Book Consult

THE 7 R’S OF SUSTAINABLE KITCHENS

Over the past 5 years, Australian actress Cate Blanchett has invested over $1.5 million in making her home eco-friendly. If you do not have a cool million spare to go green, Smarter Kitchens is able to design you an affordable sustainable kitchen, marrying social responsibility and award-winning interior design.

The key to engineering a sustainable kitchen is to adhere to the basic principle of: if you can reuse it, do it. Enviro-friendly kitchens are the standard of the future, and since 2011, Smarter Kitchens has saved families thousands of dollars through creating sustainable living spaces.

Here are the 7 R’s to design a sustainable (and aesthetically pleasing) kitchen:

• Review energy efficiency. Not only should you consider the embodied energy of everything in this space (the energy consumed to manufacture your materials), but the energy it takes to use the product; ask your supplier for the greenest option. Smarter Kitchens hosts a wide range of materials in their showroom including eco-friendly treated wood and bamboo to create a sustainable, and attractive space.

• Ratings, ratings, ratings. There is a large volume of energy and water saving mechanisms available on the kitchen market. Water saving dishwashers save thousands over a lifetime – your Smarter Kitchens designer can explain the most energy-efficient models on the market that are appropriate for your home’s usage.

• Redesign. To achieve the most out of your space, design straight bench runs, either as a galley or a galley with an island bench. A galley kitchen is easy to remove and relocate giving the kitchen inherent value, like a piece of furniture.

• Reinvest for a lifetime. Choose quality items that you can remove and take with you to a new home, or that you would consider keeping if you renovated. For example, a solid timber island is a lifetime investment, as is a top quality stainless steel sink.

• Repurpose old materials. Cabinet bodies, or cabinet carcasses, can be reused and upcycled with fresh paint and new handles. If you don’t have any carcass cabinets, select new (Super EO, super low formaldehyde emission) ones. Source materials from other places in the house; tiles from the bathroom and old floorboards. Take inventory of the materials you wish to use and Smarter Kitchens can incorporate your repurposed materials in to your new build.

• Remove obstacles. Make recycling bins accessible by placing them within throw’s reach of your bench; removing any obstacle that makes it difficult to use. Slide out bins placed under the bench tops are functional and keep the bin area concealed.

• Renegotiate light. Natural light costs nothing, and makes the most impact. Wherever possible, remove light fixtures in favour of sunlight, automatically improving airflow and cultivating a feeling of space, and ultimately saving you money.

Speak with a Smarter Kitchen’s award winning designer to discover how you and your family will benefit from creating a 21st century sustainable kitchen on 1300 662 838 or arrange free in-home consultation today.

Book a Free In-Home Consultation

I'm ready to renovate!

I would like a FREE in-home consultation and renovation budget.
  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

I'm looking for some advice!

Email me the renovation advice guide
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.