Sandgate Planning
Keep these dimensions in mind when considering your bathroom layout: • Bathtubs: Standard bathtubs are 1,500 to 1,650 millimetres long and 750 millimetres wide. The depth can be as little as 350 millimetres and as much as 500 millimetres. • Toilets: You need at least 700 millimetres of clear space in front of toilets for ease of movement, and 200 millimetres on either side. • Single sinks: For a single sink, you need at least 600 millimetres of width, but 900 millimetres is more comfortable. • Double sinks: You can squeeze two sinks into 1,500 millimetres of width, but 1,800 millimetres or more is preferred
Timber Accents Love the look of uber-cool kitchens that feature sleek concrete textures, but worried they’ll be too chilly in reality? The key is to pop in touches of warm timber to counterbalance the coolness of the stone. Go for rich timbers, such as walnut, oak and bamboo, and introduce them to units, shelving or even areas of the benchtop, to ensure the space feels cosy and inviting, as well as hip and funky. Add underfloor heating for toasty toes. Stone or tiled floors may look the business, but on cooler mornings they can be a shocking surprise, so ensure they remain welcoming with underfloor heating. More: Visit Poliform’s website for more designer kitchen inspiration. The Poliform Kitchen Sale is now on. Enjoy 15% off all Poliform kitchens ordered before 31 July 2019. Your turn: What elements have you borrowed from a designer kitchen to elevate your space? This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Mixing Materials Unafraid to break the mould, designer kitchens often showcase the latest materials and surfaces, and combine different finishes in one space for a bold statement. Try making a designer statement of your own by mixing materials, textures and colours for an interesting and individual look. Ong recommends combining natural stone and stainless steel for a unique juxtaposition of elements. “On one hand, the stainless steel is ultra-practical, while natural stone has unique elements and an artist quality that is hard to beat.” Highlight architectural features for a dynamic touch. If your kitchen space features architectural touches, such as exposed building pillars or a sloping ceiling, don’t see them as a problem but a solution, and transform them into a focal point with a stand-out material.
Defined Work Zones Designer kitchens are meticulously planned, right down to the last detail, to ensure everything flows like clockwork. Take a leaf out of their book and plan out your kitchen in clearly defined work zones for efficiency and cohesion. The cooking and seating areas, for example, should be clearly separated and marked out, so guests know which spots to stay away from. A dedicated appliance cupboard, that can be closed up, will ensure all small items are neatly arranged and not scattered across benchtops. Use decorative devices to define zones. Try using a different type of benchtop at the seating end to clearly mark out the area. While open shelving incorporated around the extractor hood can be decorated with herbs, oils or spices for added definition.
Outstanding Storage Everyone knows how important good, efficient storage is in ensuring a kitchen performs at its best, but it’s the unique innovative solutions that ensure a space performs outstandingly. “A designer kitchen addresses storage with unexpected solutions to maximise space, such as deeper drawers, slender pull-out cabinets and mechanised shelves that utilise corner elements,” says Sang Ho. Such customised and personalised storage solutions like these, that have been designed to suit your lifestyle needs, are definitely worth investing in. For example, a concealed coffee machine station will neatly disguise all your barista paraphernalia, while customised drawer inserts will keep everything in view. “Good, well-organised storage is a must,” says Ong. “Think about everything you own and make sure that the large bulky items, like a mix master, have a place to live when not in use. My ultimate storage must-have is a well-resolved and beautiful drawer insert, where knives, cutlery, spices and kitchen scales are at your fingertips.” Consider adding a separate pantry. If you have the space, a separate pantry is ideal for all the messy cooking prep, as well as providing room...
Multifunctional (and Big) Kitchen Islands Islands are the go-to design element for any kitchen that’s lucky enough to have the space, but have you considered just how to maximise the efficiency of this useful area? Not only can it provide a nifty dining spot, it can also function as the workhorse of the kitchen. Think space for a hob, sink, food preparation station and endless storage underneath it. Then there’s the dimensions of the island to think about. If you have the room, utilise it by super-sizing your design. You’ll double the bench space and create tons of storage opportunities below for things like built-in bins, dishwasher drawers, wine cabinets and convenient open shelving. Choose clever appliances for ultra-efficiency. Research appliances thoroughly before you buy to make the best choice for your space. “More of our clients are choosing downdraft extraction appliances for their island units, instead of traditional range hoods, as they rise up out of the benchtop when in use and sit completely flush with the surface when not,” says Ong. While Sang Ho suggests looking at intelligent surfaces for your island “that incorporate wireless charging for devices, are non-porou...
A suitably qualified architect or designer will be able to provide these documents as part of their service. An important note: preparing these documents requires a lot of time and cross referencing; requesting that the designer reduce their fees for these will only result in these documents being less comprehensive and open to interpretation and potential conflict. Trying to save money at the recipe stage is far more likely to end in disaster.
The architectural drawings describe to the builder exactly how to build your home and what it will look like – the more drawings you provide, the more accurate the builder’s interpretation of the design will be. The project specification lists in great detail every conceivable item that will be incorporated into the building, including doors, windows, appliances, floor and wall finishes, and more. This comprehensive written description may include model numbers and suppliers, so the builder provides the client with exactly what is expected and what they have paid for, without any discrepancy. The building contract highlights the final cost of the building, and how and when the builder will be paid. It also includes items that the client may provide to the builder, or any exclusion of items to be provided by other parties. Importantly, it highlights when the builder will start and when they will finish, including any penalties that may arise if key dates are not met.
12. A crystal-clear recipe Baking a cake requires you to follow a specific recipe. If you had to guess at some of the ingredients, it is unlikely the cake will turn out exactly how you wanted it. A builder too needs a recipe to build your home. That recipe consists of three important documents: the architectural drawings, project specification and a building contract. These documents need to be comprehensive and detailed to prevent any misunderstandings and cost blowouts.
In the floor plan of this home, the link can be clearly differentiated from the existing home and the new additions to the rear. Try to restrict the changes you make to the existing home to cosmetic changes, such as a new bathroom and kitchen or painting. In other words, try to work with what you have and don’t structurally touch what’s there if you don’t have to.
8. Alterations and additions to an existing home If you are considering an extension, try to limit structural alterations of your existing home where possible. Building your addition away from your home and linking it with a smaller structure such as this glazed access path is one way to do this. Traditionally the link is lower in height than the home under renovation and the new structure, so it fits neatly under the existing gutters, meaning there’s no need to make changes to the exiting roof.
6. Roof design A simple design consideration such as the shape of the roof can have a big impact on the budget. The roof of a building is essentially a hat to keep the water out of your home. The fancier the hat, the more it is going to cost. In roof plumbing language, the more hips, valleys, gutters, downpipes and flashings you have (a fancy hat, in other words), the more it is going to cost. The flat roof of this home is very simple and drains away in one direction, keeping the cost down.
If you are considering building a new home, or embarking on a renovation that may require new additions, then I have one question to ask that simply must be answered at the outset. What is your budget? There are many design and construction considerations that affect what your project is going to cost, and it’s essential to know about them early to avoid disappointment later. Left unanswered and unmonitored, the fundamental question of budget can have a devastating and lasting financial impact on you. Clients can be reluctant to reveal their budgets for a number of reasons, one being that they don’t want to stifle the designer’s creativity by providing them with budget constraints. Another reason is that they hope the final construction cost, once tendered out to builders, will come in under budget – by revealing their budget prior, they fear it will prejudice the final construction cost. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without a budget, a designer is simply sailing through open waters without a compass or destination. Without direction, who knows where they will end up? The last outcome we all want to see is a house designed that the client simply cannot afford. Keep the...
Work out your budget Knowing what you can and can’t afford to spend, and your estimated outlays, can mean the difference between the success or failure of your project. In my view, it’s a good idea to start by working on your budget alone before bringing your designer or architect into the process. A good designer will be able to work magic with your budget, and help you make decisions early on that will enable you to keep your budget on-track throughout the build. Make sure your total building budget includes all relevant costs, such as design fees, town planning fees, council fees, soil testing, structural engineering, landscaping (think pools, earthworks, fences and planting), furniture budget, and any interest on borrowings. And then there is the budget required to actually build your home. Also bear in mind that there will be numerous price rises for things such as materials between the time you start the design process and when you move in. Building to a Budget: 12 Must-Know Design Considerations
Drop-in tubs like this one can work in a standard configuration with three enclosing walls. Since they don’t have an apron front, you can finish the face of the tub with tile, as has been done in this bath. The depth of vanities or medicine cabinets needs to be 100 to 130 millimetres overall and 90 to 110 millimetres on the interior shelves to suit most people. Widths and heights in bathrooms depend on the individual, but most pre-built medicine cabinets are about 560 millimetres wide and 750 millimetres tall. See more bathrooms with drop-in tubs
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