Innehållsförteckning för Issue 03 från GDA Kitchens & Bathrooms

Mentionables Items on my wishlist are Tom Dixon Etch mini lights. dedece.com CDK Stone Super White Dolomite. cdkstone.com.au Zitto matt black mixer. meir.com.au Soak American ash bath. woodandwater.com.au it’s true what they say — trends come and go, but style is forever. While it’s easy to get caught up with current interior trends and splurge on making your kitchen and bathroom replicate these aesthetics, it’s important to remember these rooms are unlike other areas of your home. Your kitchen and bathroom are long-term investments; they’re spaces that are costly to renovate and therefore difficult to redesign to reflect every season. Instead of looking to current trends, it’s best to consider your needs and personal style. How many family members use these spaces? Are there shades or colour palettes that appeal…

As an interior designer I have designed many a home over the last 12 years. Along this journey, I find myself returning to one particular room as a constant favourite for design: the bathroom. Within these walls are the most individual and unique details that you’ll find in any room in your home. I personally love that this intimate space is not only a functional necessity, but a haven for the mind, body and even the soul. Here are some key points to ensure your new bathroom becomes exactly that — your personal haven that will stand the test of time. TILES TAKING ON NATURAL STONE The tiles in your bathroom are perhaps the most permanent items you will select. It is a much simpler process to change a basin…

Given how much time the average household spends doing dishes, choosing the right sink and tap is paramount when designing a kitchen. Of course, the right aesthetic is vital. This very crucial component of the working triangle needs to complement the space’s overall design without neglecting functionality. Consider your washing needs when choosing your sink. A petite singlebowl sink might suffice for a family utilising a small kitchen that includes a dishwasher, but larger families may need a bigger double-bowl sink, or perhaps a deep farmhouse sink. You might want to choose a granite or solidsurface sink for durability, or opt for a sleek matt black number to complement your kitchen’s aesthetic. The options are endless, which means there’s a perfect sink and tap combination for every kitchen space.…

Bringing a colour trend into your space can be daunting, especially when this year’s hue is the intense and courageous Living Coral. But while Pantone’s colour of the year may appear extremely bold, it can be easily tamed with the right applications. Give corals a subtle back seat in your kitchen while still letting it shine by investing in some key pieces. Choose warm, coral-toned crockery to make this shade pop out or, for a more subtle approach, opt for glasswear that incorporates this shade as a pattern or as a light wash. Lamps, rugs, cushions and artworks placed at key, eye-catching points throughout your kitchen are also a great way to bring this colour into your space without it being overbearing. If you’re courageous and all about this bold…

Did someone say terry towelling? Because we’re ready for a bath in Light Corridor’s compact Kado bathtub. This recently renovated bathroom is the transformation of a dismal water closet into a divine bathing sanctuary thanks to the masters at FIGR architecture studio. Briefed to renovate a heritage house and create a flexible family home that opened itself to the great outdoors, the FIGR team has outdone itself with a contemporary residence draped in light and reflection. The challenge? Fitting three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas and a covered outdoor space into a modest 110sqm patch of earth. “The house aims to generate intimate spaces where one can escape and have a moment of solace and reflection, but also have room to bring people together,” says FIGR founder Adi Atic.…

Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.” The same could be said for kitchens and bathrooms. First and foremost they must function to accommodate the most basic of needs: nutrition and hygiene; they have to work. So why are we so passionate about their look and feel? Well, kitchens and bathrooms encompass a primal sensory DNA. They allow users to experience fire, water and air, and use the all-important sense of smell and touch, experiences not found in other rooms. Accordingly, everyone has different tastes and wants a design that works for them. Sorry Steve. At Maddison Architects, we’ve designed service areas for 30 years and I have watched more than 100 homeowners on Grand Designs Australia implement…

With the rise in popularity of open-plan living spaces, choosing the right kitchen seating for your home is a major factor when renovating or revamping the kitchen. Gone are the days of small, closed-off spaces; modern kitchens are bright, bold and out in the open, with plenty of seating for the whole family to gather while meals are being prepared. If your kitchen features a breakfast bar that doubles as a casual meals area or study space, bar stools are an absolute must. Dining chairs with character are ideal for nearby dining spots, and a comfy armchair or couch within a few steps of the working triangle is also acceptable, even encouraged, if your home’s open-plan kitchen and living space is roomy enough. Don’t be afraid to do what might…

Dare to break away from a minimalist bathroom and choose bold products that will make a statement. If a complete renovation of your bathroom is a little too much, add some copper or brass feature accessories to highlight certain areas instead. You can create a warm and inviting ambience by carefully selecting lighting and mirror fittings that tie your design together. By keeping to a consistent colour scheme and introducing metallics and brass, your space can be transformed into an opulent oasis. We love a delicate chandelier for a highend feel or a clear pendant light for a sleek yet contemporary look. An Art Deco feature mirror can work as a decadent addition that is capable of creating a feeling of space in any bathroom. Who said old-world glamour was…

WE LOVE THE WRAPAROUND WINDOWS THAT FLOOD THE ROOM WITH NATURAL LIGHT EXPERT TIP ELEMENTS LIKE THE RECLAIMED ROOF TRUSSES FROM THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE ARE WORTH RETAINING A home without a loo is like a pub without the brew. It’s fundamentally wrong and will not be tolerated in either instance. While a beer-less pub does seem a travesty worth discussing, it’s the bathroom we’re really here for. The team at Carter Williamson Architects understand how important the john is to a successfully functioning home. More than simply a place to scrub the day away or prepare for a new one, the best bathrooms are those that engage the senses and transform into an oasis for the user. The bathroom inside Sydney’s Truss House does just that and more. Truss House…

Bathroom trends change quicker than a roll of toilet paper. It’s hard to keep up, and even harder to maintain a trendy bathroom without constantly updating and tweaking the finishes or altering fixtures. However, a white bathroom is timeless and will never go out of style. A stark white bathroom is synonymous with hygiene and cleanliness. While white is nice, it’s also easy to overdo it and unwittingly create a sterile space that lacks character and warmth. This luxe lavatory strikes the perfect balance by implementing a white palette punctuated with wooden and metallic accents. The white basin and bath melt into the white walls to open up the room and create the sensation of space. Combined with gorgeous grains like American oak and shiny metals such as polished brass,…

It is absolutely fascinating to consider how kitchens have evolved over the past 50 years. As a designer, I often find that I reflect on past trends to understand how current trends have formed and are implemented in today’s kitchens. Here, I look back at the kitchens of yesteryear, talk about kitchens of today and travel into the future to imagine what kitchen might look like in 50 to 100 years. KITCHENS OF THE PAST It is mind-blowing to look to the past, back to before I was born, to see what an average kitchen looked like. When taking a look at some pictures, I found one space with just a single solid iron cooker with what looks like a small solid timber table to use as a preparation zone.…

Whether you’re after an industrial concrete edge or a timeless stone showpiece, choosing a kitchen benchtop is no easy decision. To help you decide, go beyond the surface aesthetic into the many layers of what type of benchtop will suit your space and lifestyle. From porosity and durability to maintenance, there are so many factors to keep in mind. Consider this: will your benchtop stain if red wine is spilt on it? Similarly, which materials can handle the heat of hot pots and pans? Be sure to chat to your benchtop supplier about the material’s strengths and weaknesses so you choose one that works best for you. Function aside, benchtops can be the finishing touch to a kitchen and can tie the whole space together. Concrete-look surfaces are now in…

Mid-century modern designs have skyrocketed in popularity and there is an abundance of furniture to outfit your space in this gorgeous style. Growing out of 20th-century Modernism, mid-century modern strengthened in the design world after WWII. A trend that can encompass a broad range of colours and looks, the foundation remains as an exploration of function, efficiency and beautiful aesthetic that is ultimately accessible to all. Think simple lines and organic shapes that combine for a timeless, practical furniture piece. Add a bit of glam and at times, a retro twist, and you’ll have a lasting mid-century modern space. Honing in on the bathroom, we’ve scouted out some furniture that can infuse your space with an old-world elegance that hovers at the cusp of the future.…

Taking your vanity from everyday to extraordinary can be one way of elevating the feel of your bathroom without engaging in a complete overhaul. Focus on individual elements, such as the tapware. Their shape and finishes can truly set the tone. Gone are the days of stubby stainless-steel handles that jut out of the wall. A new sleek and streamlined style is a vanity must-have, with colours ranging from matt through to gloss and even stunning metallics. This focus on colour has extended to sinks. Add a pop of pink or a dramatic black to add interest and depth to your space, and if you really want to make a statement, experiment with bowl shapes. Abovecounter/vessel basins are still on trend, with mixed materials — think stone, concrete and bevelled…

EXPERT TIP TIMBER ACCENTS CAN BREAK UP THE GREY AND SOOTHE THE PALETTE With a main bathroom, powder room and ensuite, this Mt Kembla home has amenities for the whole family and all their friends. Birdblack Design was engaged to restructure and detail the interior design of these Wollongong digs. Avid entertainers, the hospitable owners needed a home conducive to festive gatherings. A house with frequent foot traffic demands bathroom facilities capable of coping with heavy use, from casual catch-ups with family and friends to spectacular kids’ parties. The bathrooms, like the rest of the home, evoke warmth, texture and movement. Grey-toned tiles feature pattern variation and create a moody undertone that forms the base of each of the rooms. A combination of timber tempers the grey, lifts the atmosphere…