EDITOR’S LETTER
In a smaller room you REALISE how fond your guests are of getting up CLOSE when they have a wine in their hand and you’re COOKING for them.
Ihave renovated nine kitchens over the last 20–something years. One was a full-blown, fabulous renovation with an architect friend designing the whole house. Others ranged from tweaks to extreme gutting. From having a dream kitchen (a little too early in life’s proceedings) then doing a few myself on tighter budgets, I know that planning is paramount. The last kitchen I revamped was compromised by my lack of funds at the end. It had excellent appliances but the space was formerly an ’80s spa bathroom – not ‘forever kitchen’ proportions. In a smaller room you realise how fond your guests are of getting up close when they have a wine in hand and you’re cooking for them! Plan, and don’t waste your kitchen and bathroom budgets on other things... Turn to page 140 for tips from a chic design by Kate Walker, then see a budget-friendly kitchen in a simple palette with lots of storage by interior designer Mikayla Rose. We also visit the glam kitchen that’s the hub of singing sensation Guy Sebastian’s home, designed by Freedom Kitchens.
Once you have your cucina curated, head to page 173 for some bathroom inspiration. My must-haves? 1. A bath with surround for a candle, cup of tea or flute of Champagne and a copy of H&G. 2. A heated towel rail – whatever the season, you never want to be wrapping yourself in a sad damp towel. 3. Storage, of course: go into the wall void if you can, because you can never have too much space for product. 4. Great lighting: it is tricky to apply lots of things in the dark. 5. A magnifying mirror!
There’s plenty more inspiration for both house and garden on the following pages. Whether you’re reading this at the kitchen bench or soaking in the bath, enjoy!