3 things we wish our clients knew about design

Our award-winning designer, Alexa Beer has worked with a lot of clients who come into smarterBATHROOMS+ with the desire to achieve their dream kitchen and bathroom designs. Over time, Alexa has found many people encounter common roadblocks that could be easily avoided if they knew these three simple kitchen design concepts.

Neutral does not always mean white

When thinking about colour schemes for your kitchen, it’s far from black and white. There are seemingly endless colour choices and, for some clients, this can be overwhelming. Many people find it hard to commit to bold colours for fear of changing styles. The fact is, kitchen design trends come and go but neutral colour palettes are here to stay.

However, neutral doesn’t mean you are restricted to using stark whites. Soft greys, pinks, cream, sand, stone and timber (or anything else on the ‘natural’ spectrum) are timeless and enduring colour tones. The beauty of using these hues in your kitchen means that you can spice it up in other, less permanent ways so you can keep up-to-date with current trends.

Grout is your friend

Many of our clients don’t want to use tiles on their splashbacks because they fear that grout will be hard to clean. But they needn’t worry — at smarterBATHROOMS+, we use epoxy grout.

It’s highly resistant to stains, cracks, chemicals, harsh weather conditions and climate changes — meaning epoxy grout is the best substance to use for any tile job. And while it’s slightly more expensive than cement-based grout products, you’re paying for its long-lasting qualities and the ability to clean it easily and effectively after big family cook ups.

Play with shape

Shapes and patterns are another way to create a stunning kitchen design but, again, clients are afraid of making bold statements for fear of changing their minds later down the track, or a trend going out of style.

My advice? Start small. You can play around with bespoke cabinetry and joinery, or introduce a curved wall and incorporate benchtop details, such as varying the benchtop thicknesses and/or colours. My favourite technique is to add fabulous handles to cabinetry and tile the splashback to the ceiling — it’s an unusual feature, one that adds texture to the space.

Ultimately, it’s within your best interests to trust the design team. You can work together to create a space that is yours, in a way that works uniquely for your home.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at the beginning of a kitchen renovation. Get in contact with our award-winning design team by calling 1300 662 838 to start planning your kitchen renovation today.