) so look at what works in your space.

The final edit

We started with a reminder about keeping things simple and now that you’ve come to the end of creating your Scandinavian interior, it’s time to do a final edit.

Have you gone too far? Added too much? Do all the colours work?

Less is more so look at removing any pieces that don’t work or make the space feel cluttered.

Belinda

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Identifying your style can be extremely difficult.  Fashions and trends tend to influence our taste and decisions without us even realising.  We are each drawn to certain styles and colours and identifying this helps you to recognise your likes and dislikes and learn elements that will help you achieve your dream room or make your home express your very unique taste.

Laminex have identified 12 of the latest design styles throughout the world and developed a style quiz to find your best match in relation to your design preferences and your lifestyle.  They have also developed inspirational style tips and colour palettes to suit your style.  Use this link to access the Laminex Design Hub style quiz and inspiration pages.

Here at Prestige Kitchens & Cabinets, we have embraced this concept and will be showcasing many of these styles in our new showroom.  We will also have an extensive range of samples for you to see.  Our showroom opening will be on Saturday 18th of November, 9am to 5pm. We hope to see you there.

Keep an eye out for my blogs where I will focus on some of these styles in greater detail.

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Here are a few designers best kept secrets, and some tips on how to create the illusion of more space.

Keep colours light and bright

A neutral palette will give off the feel of a spacious and polished look.

Maximise light, by using gloss finishes on cabinetry and or benchtops to achieve a sense of depth.

The use of glass and mirrored splashbacks, will reflect surrounds and create the illusion of more space.

Keep cabinetry hardware to a minimum

Handles on every door can create clutter.  Consider handle-less cabinetry for clean lines.

Make every inch of space count

Select a sink that includes attachments; such as a chopping board, fitted colander or other accessories. This will eliminate them taking up valuable cupboard space.

Slide out chopping boards are a great example of maximising space, plus they create additional bench space when required.

Storage

Deep drawers are a much better option than cupboards, and ensure items you use regularly are more accessible.

Utilise the space you have, by having cabinetry built in and around other fixtures (eg rangehood or sink). Upper cabinetry meeting the ceiling will also maximise storage, and minimise dust on top of cupboards.

Drawers can also be incorporated into the kick board/toe space, which means you’re making the most of the areas you have available to you.

Built in dining

One size doesn’t fit all, so custom made furniture can fit the areas you have available to use.

Look for an option which can be tucked away when not needed, to provide you more space and room to use.

If you would like to find out more about any of these space saving ideas please contact me on 08 85825510 or via email here

Belinda

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