If there's one room in your house

that needs a good design over everything else,

it's the kitchen.

It's the room that works the hardest in the home.

So it really has to work.

As a first step, measure your available space

and map out your design on grid paper.

Do your research and click pictures of any kitchen

you like for reference.

It's great to keep coming back to these along the way.

Maximize the space your kitchen offers

by using the principle of the working triangle,

linking the cooktop, sink, and fridge for functional workflow.

And once you have your overall design sorted,

it's time to think about a color scheme.

Consider the existing color palette

of your home and the adjacent rooms.

Cabinetry will cover the bulk of your kitchen wall space.

And you should aim for as much storage as possible.

You definitely won't regret it.

Drawers make life easy and utilize all the space

within your cabinetry.

The main choice to make is between a traditional melamine

and newer foil finish.

Both materials are extremely hard-wearing.

But foil has the added benefits of a seamless edge.

And no edge means a cleaner, more modern finish and no water

damage--

perfect for a kitchen.

Benchtops come in a wide range of materials.

Formica is a hardy surface made from a high pressure laminate.

And you can choose your edge-- whether that

be square, bullnose, or round-- and it comes

in a wide range of colors.

And acrylic is another great option.

Unlike Formica, acrylic is poured as one slab,

so you won't have any seams.

Also, if by chance it's damaged, you can get the surface sanded

and bring it back to new.

To bring in more of a natural look,

reconstituted stone is amazing.

Mixed with resin, it's far less porous than pure stone

and very durable.

The Caesarstone is the perfect example of this.

Complementing your benchtop is the sink and tap pairing.

Moving beyond chrome and stainless steel,

monochromatic options look super sharp as an alternative.

Also, make sure the sink fits the biggest roasting tray--

trust me.

The splashback is a small enough area

where you can afford to be a little bit more daring.

Glass is cost effective and easy to install.

While tiles can help inject a little bit

of personality and texture.

With all of the big decisions made,

you can start to look at the finishing details.

And once you've picked a cabinet,

finish it off with a perfect handle.

The options are endless.

The appliances you choose also need to reflect your lifestyle.

Oven size, cooktop method, double or single-door fridge--

every kitchen will be different.

As will your budget.

One note-- everyone always forgets

to find a spot for the microwave.

And they shouldn't live on top of your fridge.

And finally, lighting-- the kitchen

is a task-oriented room.

So make sure your workspaces are well lit.

There's always room for a feature pendant

to complement your style.

The kitchen really is the heart of the home.

So make sure that you choose one that you love,

because you will be spending a lot of time in it.

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