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Need advice on a new kitchen for a holiday home or ready to settle in a retirement village? Just ask – we’ll find the answers.
Perfect for holidays
Jennifer de Vries of Durban writes I thoroughly enjoyed your kitchens feature in the April 2022 issue. I’m in the process of building a beach house; any advice on what I should keep in mind when it comes to kitchens, specifically in a holiday home? Nico Alberts, interior designer and
project manager, replies When I built my holiday home in Struisbaai with co-owners, there was just one prerequisite for the kitchen: it had to be holiday-ready!
Today, it’s a cosy and user-friendly space; everything is open-plan and we enjoy spending time together around the dining table, which is exactly what you want at a holiday home!
My advice would be to stick to a budget and consider a variety of materials for texture. We used steel, wood, grey-painted MDF and recycled elements for warmth. For example, we upcycled solid Oregon pine beams from our farm in Prince Alfred Hamlet, where my father has been a master builder for 60 years. Now, this old ceiling wood not only adds character in the new kitchen, but has also helped to cut costs.
One of the highlights in our beach house kitchen is the island slab, which is made from bent steel. The steel is buffed weekly with floor polish to protect it from rust, which is of particular concern at the coast. The slab does get scratched but that only adds to a relaxed, lived-in feel.
Also consider the following:
• Take the design of the house into account, as this will determine the style of the kitchen.
• Keep family dynamics in mind: are there kids to consider; will only two people share the space; how often do you entertain? These considerations will determine aspects such as storage, seating and flow.
• I like integrated appliances. For example, unless it’s designer, I think fridges are ugly and I prefer not to see them. I usually put the fridge in the pantry or scullery, or have it built in behind a door. The same goes for a dishwasher.
• Play with different colours and textures to keep the finished look interesting.
CONTACT nicoalberts.com