ASK AN EXPERT
Each issue, we’ll find stylish solutions to all your decorating and design dilemmas from those in the know
From improving lighting and positioning dishwashers to installing power points and choosing window coverings, your design issues are stylishly sorted
Q Where should I put the power points on my kitchen island, which is quite large?
Olivia, via Instagram “The most common position is on the end of the island bench,” says electrician Ryan Lawton from Enduro Electrical in Sydney (0424 173 533). “If you don’t want to see the power point, put it on the end least visible as you walk into the room. If you have a waterfall bench with stone ends, have the stonemason cut out a hole for the power point. If you have a joinery end, you’ll need to let the cabinet-maker know your plans before they start work, so they can include a void between any internal drawers and the end for the wires to run through. If one side of the cabinetry is set back under the benchtop – so you can place stools there, for example – you could hide the power point on that side, but be aware that the cord for anything you plug in will need to be long enough to run back over the top of the island.”
Q Should the dishwasher be placed near the sink to make stacking simpler or close to the cupboards for easier unpacking?
Carla, via email “The most common placement is to the right of a sink, so people can rinse and load without getting water everywhere,” says Mark Elmore, general manager of design at Fisher & Paykel ( isherpaykel. com). “It makes sense that our most-used items are at waist height, where our hands can easily reach. For a more ergonomic approach, consider a single DishDrawer dishwasher on either side of the sink. An alternative is one DishDrawer near the sink for pots, pans and cutlery, with another close to the cupboard where crockery and glasses are stored. For your solution to blend with the rest of the kitchen, choose integrated models and apply custom panels to give you the practical bene its of distributed appliances that integrate into the kitchen’s style in a considered way.”
QI’m renovating my bathroom and want to improve the lighting. There’s a window, but what are the best options around my vanity and mirror? Alyssa-Jane, via Instagram
“We like to utilise the re lective surfaces within the bathroom, which helps to reduce the number of visible light points within the space,” says Amy Trent, design manager at Special Lights (speciallights.com.au). “For the vanity, the basin is an excellent re lective source, so we would place a downlight over this location. The light output of a downlight can create shadowing on the face, but the re lected light produced from the basin helps equalise this. In addition, either a wall light or a pendant light at face height gives the heightened light levels required for make-up, along with providing a decorative element to the area. If you’re after a seamless look, an LED strip integrated into the cabinetry design is always a nice addition. We would recommend installing the LED strip to shine both up and down. This gives you general light and task light.”