My Kitchen Rocks!

The secret ingredient in every functional kitchen is a great set of numbers. Measure up and live happily ever after

More than any other room in the house, the kitchen is the toughest to renovate. Aside from the multitude of decisions to be made about the colour and shape of splashback tiles, benchtop materials and tapware, there are some very practical considerations about

How high should your benchtops be? What bench thickness is on trend?

CHARLOTTE: The standard height is 900mm however, we are growing taller collectively so some homes are opting for anywhere up to 950mm high. Benchtop thickness is very personal. Stainless steel in a slender 10mm thick is very popular right now but beefed up marble around 60mm is also highly sought after.

How much distance should there be between the rear bench and island bench?

CHARLOTTE: Ideally, you should allow for one metre or thereabouts for a comfortable thoroughfare, depending on the size of room but it can be 950mm to 1100mm. It’s really important to get this right for the flow of the space to feel good.

How high above the stove should the rangehood exhaust be?

CHARLOTTE: This is very specific to your cooktop and rangehood installation specifications, however, a general average is about 600mm.

What’s the perfect height for a pendant light over an island bench?

CHARLOTTE: The pendant should sit above your eye line. It’s the perfect offset from the benchtop and ceiling height, allowing for a sense of openness while you’re entertaining.

What is the right height for island stools? CHARLOTTE: If your island bench is 900mm high, always have a minimum of 300mm overhang with the height of the stool to be about 600mm tall. You’ll want a comfortable amount of space between your thighs and the counter top. The height of these stools should not be confused with bar stools which are often 70cm to 80cm high.

What is the maximum drawer depth? CHARLOTTE: About 500mm depth is the golden rule. It is the standard size for cutlery inserts and drawer accessories but you can also modify them according to what you’d like to put in the drawer. Generally speaking a cabinet depth / back bench depth is 600mm comfortably.

What about the pantry?

CHARLOTTE: Base drawers should be around 500mm deep but also can be taller for standing tall items such as sauce bottles and then shorter for smaller shelf goods like spices and canned goods. the basics, such as benchtop thickness, the work triangle and even waste management. While I’ve renovated a couple of kitchens, this is definitely one topic where it’s best to defer to the experts.

So I spoke to Charlotte Riggs from bespoke cabinetmakers Bondi Kitchens and Kylie Forbes from kitchen systems provider, Cantilever Interiors.

What are the most popular styles of kitchens right now? Is it preferable to have a wall kitchen or one with an island bench? CHARLOTTE: The classic Shaker style is always popular however, we can put a modern spin on it by slimming the profile of the cabinets. For a less feminine look, a warm timber veneer is equally as popular. The rich grain feature adds effortless elegance to the living space. If the size of the room permits, an island bench is always a good idea.

Are most people now looking for the kitchen to blend into an open plan living area? CHARLOTTE: Yes, absolutely. The modern kitchen is now a seamless blend of food preparation zones and social interaction space, given food and drink are paramount to creating a sense of community. More of us are thinking of kitchens as living spaces - it’s a focal point for togetherness.

How do you design for flow in the kitchen? Is there an expectation now that there will be more people in the kitchen at the same time? KYLIE: Allowing for concurrent activity is the key to designing a practical kitchen. We design with the presumption there will be more than one person using different functions of a kitchen space at the same time. Allowing for one person to prepare food while another is cleaning, drying, storing or serving food is a more realistic interpretation of activity than the kitchen work triangle diagrams of old.

What is behind that trend for integrating dining spaces into the island bench? Is it a natural progression from the breakfast bar concept?

KYLIE: Dining table integration into an island setting recognises the natural socialisation now occurring in kitchens. A table at one end of the island, or in front, allows for easier interaction than a line of stools at a bench and separates dining from the serving zone.

More of us are thinking of kitchens as living spaces ... a focal point for togetherness.

Have separate bins for recycling and compost become standard fixtures in kitchen design now?

KYLIE: Responsible waste management is increasingly important, and decent accommodation for recycling, biological and general waste, soft plastics and composting simplifies the whole process.