Your Best Home: 5 x spaces x 5 design steps = a better life by Joe Snell

Author:Joe Snell [Snell, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Murdoch Books
Published: 2017-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

The kitchen does not end this space, rather there is a sense of being able to continue beyond, with the glimmer of light and the reflection in the splashback all working to create a three-dimensional space. Note the connection of the blue in the dining chairs and the artwork.

A window into the kitchen brings light and air and can also act as a servery to an outdoor eating area – a great way to get the pancakes out, quick and hot!

This relatively small kitchen feels much bigger due to the backdrop of opening windows and the door to the outside, which also allows great serving access for the outdoor area.

In terms of planning the space, the relationship between the kitchen, dining and living areas is key. Generally speaking, the dining table needs to be within easy reach of the kitchen, for carrying food and crockery from kitchen to table and vice versa. And both in terms of living and dining, proximity is important so that conversation can carry on between these three focal areas of the house. A good cooking experience is all about communication. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen feeling that they are slaving away while everyone else is off having a great time in another room. And, anyway, preparing a meal can be theatre, so why not show it off and include everyone in the show?

Another common request from clients these days is that the living room television be visible and audible from the kitchen, so that the person preparing the meal can watch the nightly news at the same time. This is also a great way to chat about the news as family members can be spread throughout the living, dining and kitchen areas and still be part of the conversation.

(Although I do tend to avoid a separate TV for the kitchen – I am a firm believer in the telly being off during meal time so that proper communication can occur.)

SMART HOME

THE SMART FRIDGE WILL MONITOR THE AGE OF PERISHABLE FOODS AND RECOMMEND RECIPES TO USE THEM UP. RUBBISH BINS WILL NOTE EMPTY PACKAGES THROWN AWAY AND AUTOMATICALLY PUT IN THE ORDER TO RESTOCK.

CONNECTION TO THE OUTDOORS

The kitchen can be a great way to merge a house with the outdoors. I have designed many kitchens that extend into the garden, where the kitchen service area extends into a barbecue and an outdoor sink. We have also designed a house so that no barbecue was required: instead we positioned the kitchen so that in good weather all the doors opened and slid back completely, the kitchen suddenly became an outdoor area and we included teppanyaki hotplates instead of a barbecue.

KITCHEN LAUNDRY

Many kitchens, particularly in apartments and smaller terraced houses, have to include other aspects of the household, such as the laundry. The washing machine, dryer and laundry sink can all be completely hidden behind bi-fold or sliding doors. This can also be an efficient way to plan your space, because it is always cheaper to group your plumbing and waste into the same area of the home.

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