In a recent poll, men and women were asked what most appealed to them when looking at a home to buy. The results were hardly surprising. It should be noted that men volunteered the humble garden shed, or garage workshop, as their favourite aspect of a home but the rise of male celebrity chefs has also seen more guys getting into the kitchen as never before. The kitchen is an incredibly important part of the home to get right. There are a number of elements you should consider both in the planning phase and especially once you’ve moved in to keep it at its sparkling best.

Storage
You can never have enough storage. Many modern kitchens thoughtfully provide a range of options from deep drawers that are perfect for stowing heavy pots and pans to designated slots for wine bottles.

Functionality
Integrated appliances not only make your kitchen look sleek but add to its value. The number and style of appliances you choose should reflect your lifestyle. Gone are the days where a microwave took up valuable bench space or sat on top of a refrigerator. These are now seamlessly incorporated into wall units or under benches. While dishwashers and rangehoods are now standard across the range of homes, there are a number of new must–haves! For example, Australians love their coffee and sales of home coffee machines remain brisk. Many kitchens showcase built–in coffee machines, plumbed and wired for immediate use. There is also an amazing range of ovens and cooktops in terms of profile and features. While wok burners are standard on most cooktops these days, you may choose other features depending on your tastes and needs, such as a rectangular burner for such items as a fish kettle.

Taking Care

Remember that the kitchen is a work area. Residues will collect on floors, open shelving, cupboard doors and benchtops and can leave a greasy film. If you have laminate or stone benchtops, make sure you follow cleaning recommendations. Mop up all spills on benchtops immediately. Attend to any spillages on your cooktop as soon as possible – make sure the area is cool enough to touch before you go to work there! Working on stains and grime before they become caked–in will give maximum results for minimum effort. Even though your work surfaces in the kitchen are designed to be extremely durable, take precautions before you put hot pans or baking dishes directly on to a polished surface.

The kitchen is the undoubted hub of the home, with easy access and a great flow to the informal living and family areas. Kids too, can have easy access to the kitchen so never leave pots unattended on the cooktop. Make sure handles are turned in so they can’t be grasped by curious young hands below. If you have appliances such as a kettle on the benchtop, make sure the power cords are also out of reach.

Wine Storage
You may have noticed the butler’s pantry in some display homes. Having this extra storage and preparation space off the main kitchen can be a blessing for several reasons – not least if you are an avid collector of wine. Designated slots for wine storage are thoughtfully provided in many kitchen designs. These are perfect for bottles of wine that you are planning to consume within a short to medium time frame. For longer–term storage, the butler’s pantry is a great spot for a wine fridge. These appliances come in a variety of sizes and capacities. They are not a traditional fridge in the sense that they keep wine in a humidity-free, temperature–controlled state. Some wine fridges have different temperature zones – chilling your whites and champagne while maintaining around 14-16 degrees for your red wines.

Lighting
Natural light is not generally a problem in most kitchens. The open plan and great use of windows and folding doors to outdoor rooms gives great illumination during the day. At night, lighting needs to be versatile. Choose a mix of downlights and pendants over work surfaces or breakfast bars. Generally, we visit Display Homes during the day so consideration to kitchen lighting can be overlooked. Given the kitchen’s proximity to the other living spaces, you may wish to look at a range of options, that allow you strong light when and where you need it.