Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
BUDGET BEAUTY
Check out colour pairings suggested by paint companies – you might find your ideal scheme
When your design brief is dictated by a tight budget, practical decisions and affordable materials will come to your rescue. Start by planning your new kitchen around the existing wiring and plumbing, as this will reduce both the upheaval and the expense. Also familiarise yourself with the home-improvement aisles at your local hardware store. There’s an amazing array of tiles, flooring and tapware, as well as cooktops, ovens, dishwashers – these can be big-ticket items elsewhere. And do consider flat-pack units with unfinished door and drawer fronts you can paint and assemble yourself. Think of it as a labour of love.
18 BE DOLLAR SMART
Savings can be found in many ways. A full-height splashback is essential behind your cooktop and sink. Elsewhere, minimise the splashback height as if it were skirting around the benchtop. Put any savings into a herringbone-design feature with grey grout to highlight the pattern.
19 SLIMLINE PULL-OUT PANTRY
When you’re fitting a kitchen to an existing layout, use every available centimetre for accessible storage, even if it is squeezed into a narrow channel. Check out Kaboodle Kitchen’s 150mm 2-tier soft-close pullout baskets, $95, bunnings.com.au.
20 PERSONALITY PLUS
Add vintage charm to a thoroughly modern space with a reclaimed industrial table (the tales it could tell!). For extra charm, re-cover salvaged dining chairs in faded floral fabric.
21 GREY MATTER
Smart and handleless mid-grey flat-fronted cabinetry will bring contemporary style to your space. Opt for a pull-profile finger-rail at the top or bottom edge of each door or drawer to enhance your kitchen’s streamlined appeal while providing subtle interest.