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Wondering which neutral colours to use as darker accent shades or need help revamping your kitchen? You ask – we find the answers.
Kitchen dilemmas In the October 2017 issue of Home, a Milestone Kitchen worth R50 000 was up for grabs – ultimately, the winner was Jenna Schoeman of KwaZulu-Natal. Silvia Miles, the owner of Milestone Kitchens who sponsored the prize, designed a new kitchen for her, and had a clever plan for the runner-up too.
#1 THE WINNER
Jenna Schoeman of KwaZulu-Natal
writes We live in an old stone farmhouse, but it needs a new kitchen to suit its beautiful exterior. The space is long and narrow, and the floors are dark. I’d love to update the look and make the most of the available space with a view to undertaking structural renovations at a later stage; right now, we’re not in a position to knock down walls or replace the floors.
THE SOLUTION
Silvia replies While the width of your kitchen is limited, the space is still big enough to accommodate cosy areas. Create a communal zone with a central table and benches. To counteract the narrowness of the space, make the most of the walls with tall wall units and open shelving; Milestone Kitchens offers a microwave wall unit, a utensils unit and a recipe book unit to accommodate books and other kitchen items such as serving platters and jugs. Our freestanding units are equipped with castors so you can easily relocate your kitchen furniture when the time comes to redo the floors or renovate.
Our solid wood units are durable and will last a lifetime. Whether you opt for the more budget-friendly pine option or more expensive ash wood, you can sand and seal the tops to keep them in pristine condition.
#2 THE RUNNER-UP
Maura Hardman of KwaZulu-Natal
writes My mother is retired but she loves to keep busy and runs her entire household from her kitchen. The space is very small and can feel cluttered. Any advice?
THE SOLUTION
Silvia replies The most obvious challenge is a shortage of space. I suggest removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the area. I’d also brick up the open pantry cupboard to make space for a corner unit – these units work beautifully in small rooms, making use of areas that other furniture can’t.
Clever storage solutions are also important when you don’t have the luxury of space. With Milestone’s deluxe grocery cupboard (pictured above) and corner unit, you can fit so much more into the kitchen. This helps to keep the kitchen uncluttered and organised and creates the illusion of more space.