In this episode, Frances explores how renovation TV shows impact our expectations and understanding of the design and build industry. She delves into the difference between the outcomes showcased and the practical challenges of real-life projects, and what is often missed that affect a good design result.

Tune in to gain insights into the reality behind the renovation glamour and learn how to better prepare for your own projects.

In this new episode, Frances explores the concept of adaptive home design for multi-generational living. Discover practical tips for creating flexible, adaptive spaces that can evolve with your family's needs over time, ensuring your home remains future proof if multiple generations live together, including designing for mobility issues and for when we age.

In this insightful episode, fellow interior designer James Treble joins Frances to discuss the art of creating timeless and functional homes.  

Covering topics such as budgeting, future-proofing design principles, and how to get ideas, Treble shares valuable insights for both renovation and new home projects. Whether you're embarking on a home improvement journey or planning your dream home, this conversation offers practical tips to help you maximise value and enhance your quality of living. 

In this Episode of the podcast, Frances discusses the key differences between Butler's Pantries, Walk in Pantries, Pull-out Pantries, Appliance Cupboards, Cupboard Pantries and Step in Pantries. She also walks through the key components of a well-designed walk in pantry, and discusses some key questions relating to pantries – doors, cabinetry fronts, sinks and windows.

SHOWNOTES:

A walk-in pantry has become one of the must-have features within a home. However, if you are trying to create a home that doesn't have a large footprint, perhaps a walk in pantry or butler's pantry is not necessarily going to serve you as much as you think.

Acts as a secondary kitchen that functions not only to store food but also serve as your food preparation area. A sink is the minimum for a Butler's pantry with other appliances an option.

• Sink + window
• 2nd fridge
• Sometimes dishwasher and oven – only if 2nd appliances not instead of kitchen

A space to store food and small appliances such as coffee machine, mix masters, blenders, and microwaves.

Usually a cupboard used for storing food but doesn't have enough space to store your appliances. Traditional pantries are a good solution when you don't have much space for a walk-in pantry.

Can be used instead of a walk-in pantry to store appliances when space is tight. If it's combined with your pantry space, it can reduce the amount of food you can store in your pantry.

• It can have roller doors, bi-fold doors, etractable doors that go back into the wall, or hinged doors

To make good use of corners, we often design what we call a step-in pantry. It creates the illusion of a walk-in pantry and gives a bit of bench space where you can place your appliances, and also your food

• Items are not easily accessible
• Sides are not always high enough to store tall bottles
• Items tend to fall over if not packed in, which can be annoying
• Wire frames not great to visibility and holding items fixed

For a better solution, use a pull-out system with specially designed hardware that is designed much better. Companies such as Blum or Hettich have specially designed pull out drawer pantry systems.

A Butler's pantry and walk-in pantry is an area where you can store things away. It is not an area that is meant to be revealed for guests.For this reason, I suggest the following;-

• Items are visible, accessible because of its open shelves.
• Drawers for cans, spices, small items – cake decorating stuff
• Sliding door – to keep the space out of view
• If doors are not possible, you may need to have cabinetry doors
• Open shelves for platters can get dusty, but still allows for clear visibility of everything you store.
• Allows you to store long and wide items or appliances that you don't use all the time.
• If you have the space, you may add a sink and a window for a natural lighting – really good for dumping dishes, coffee prep, baking prep
• It may also be an opportunity for you to create a different Splashback- only needs to be 500mm high
• Same benchtop as kitchen or opt for laminate top to save money

You can't really design something until you know what you need. The functionality, your lifestyle, how you cook, how you prepare food, how are you going to use the space drives the design.

White Pebble Interiors will let you complete a deep dive need assessment (Clear Clarity Design Worksheet) to understand what you need and where you will be storing everything as part of kitchen design.

• It allows you to think about what you need, instead of 'just want a WIP'
• That will determine if you need a WIP or butler's pantry
• What needs to go in one?
  • 2ndfridge – drinks fridge, entertaining fridge, overflow
  • microwave,
  • Daily appliance use: coffee machine, toaster, kettle
  • Dry good, appliances
  • Platters, entertaining items, cook books
• How many of you are using that space (cooking and food preparation)?
• How can you use that space in a better way?

A walk- in pantry can sometimes be as large as a bathroom – can you use that space in a better way in your home?

Available Services:

BOOK A CHAT

Ready to renovate or create your kitchen but not sure where to start?

Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. Click here to get access to Frances' calendar.

KITCHEN ONLINE COURSE WAITLIST

Ready to design and create your own beautiful kitchen?

Get all the interior designer insider knowledge in this online course to create your dream kitchen.

Join the waitlist so you're the first to know about this course; https://www.whitepebbleinteriors.com.au/kitchen-design-online-course/

KITCHEN BLISS PACKAGE

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.

We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more: https://www.whitepebbleinteriors.com.au/new-homes-and-renovations/#kitchen

Related Resources:

Episode 47: Kitchen Design Essentials – Key Kitchen Measurements

Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials - Internal Elevations & Joinery Design

Read our latest blog on Internal Elevations and Joinery Design here.

Episode 43: Kitchen Design Essentials – Flatpack Vs Custom Designed Kitchens

Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials 

Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks

Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2 

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

Frances is not a fan of TVs being the focal point in a room. In this Forever Home Live, she walks through different options for TV placement, and how they do not necessarily have to be wall-mounted and centered on the wall. She discusses how to balance the TV with other items in the room so it's not all about the TV! Finally, she talks about TVs above a fire and why this is not ideal.

In this episode Frances outlines the essential measurements to ensure your kitchen is functional and workable. She discusses the kitchen triangle and the theory behind how this works in your kitchen, cabinetry size standards, appliances, splashbacks and also some of the regulations to check.

SHOWNOTES

Kitchen Triangle

You need to be able to access things easily and move between key areas for food preparation such as your sink, fridge,stove top and ovens. Ideally, it you need to have a maximum of 7 metres between all these areas.

The theory behind it is-;

• Have bench space near the fridge so you can put your items down
• Adequate space next to the stovetop
• Easily unpack dishes from the dishwasher
• Space on either side of the sink (i.e for handwashing, preparation, washing vegetables and etc)

• Check your local regulations with regards to how close a water source can be next to electricity– normally at least 500mm.

Splashbacks

Check with the local building regulations but as a guide.

• Electric - 600mm between the stove and overhead cupboards
• Gas - 650mm from top rivet of the stove to underside of the lowest point on overhead cupboards
• Induction – 650mm

The height of your splashback may impact the splashback tile that you choose.

Cabinetry

When we are doing deep dives with our clients, we consider how many people are going to use the kitchen so we can design it specifically on how many people are going to cook or prepare food in that space.

• Between benches - 1000mm minimum is allowable but ideally it should be 1200mm.
• If there are two cooks working together, we would recommend a minimum of 1200mm between benches
• Between the Island bench and dining area, minimum measurement of It gives you adequate space for chairs to be pulled out and still be able to flow and walk between the spaces.
• Ideally, you need 300 millimeters between the edge of the bench and the sink. You don't want to have your sink hard up against the edge of a bench as you have got nowhere to put anything down
• Ideally, the dishwasher should be 500mm from the corner – can also be placed at the end if need be.
• Ideally, 300-400mm bench space either side of stovetop
• Standard bench height is 900mm – go higher if you are taller
• Standard bench depth is 600mm
• Kicker/kickboard which is at the bottom of the cabinetry is generally anywhere between 90 and 150mm. Setback is about 50mm.
• Overhead cupboards are anywhere between 300-350mm deep

Island bench

• Ideally it should be at a metre But in apartments that may not be achievable, so then they would be between 800mm-900mm.
• For benchtop overhangs, 400mm is a good measurement as it allows you to tuck stools under. However, 300mm is also sufficient.
• Benchtop – 8-40mm thick is available in various materials.
  • Island bench can be a feature and be thicker than rear benches
  • Suggest 20mm -25mm – depending on material – 40mm for feature stone
  • Laminate benchtops 33mm as standard
  • Solid acrylic surface can be any thickness

Appliances

• From a functionality perspective, it's better to have your microwaves either on the bench or overhead rather than underneath the bench.
• Standard dishwasher size is 600mm but you can get a smaller size at 450 mm. Not so popular in Australia as they are in Europe.
• Standard wall oven size 600mm – free standing ovens can be 600, 750, 800, 900
• Fridge cavity – minimum 1000mm for a 900mm fridge & 1800mm high. If you want to future proof your space, measure your fridge cavity first so when you upgrade your fridge you will have enough space for the new one.
• Double sink allow about 800mm x 480mm deep

Available Services

BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN DESIGN MADE EASY

Ready to design and create your own beautiful kitchen?

Get all the interior designer insider knowledge in this online course to create your dream kitchen.

Join the waitlist so you're the first to get the launch special offer!

BOOK A CHAT

Ready to renovate or build your kitchen but not sure where to start?

Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. Click here to get access to Frances' calendar; 

KITCHEN BLISS PACKAGE

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.

We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more.

Related Resources:

Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials - Internal Elevations & Joinery Design and you may watch our video for more info here.

Read our latest blog on Internal Elevations and Joinery Design here.

Episode 43: Kitchen Design Essentials – Flatpack Vs Custom Designed Kitchens

Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials

Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks

Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

In this Forever Home Live Frances discusses ceiling heights and why you would opt for an optimal ceiling height of 2.7m at a minimum and why the investment is worth it. As you Forever Home, Frances is a strong believer in getting your building structure right, and ceiling height is one of those core foundations.

Frances is pretty passionate about internal elevations making or breaking the outcome of your home, which is definitely apparent in this episode of the podcast. She outlines what internal elevations are, what advantages they provide, and further, what can go wrong if you don't have proper internal elevations for your kitchen.

Without them, it's like asking your builder to navigate without a map!

In this episode, you'll get to understand why they are so important and how critical they are to you getting your kitchen design right.

SHOWNOTES

So often we see people not fully understanding the investment benefit in having detailed Internal Elevations and Joinery Design completed for their kitchen (and their home)

In today's episode, Frances outlines what you can achieve in completing internal elevations and joinery drawings before the build starts. She covers;

• What are internal elevations and how they make a difference and why they are critical for so many reasons
• How they serves you and your builder
• How not having them can lead to expensive mistakes and design disappointments
• The difference between cabinetry drawings and joinery design

Cabinetry Drawings vs Internal Elevations

Cabinetry drawings show the joinery only, while internal elevations show everything that you will see when facing the wall front on. Think, splashbacks, appliances, tap position etc.

While afloorplan gives you an aerial view of the design, Internal Elevations will show you the detail front on..  Typically, there are four internal elevations for each room showing each wall and what you can see on that wall, as if you are facing it.

• It provides specific details such as;
• Size and placement of cabinetry
• Design and construction notes
• Detailed joinery design- i.e Is it floating?
• Placement of taps
• Tile layout
• Accessory placement
• Handle details
• Anything else that is visible front on

When working from floorplans only,  you, nor your builder can see what is required.

Things that can't be seen in a Floorplan but ONLY shown in on Internal Elevations;

• Are you having cupboards, drawers, how deep, how wide, floating height of cabinetry
• Benchtop thickness, waterfall edges and shadow lines
• Extent of splashback, tiling, feature walls and skirting tile
• Any overhead cabinetry, or shelving, thickness and placement
• Fireplace detail, location, height, surround
• Location of heating and cooling ducts

• Some homeowners feel they can easily instruct the cabinet maker or builder onsite.
  • Cabinet makers are not designers perse. They have great ideas, but may not take into consideration your lifestyle and functionality requirements.
  • Can lead to lots of issues onsite, and miscommunication about what's actually wanted.

• Allows you to have an understanding of how the proposed spaces and rooms will look.
• Helps you visualize, and assists you in making decisions on the location of cupboards, windows, doors, and power points.
• By knowing the position of all the critical items in the room, it allows you to make other dependent decisions such as wall finishes, doors, and windows.
• Lack of good internal elevations leads to unnecessary guesswork on-site for the builder, owner, and contractors. Everyone is looking for answers on how to build and detail certain elements of your home.
• Fair too often we see people with only floorplans showing the aerial view of their cabinetry layout, or internal elevations with minimal design detail which opens up so much room for error, misinterpretation, and misunderstanding about expectations on the final outcome.
• Cabinetry to fit a space without any design consideration around functionality and needs for space is also not design.
• It's a costly exercise to get wrong.

1. Allows you to manage, assess, tweak and finalise exactly what is being built before it is built.
2. Gives you visualisation to make a sound and informed decisions.
3. Fixed price quoting – The builder can quote a fixed price because he can see exactly what's going on.
4. Build accuracy – The builder knows exactly what he needs to build and he knows exactly what is expected of him. He can see the detail and not have to guess or assume anything.
5. Less stress – All details are finalised at plan stage so you're not being rushed to make decisions and being asked things you don't know enough about. 
6. Minimise overwhelm – It's all been decided well before the builder starts.
7. Manage costs – Able to make changes if needed, before the building starts, minimizing variations
8. Mitigate mistakes – Everything is detailed on the drawings which means all parties know what is required of them. And you've had time to explore options  to make the right decisions.
9. Saves you time – Minimise the amount of calls from the builder to seek clarification.
10. Holistic  approach – All the people that are working on your project are working together according to your master plan. When done well, internal elevations may show impacts on spaces or other rooms and being able to have conversations up front to make tweaks and changes for the best overall outcome.

• Some believe that they can instruct the builder and cabinet maker on all the joinery details
• • Think they will save money by not investing in elevations
  • Instructing them at build stage, often with the frame already completed, has a knock on effects of joinery design on others areas such as windows, or doors which  are generally too late to change.
  • Compromises are already occurring 
  • Increases cost when variations occur on site

1. Briefing Session

• What's important to you,
• What functionality requirements you have
• What's the look and feel you want

• Detailed Deep Dive Needs Assessment Allows us to understand your lifestyle

• How you use your kitchen
• What you need to access to
• What you need to store

1. We analyse the Brief and Deep Dive documents. We consider the space, and set about designing with functionality and flow in mind, and how that will meet your needs.

1. We think, collaborate and consult with you so we design something that will fulfill your functionality requirements and your vision.

1. We discuss our Design Rationale with you, highlighting why the design is the way it is, what factors were considered in our approach, and how certain aspects may work better in some layouts than others.

1. It's easy to fill a space with cabinetry, but it's the thinking behind the design that sets homes apart and make them function in the best way possible. Design can look amazing but if it does not work it is a waste design-- Functionality is KING.
2. This arms you with the information you need to make informed decisions. The right decisions for you and your lifestyle.

Available Services

BOOK A CHAT

Ready to renovate or build your kitchen but not sure where to start?

Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. Click here to get access to Frances' calendar; 

KITCHEN ONLINE COURSE WAITLIST

Ready to design and create your own beautiful kitchen?

Get all the interior designer insider knowledge in this online course to create your dream kitchen.

Join the waitlist so you're the first to know about this course;

KITCHEN BLISS PACKAGE

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.

We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more.

Related Resources:

Read our latest blog on Internal Elevations and Joinery Design here.

Episode 43: Kitchen Design Essentials – Flatpack Vs Custom Designed Kitchens

Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials

Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks

Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

In this Forever Home Live, Frances has just been onsite and runs through the type of things she was checking on site, and why you need to negotiate with your builder to get access and be on-site at certain stages of the build to check what's going on.

Feature walls do not necessarily mean a bold colour on one wall in a room! In this Forever Home Live, Frances chats about elements you can use to create a feature wall in your Living Room, with a big emphasis on not having the TV as the focal point. She highlights the use of texture through various materials such as wallpaper, textured paint, Unitex and stone to create impact and layers in a room.

In this episode of the Kitchen Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines some core differences to be aware of between flatpack (off the shelf) and custom-designed kitchens.

She walks through some of the core differences and what compromises may need to be made with a flat pack kitchen with its sizing constraints.

She also discusses material and hardware differences that may impact your decisions. As always, the focus is on Forever Homes, and she chats through compromises that may impact you later on, and cost a lot to rectify.

SHOWNOTES

When it comes to kitchen renovation or building a new kitchen, it can be difficult to decide what route to go down in terms of flatpack or custom kitchens. You may wonder about the difference between a custom and flatpack design, and so in today's episode, Frances chats about the key difference between off the shelf / flat pack kitchens and custom kitchens.

A customized kitchen allows you to create a kitchen that is exactly what you what and needs as it is designed from the outset specifically for you, space and your requirements.  You will generally get a better finish and a wider selection of options to choose from in terms of materials, finish, and hardware.

If you're creating a kitchen for your Forever Home, having the design that you want is important. Compromising on design elements due to flatpack constraints can be a frustration if you're going to live there for 10+ years.

Frances has had flatpack kitchens in two apartments she owned in London and Amsterdam.  She had a top-end Ikea kitchen in Amsterdam and put her own stamp on it by adding handmade splashback tiles. However, she too at to compromise on the design outcome as cabinetry components did not go wall to wall and so she ended up with a gap at one end, which wasn't ideal.

• Limitations on the height of cabinetry – Flatpack has a standard cabinetry height so it won't go as high as you would like or need.
• Not all cabinetry sizes will suit the exact measurements of the kitchen which may compromise the aesthetic or functional aspect of your kitchen.
• Often don't have solid backs – Flatpack kitchens frequently have a flimsy backing board, it goes straight to wall – just like on a Billy Bookcase. Customised normally provides for a  minimum 16mm backing compared to abput4mm for a flatpack.
• Can be limited in choice of materials, colors, and finishes
• Hinges and hardware are not as normally as good quality –  They won't have a lifetime guarantee
• It's can be time-consuming to install a flat pack kitchen.
• With the additional labour cost, a flat pack kitchen may not be a cheaper option.
• If ordering online – there is no room for error. You are responsible for the precise measurements to get the right size materials, so you bare the risk if it's incorrect.  Also, if ordering online, ensure to get samples of the materials as colours can be different online.  
• Sometimes a flatpack kitchen can be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole to make it all work.

• Built by a cabinet maker, so everything can be cut it to size and be precise. A designer and a Cabinet Maker – A designer is designing the kitchen cabinetry with a lot of consideration for functionality, flow, and owner requirements. A cabinet maker is the maker of the design, so is not necessarily considering other factors and may only be looking at cabinetry to fit the space.
• Design is not just about the material and how many cupboards or drawers you can fit into space. Kitchen design is about how it works and flows and how and where you access what you need in terms of food prep, storage, cleaning and so forth, which all needs to be considered in-depth for a custom design
• Fully custom
  • Give you more options in terms of Colour, Material, Finish and overall Design
  • Able to consider additional hardware features- i.e retractable pantry or bi-fold doors or other hardware features from kitchen hardware specialists
  • No 'make do' when sizes don't fit – can be made to fit so it looks right.
• Material sheet size dependent on material type. Std sizes: 2440/2700 x 1200mm. Having a customised kitchen allows you to work with different thickness of materials- i.e 16, 18, 25 & 33mm, which can be used for different aspects of your kitchen.
• Add little details important to you and accessories
  • Specific drawer sizes, custom bin systems.
• More flexibility on where you store what you need and how it's stored to suit you.
• Have the things as you want as you are involved in the design process.
• Add in design features not always available with flat-pack Eg – retractable doors, BLUM pantry drawer system, customized drawer inners.
• Can choose to have it made from materials higher durability, which may not be the case with flatpack materials.

Your kitchen is a space that needs to work super hard for you. It is the hub of the home where we entertain, do homework, and catch up with friends. A customised kitchen is designed to fit your needs and lifestyle which is an important element when building your Forever Home. Therefore, Frances always advises her clients to plan their kitchen carefully and get it designed as it's well worth the investment for your Forever Home.   

Available Services:

Book- a-chat

If you're thinking about renovating or building your own "Forever Home", get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her.

Kitchen Design Sanity Check

Kitchens are such an important part of any home and they need to work super hard for you. Getting the design right is critical to the functionality, flow and useability of the space ultimately affecting your lifestyle.

Want a second opinion on your kitchen plan? Book a kitchen design sanity check today.

Kitchen Bliss Package

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.

We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more.

Related Resources:

Why Internal Elevations are Critical for Your Home

Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials

Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks

Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2 

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On-

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top 

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right cabinetry material for your kitchen. Budget, aesthetics, cleaning requirements and durability are just a few. In this episode, Frances outlines seven different materials to consider and some of the reasons they would work well in your kitchen, or if you may need to think about something different to meet your needs.

Often people resort to the products they know, rather than being aware of all that's available and selecting a product that will really work for them and their lifestyle. This episode will arm you with information on the many options out there.

Finally, Frances chats about kickers and how they can be approached in the design of your kitchen.

SHOWNOTES

There are many factors to consider in terms of what you choose for your Forever Home Kitchen and how it's going to serve you as you need it to.

• Durability- invest in products that are going to last
• Aesthetic- The type of door profile that you choose can impact the type of material you can choose for your kitchen cabinetry
  • Door design and profile
  • Colour
• Cleaning Requirements
  • Easy to clean
• Budget

Types of Cabinet Materials

Pros

• Has a hardened surface- it won't peel
• There's a wide range of colours to choose from
• Available in different sheen levels- matte, satin and metallic
• No edging as the paint wraps around the door front and sides
• Wraps seamlessly around the corners
• It is available in any door profile
• Tight and crisp edging

Cons

• Can chip easily, particularly if you are using a fingerless pull
• Not suggested for family kitchens or those with heavy user expectations

Has had a bad reputation during the nineties for peeling particularly cupboards close to heat sources. However, because of technology improvements it has also improved significantly over the years.

Pros

• Vacuum sealed
• Has great durability
• Ideal for family kitchen as less susceptible to chipping
• Available in multiple array of door profiles
• It wraps around the door edging providing a seamless edge

Cons

• Profile doors may not have profiles as sharp as with 2Pac
• Not suitable for particularly high cabinetry doors because it can warp overtime

Pros

• Available in different finishes- natural, satin, gloss, matte, fingerprint and chemical resistant finishes, wood grain or embossed finishes
• Can be cost-effective depending on the finish you are choosing
• It is available with a matching ABS edging tape to match the door fronts
• It comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes

Cons

• Unlike 2Pac and Thermal wrap, it doesn't wrap around the door front for seamless edging.

A premium product that has a very thin slice of real timber on furniture grade MDF.

Pros

• Sustainable and natural product.

Cons

• High-end premium product - requires a higher budget for high-end kitchens
• It is not as durable as other materials, as it can absorb moisture
• Higher maintenance than other products as needs gentle cleaning
• Can scratch more easily than other products.

Dekton by Cosentino is a product that can be used for anything. From floors to façades to benchtops and cabinetry fronts.

Pros

• Pretty much indestructible
• Graffiti proof- Your kids can draw all over it
• Very Durable
• Scratch-resistant
• Sun resistant.
• Suitable for outdoors
• Comes in different industrial style finishes- iron, burnished metal

Cons

• Higher price point compared to thermal wrap and laminate

Pros

• Can break up the aesthetic of solid cabinetry fronts.
• Appealing for those who wish to showcase cupboard contents
• Glass comes in various types for different looks eg, clear, frosted, fluted

Cons

• Not great if you want to hide cupboard contents
• Can be expensive
• Requires frequent cleaning - streaking

Kickers are the piece of material that runs from the bottom of the cupboard to the floor. They are generally between 100 and 150 mm high and rebated back from the cabinetry front.

• Different materials can create a different aesthetic and contrast to the cabinetry.
• Some considerations: Stainless steel, stone, thermal wrap, 2Pac or laminate

Available Services:

Small changes to your home's floor plan can completely revolutionise its functionality. A 'sanity check' can give you incredible inspiration or confirm you're on the right track with your new build or renovation.

Book a Floor Plan Sanity Check with us and have one of our team look over your plans.

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.

We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more.

If you're thinking about renovating or building your own "Forever Home", get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her. 

Related Resources:

Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks

Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops- 

In this Forever Home Live, Frances shares her story as a Small Business owner during Covid 19 Stage 4 lockdown and what it means for her business White Pebble Interiors. She outlines how as a small business she has been able to adapt, be flexible and still serve her clients, and use the processes and systems that are already in place from serving regional and interstate clients for several years now.

She is super grateful and proud, that she can has not laid off any staff, and is proud to employ a team during this time.

Frances delves into the engineered stone ban in Australia and explores alternative options for homeowners. From porcelain to laminate, Frances discusses factors such as durability, aesthetics, and budget, advising listeners on many alternatives available and why you may choose one material over another for your benchtops.  

Splashbacks can be a key feature of your kitchen and create a real point of difference. In this episode Frances outlines several splashback materials including glass, stone, windows, mirror and porcelain, that can be used, including her favourite – tiles. Further, she discusses how a splashback is a wonderful opportunity to inject colour, texture or shape into your kitchen. She is a real advocate in the splashback being a chance to reflect your personality and create a point a difference.

SHOWNOTES:

Adding a splashback is a great way to make a statement and inject some of what you love into your kitchen. A splashback is a great opportunity to inject, colour, shape or texture to differentiate your kitchen and make it a reflection of what you love.

Stone

• Seamless between benchtop and splashback.
• Unified and seamless look
• Easy to clean

Types of Stones

• Reconstituted Stone (e.g Caesarstone, Silestone, Smart stone)- It's not something that can be used as a Splashback with a stovetop that has a naked flame due to the resin used in its production.
• Natural stone is not bound by resin or polymer so it can be used close to a naked flame.

Porcelain/Dekton 

• Same aesthetic as stone for a seamless finish.
• Fire-resistant, so able to be used with a gas cooktop

Glass

• Maintenance: Needs to be cleaned regularly – may look streaky
• Can be a bland aesthetic
• Not as cost-effective as other options
• Colour changes behind the glass due to the green tint in the glass

Mirror

• Sophisticated
• Creates an illusion of space, so great for small kitchens.
• Bronzed or tinted mirror add an additional level of sophistication
• Maintenance of regular  cleaning
• Cleaning can also make it look streaky
• Quite expensive

Window

• Ensure there is a view out from the window (greenery, landscaping), so there is something to look out to.
• Great for bringing the outside in
• Maintenance- needs daily cleaning

Tiles

• Adds personality, colour, shape and texture to your kitchen.
• A lot of variety to choose from at varying price points.
• Amazing choice and variety to choose from
• Creates a beautiful point of difference
• Can be more -effective

• Grout – can be spray sealed or use epoxy grout that is nonporous and won't discolour.

Metaline

• Great for makeovers when you don't want to strip out your current splashback or want simple cost effective option.
• Slight reflective metallic finish 3mm applied directly over current splashback.
• Can be easily cut and installed by a cabinet maker
• Limited colours
• Has a similar effect to glass type look

• Think about GPOs in splashback and how they impact the aesthetic.

         Are there any other options available? Do you want to use             Pop up GPOs?

• Budget, your style, colours, maintenance have it as a feature or not.

Available Services;

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating stylish, functional and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit space, and your requirements.

We offer several kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more.

Get the help of an expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. White Pebble Interiors provides the vision and direction you need, offering innovative solutions that will maximise the floor plan, space available and colour scheme. Book a chat here;

Related Resources:

Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

In this episode, Frances continues the benchtop discussion outlining an additional 10 benchtop materials to consider. She also outlines the criteria to assist in deciding what benchtop material is going to be the best for your kitchen.

SHOWNOTES

In the last episode of the Kitchen Design Essential (episode 36), 3 key materials were discussed with Laura from Cosentino;

• Dekton
• Reconstituted Stone
• Natural Stone

In this episode, Frances cover other benchtop materials including Recycled glass, porcelain, Paperock, Timber, Solid acrylic surface (Corian), Concrete, stainless steel, laminate.

• Budget

Product

Cost

Laminate

Low

Porcelain

High Low

Paper Rock

Low

Timber

Medium Low

Stainless steel

High Medium

Solid acrylic surface (Corian)

High

Polished Concrete

High

100% recycled glass

High

85% Recycled glass

Medium High

• Durability
• Type of cook and you are
• How else you use your kitchen –
  • Type of entertaining
  • Homework
  • Casual eating
• Aesthetic
  • How it fits in the home
  • How aesthetic will reflect the kitchen you have
• Details that are important to you – no joins, thickness – 40mm or more
• Maintenance
• Durability
• Material size - Standard slab size: 2800-3200mm x 1000-1200mm
• Overhang
  • Overhang on island bench – 300-400mm – not all materials allow for overhang more than 300mm (eg, Dekton), so check.
• Waterfall edges
  • Good for durability – hardier material as gets knocked into a lot with kids.
• How thick do you want the benchtop?
  • May like thinner and have shadow lines
  • Solid acrylic surface can be as thick as you like it – no limit
  • Laminate – difference thicknesses with square or rolled edge (bullnosed)
  • Concrete – no limit and cast to suit requirements like solid acrylic
  • Reconstituted stone – 20mm and then thicker is achieved with a piece added to the face.

• 100% recycled glass– Newish Product available in the market.
  • Heat-treated
  • Compacted and looks like stone
  • Sustainable

 More expensive than a reconstituted stone

• Only available in limited colors

• 85% Recycled glass– It is bound with bio-resin so the glass particles are visible – like a terrazzo.

Can be mixed with different colored glass or one colour, and you can make it a big feature.

• Porcelain– a ceramic material made by heating materials
  • Can have a thin profile - 6mm thick
  • Very durable and resistant to wear and tear
  • Stronger than granite – can be compared to Dekton – but not made of minerals.

Not made of minerals but a porcelain product

• They come in big slabs so they can be tricky onsite
• Paperock– layer upon layer of renewable paper sources and bonded with resin and heat/pressure cured.
  • It is a remarkably strong composite building material suitable for wet areas
  • Sustainable
  • Most cost effective than stone
  • Timber – 
  • Sustainable
  • Natural product

• • • Needs maintenance- sanding, and sealing. Special sealer available via Ecotimber than makes suitable for wet areas.
• Solid acrylic surface -It is made with a mold, can make any shape or thickness.
  • Great for curved benchtops and illuminating
  • Has technology to create charger in benchtop
  • No joins
  • Repairable
  • Non -porous and hygienic
    • The darker color are more susceptible to the scratches being visible compared to a lighter color.
    • A little bit more expensive than a reconstituted stone.
• Concrete- freeform concrete is often made on site. It is made with a mold so it can be any color or shape
  • any shape or colour
  • no joints
  • Very durable
    • Will chip and crack – can be fixed
    • Not completely stain resistant
• Stainless steel-
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Stain resistant
  • Heat and fire resistantsurface
  • Easy to clean
  • Timeless
    • Can scratch and smear when cleaned
    • Not a cost -effective option
• Laminate
  • Cost effective – lots of different finishes mimic stone, concrete
    • Different edged finishes
    • Not heat resistance and can stain
    • Not water resistant if water gets into particle board under surface - it will expand
    • Can't have undermount sink with it.

There are so many choices for your benchtops. We encourage that you do your research and ensure you have the right benchtop to suit all your needs. Look at your objectives, the things that are important to you, and any sustainable criteria.  

Engaging with an interior designer might help you determine what's best for you, when there is so much choice available.  

Available Resources:

Overwhelmed by the number of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional, and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.

We offer several kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more: 

If you're thinking about renovating or building your own "Forever Home", get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her.

Events

We have a full calendar of Webinars throughout the year, so be sure to view our Events page to find out about upcoming events.

Related Resources:

Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops 

In this Forever Home Live Frances discusses the reasons for opting for good quality upholstered furniture and the options it provides you over decades of use. She discusses fabric considerations, construction, the sustainability considerations, and outlines what reupholstering can provide and the impact on your choices today.

She walks through solutions for families and how to maximise the life of your good quality furniture,

If you're in the market to buy new or replace your upholstered furniture, this gives you some great advice and insight about your purchase.

In this episode, part 1 of benchtops in the series, Frances welcomes her guest, Laura Neville from Cosentino to discuss three main benchtop applications – reconstituted stone, natural stone (by Cosentino), and Dekton.

They outline the differences between the 3 products and why you may choose one over the other, considering functionality, durability, budget, and aesthetics. Fabulous insight is provided on manufacturing differences, cost differences, and application.

SHOW NOTES

Things to consider when choosing for benchtops

• Think about how you are going to use the kitchen 5-10 years' time

• Are there cooks in the family?
• Do you have a large family?
• Is budget a constraint?

• Durability and longevity of the product

• Budget

• Natural light in the kitchen space

• Finish preference for the benchtop

• Polished finish
• Matte Finish
• Suede Finish

• Color and Design of the overall kitchen and home

• Maintenance

Reconstituted Stone

Depending on the brand, reconstituted stone is a mix of different minerals that are bound together with an acrylic resin to create a workable surface. It is guaranteed to maintain consistency in aesthetics throughout the slab, so if you are after consistency, this is a great choice.   The customization of your kitchen is stone to the look of your stone through choices of colour, texture, and composition.

Cosentino treats nearly all of their reconstituted stone slabs with a coating called N-boost. Its a technology they've developed to minimise the porosity of the stone, preventing the absorption of everyday kitchen liquids (including red wine and lemon).

Silestone brand reconstituted stone    

• Minimal amount of resin which does not discolor the slab over time
• Offered in 12-20mm slabs
• Flexibility in the thickness
• Has N-boost technology
• Cosentino offers a 25-year warranty on all of their product
• Has a beautiful suede finish option made in Spain

Other brands of reconstituted stone

• High percentage of resin - Will discolor the slab over time
• Not available in all finish types – particularly matte or suede finish
• May not have as many colour options available
• Warranty not as long

Disadvantages of reconstituted stone

• Not able to be used outdoors
• Can't be used behind gas as a splashback
• Not heat resistant
• Can change colour over time if high quantities of resin present in the product
• Can stain if stain in left for a period of time

Dekton

A mix of different natural minerals that are liquified, compressed, and baked. It often compared to porcelain but is a different composition.  Dekton is classified as an ultra-compact surface. It is more durable as it is completely solid the whole way through. It can be applied to any surface such as kitchen benchtops, stair treads, swimming pools, cabinetry fronts, floors, saunas, and facades.

Pros

• Durability- Dekton has virtually zero porosity
• Heat Resistant
• No issues with discoloration when heat touches the surface
• Low care and maintenance, perfect for cooks and families
• Graffiti proof
• Available in 6mm,8mm,12mm

Cons

• More costly for a stonemason to prepare than stone.

Natural Stone

Sensa by Cosentino

Sensa by Cosentino is a natural stone that consists of granite and quartzite. It is treated with a coating developed called Senguard.

Pros

• Virtually zero porosity
• Heat resistant up to 300 degrees
• Can be used in exterior applications
• It has a Dekton finish that is durable and hard-wearing

Cons

• Expensive- starts at the mid-range of Dekton

You can find Cosentino's showroom in every major city in Australia. And you can find different colors and sampling across all the products i\on their website. https://www.cosentino.com/

Available services;

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional, and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit space, and your requirements.

We offer several kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation, or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more: 

Get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her.

Upcoming Event;

Gain essential insight and avoid costly mistakes at the 'Forever Home Kitchen Masterclass' Webinar presented by leading interior designer and author of 'Your Forever Home', Frances Cosway of White Pebble Interiors. It will be on Thursday, 30th July 2020 at 7:00pm- 8:00 pm AEST.

Click here to register; 

Related Resources;

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight 

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

In this Forever Home Live Frances discusses the option of having a mirrored or window splashback and their advantages and disadvantages. The ability to create extra light, to create a sense of space, yet also the high requirement of frequent cleaning.

This episode brings back our guest Fabieli Fontana, from White Pebble Interiors. She and Frances discuss some of the key design mistakes they have seen (and mitigated). Windows in a location that compromise design and functionality, the consideration of materials, and how they affect design outcomes. Some big-scale issues with pantries, using corners, right down to little details such as lining up cabinetry, power point locations, picture windows, and visual bulk mitigation. They discuss how the rationale of the kitchen design is critical to understanding how it works. That your desires may not be a functional choice, so understanding the rationale of the design is crucial in the process.

Finally, they cover why elevations are so important to design details and discuss how not having them leads to big issues later on.

SHOWNOTES

Frances and Fabi discuss some of the key design mistakes they've encountered while working as interior designers and the impact they have on kitchen design.

In many instances, if design mistakes are picked up early on , they can improve the aesthetic or functionality of the kitchen.

In this episode, they share the design mistakes and what changes they suggested to improve the outcome for the client.

Key Kitchen Design Mistakes

Windows

                No openable windows- Make sure you have  openable windows as kitchens need natural ventilation.

                Window Locations  Consider window frames aligning with cabinetry, centre sinks and taps on centre panes of windows, and balance splashbacks with windows for correct proportions. An example  Fabi and Frances discuss is that of a kitchen with a highlight window not centred above the cabinetry, and the window being too low that it affected the cabinetry height – making looks stumpy, but also affecting storage. This was picked up early allowing discussions with the architect to have the window moved and the size changed

                 Wish list Vs practicality – You may desire  an open island bench for seating at one end, but if space is tight, storage is scant and the dining table is close by – functionality over a wish list item may not be a smart design option.   Looking at the kitchen design as a whole, not in isolation makes for a better overall outcome for the home.

                Stovetops under windows are not everyone's ideal. They may look amazing, but cleaning the grease off  the window each day is not everyone's idea of fun and is not regarded as low maintenance.  

Internal Elevations and Joinery Design

Sometimes people feel they will save money by not getting elevation drawings done for their kitchen, and rely on the floorplan and talking to the cabinet maker.  

This is a dangerous route to take and will inevitably lead to big mistakes, little mistakes and regrets. Precise details will be unknown, exact layouts uncertain, and details for proper construction and quoting incredibly limited. As Jeremy Gates said on the previous podcast (Builder's Insight" – {MICHAELA _ ADD LINK}not having proper drawings is one of the biggest mistakes leading to under capitalisation on your overall kitchen outcome.

Fridges

Fridges are deeper than standard cabinetry depth, so clearance for door operation needs to be factored into the design.   Allow enough clearance between the wall and the back of the refrigerator for adequate air circulation. And if a flush fridge with cabinetry is desired, benchtops and cabinetry will need to be altered to allow for this.

Place fridges to the outer edge of kitchen design for easy access. Ensure you have space between the fridge and bench. Ideally  1.1 metres.

Material Selection

Some materials may not be suitable for your design. Thermo doors may warp if too long, sheet sizes may not be large enough for cupboard doors.

Galley kitchens, pantries and laundries link up in a linear fashion. Flooring considerations for aesthetic purposes along with wet area functionality need to be determined. The mistake of breaking the floor line leads to be substandard finish. Minimal flooring types in a home make for a more refined finish and continuity across spaces.

U-shaped Pantry

Dealing with corners in a U-Shaped kitchen can be tricky. Both Frances and Fabi use a design solution for dealing with corners that allows for a step-in pantry, that also uses an otherwise underutilised corner.

Powerpoint Locations

                Imagine having a stunning splashback, but then see a  white powerpoint popping out. This is something that can be avoided, with planning and using alternatives that allow your splashback to take centre stage.  

Designer Rationale

A lot of detailed planning and thinking goes into a professional kitchen design. It stops many mistakes happening as a detailed analysis of space is going on in the design process. Don't underestimate the mistakes that can be avoided due to this. You should be able to ask your designer for their rationale and thinking behind the design they have created. There is likely to be many aspects they have been considered that may not be obvious to you, so understanding the rationale behind the design lets you understand this process.  

Design is thinking and planning, so your designer should be able to explain their rationale for something being the way it is. Your designer will pick up things that you hadn't even thought about or realised made a difference.

Available Services

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating stylish, functional and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit space, and your requirements.

We offer several kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more: 

If you're thinking about renovating or building your own "Forever Home", get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her

Related Resources:

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder's Insight

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

In this Forever Home Live Frances is on holidays, and chats about holiday homes in general and what they represent to her. She references how holidays during Covid 19 are a different beast, and how people are now diverting their holiday funds to improving their home. She chats about the implications of Covid 19 lockdown 2 for Melbourne and how her business has pivoted to service clients in the 'new normal'. She also references the great desire by many to paint original timber accents and features in a home and her view on this.

This Kitchen Design Essentials episode has special guest, Jeremy Gates from Gaia Construction chat with Frances about some of the key mistakes people make when embarking on creating a new kitchen – and not really understanding the impact of these decisions. Jeremy shares his vast experience as a carpenter and builder on how to avoid mistakes when designing your kitchen, and how a builder can really assist you to meet expectations if engaged early on in the process. A very insightful discussion for getting your kitchen right.

SHOW NOTES

Jeremy Gates Managing Director of Gaia Construction joined Frances in this episode to discuss kitchen design and mistakes, from a builder's perspective.

The biggest oversight that creates problems for builders from a kitchen design perspective;

• When somebody has a concrete floor and it's difficult to get the plumbing in, or there will be damage to the current floor.
• If you put it in a induction cooktop, and depending on what your fuse board, you may need to upgrade it. 
• Communicating you have a water point for the  fridge

Anything can be done but the implication is the cost. Being informed allows you to make the right decisions that matter to you.

When designing kitchens, builders look at it from the practicality point of view and how it can be constructed.

The best way to approach designing your kitchen

Decide on a budget as it often decides which direction the kitchen is going to be.

• What are the finishes?
• Have you got a young family?
• How are you going to use the kitchen?
• Is it the hub of the home?
• Do you do lots of cooking?
• What are the appliances you want in there?

Have a look  friends kitchens and what may also work for you.

Work out on the appliances you need

• Do you need a wine fridge?
• Coffee machine
• Steam oven
• Double oven
• Cooktop size

Think about storage and make sure everything is in the right place Engage with an expert

• Get people on your job that are going to share the journey with you, that put your priorities first. If you want something that they don't really think works properly, that's fine. Understand their reasoning, so you can make the right decisions.
• They need to listen and really understand what you're trying to achieve because it is your kitchen, not theirs.

The best time to engage a builder

Engage with a builder early on so you can start seeing realistic costs compared to your budget. It's good to have an idea about what's realistic in terms of what your expectations are.

Avoid building a kitchen without joinery design

The cabinet maker's job is to build what is drawn. To do their job properly it has to be drawn properly as joinery drawings, so it's easy to review, quote accurately, and adjust if needed. The drawings are essential to provide details such as drawer handles, depth of our drawers, exact measurements, and materials.

Best way to work with a builder

For Jeremy, the first meeting is at no charge. Once you engage the builder it will be for a fixed fee treat your builder as a professional. Ensure they are qualified, and consider their vested interest when giving advice.

Things that clients can do at the detriment to themselves and the end result

• They design the kitchen themselves and end up paying \
• They under-capitalise in their kitchen, which is just as bad as over capitalising! Eg. Not making the best use of space in your kitchen. Not being aware of products that are available, that can improve the design, functionality, durability, and aesthetics of the kitchen.

Number one tip for those who want to renovate or build a new kitchen

Find a designer and a builder that have the same priorities as you. Somebody who is on the same journey with you and your kitchen. You have to be comfortable with the people you're working with. You've got to keep focused on the fact that it's your journey and that you are able to relate to the people on your team. If you don't actually get along with them or relate to them, you're never going to get the proper outcome anyway.

Learn more about Gaia Construction and Jeremy's Services here

Available Services

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating stylish, functional and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours go with eachother? We offer several different kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more.

If you're thinking about renovating or building your own "Forever Home", get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her.

Related Resources:

A Beginner's Guide to Reading Building

Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On

Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location

Episode 31: Forever Home LIVE- Styles - and how a brief determines the outcome

The five building stages

What you need to know before you build

The building stages and what to expect

In this Forever Home Live, Frances discusses the outcome of projects and how they are determined by the brief for the designer. She chats about how the style created in a place is the outcome of the brief, and that as a designer, she may not necessarily like everything personally herself, but as long as it's cohesive, has flow, and colours, tones and materials all relate to each other – this is the important part. And most importantly, the client loves it. She gives some examples of recent clients, and their briefs and how that will determine the outcome they create for the clients.

Where your kitchen is located in the home, and getting the layout right is critical to good kitchen design. In this episode, Frances, and guest Interior Designer, Fabieli Fontana talk about the different locations of a kitchen in the home, along with different layouts and what some of the advantages and disadvantages are of each. An interesting discussion between two interior designers on optimum kitchen design!

SHOW NOTES

When it comes to kitchen design, there really is more to it than meets the eye. It is important to know how to determine the best location and design layouts for your kitchen to make sure that your space is functional in a way that suits you and your family's lifestyle needs.

Things to consider in choosing the right location for your kitchen

• Good access to natural light
• Other rooms that you are designing
• Personal preference for kitchens to be located
• Internal position
• How can you make things work the best way it can be with the conditions you have

Discussion in this episode covers

South Facing Kitchen

Possible issues with west and east facing kitchens

How your kitchen is located in terms of access to the outdoors
Use of servery windows, outdoor dining, views to garden, play areas and possible pool

Orientation of your kitchen
Consider where you are going to prepare food or where you're going to be standing when you have guests – how does this affect your vision of what's going on in the rest of the house.

Views and Windows
How they impact your kitchen design – in terms of capturing views, access to ventilation, and impact on cabinetry.

Floor plan is king!
It's important to get the design and layout of the kitchen right, while it's still on paper, as it's very difficult to change it later without going through large expense Spend the time analysing how your location and flows are going to work before you even start getting into details of joinery design

Key Design Kitchen Layouts overview

• Galley Style Kitchen
  • Can be one wall or dual-sided
  • Space-saving option

• L-shaped
  • Works well in terms of storage and an easy layout to work with. Provides a lot of design flexibility
  • You can also move around the kitchen
  • Butler's pantries easily flow from these designs

• U-shaped
  • Designed with either attached benchtop or floating island bench when attached, can make flow and access less than ideal.
  • Have more corners to deal with

When we're designing kitchens, we always conduct a  Kitchen Deep Dive, to consider and design around our client's unique lifestyle and personal requirements to come up with a solution that would meet their needs, takes the whole home into consideration so flow and the overall design is integrated.

• Kitchen Triangle
  • The kitchen triangle is not something to get fixated on.
  • Ideally, the triangle needs to be up to seven meters cumulative so that you're not working more than seven meters between key elements of the kitchen.
  • Key is not to have key components of a kitchen, such as an oven or pantry, crossing a thoroughfare

Available Services:

Will your floor plan, and particularly your kitchen, work for you for years to come? Get a second opinion from an expert team. Find out more about our Floor Plan Sanity Check.

Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional, and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours go with each other? We offer several different kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation, or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more.

Related Resources:

How to Choose the Right Bench Top

Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

Top 5 ways to make best use of your floorplan

Creating "Forever Home" floorplans and getting them right

Kitchen Design Essentials - Season Overview

Kitchen Design Essentials - How to Determine What You Need in Your Kitchen

Frances sits down with Lauren Li, author of 'The New French Look', to discuss the French approach to design and decorating. They explore the core components of the "New French Look," along with regional variations, along with what sets French design apart from the Australian approach.  

A fabulous episode on the intricacies of lifetsyle and the impact it has on design, along with discovering how to infuse a touch of France into your own home. 

Frances recorded this Forever Home Live during the Covid 19 isolation period, when many people were working from home for long periods of time. She talks about what you can do to create a working from home space that is productive, personal and allow you to work in a happy environment. Lots of tips to allow you to carve out your own space!

In this Forever Home Live, Frances outlines reasons why having a door on your walk in pantry is a good idea. She talks about the ideal door scenarios too!

What do you need to do before you start designing your dream kitchen? In this episode, as part of the Kitchen Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines how you determine what you need in your kitchen (rather than worrying about what everyone else has) and how to determine the what, how and where for your storage requirements, critical to the foundation of your overall kitchen design.

Frances also discusses the importance of your lifestyle, and your cooking requirements to really determine what you need in your kitchen and how you need it to work for you. Being the hub of many family homes, kitchens need to perform many roles, and be many things, so thinking about how you live and what you need out of your kitchen is critical to getting a design that works.

SHOWNOTES

As kitchens are the main hub of a family the home, they have multiple functions. From cooking to casual eating areas, breakfast bars to entertainment zones homework areas and workspaces. All in all, your kitchen needs to be designed around your needs and work super hard for you.

In this episode Frances walks through the essential elements to consider when you are determining what you need in your kitchen.

She emphases the point that your Forever Home should be designed for yourself, your family and what you need, not what other people's expectations are.
This is also the beauty of creating your own Forever Home kitchen, as it's all about you and what you need and want from your kitchen. This is where an external party can assist you to think outside the box and provide solutions you haven't even thought of or knew were available.

Things to think about when determining what you need in your kitchen.

What type of cook you are and how you need the kitchen to work.

• How often do you entertain?
• Do you bake often, make jam and preserve food?
• Determine the space you'll need for food prep and the appliances you'll need.

How does the kitchen needs to perform for you and your family.

• If cooking infrequently, perhaps it will be more of a show kitchen.
• How much lateral space do you need for food prep
• Entertainment zone, casual dining area and breakfast bar.

For your storage think about what, how and where you need to store items. Eg, appliances, tea and coffee station, kids prep area, baking,

• Bins, chopping boards, cookware, crockery, glasses, and mugs.
• Plastic containers, pens/paper, tea towels.
• Do you want anything on show?

Available Services:
The Kitchen Deep Dive mentioned in the Podcast is available to clients designing or specifying their kitchens with White Pebble Interiors.

If you need assistance, get in touch! We are here to help you get the best out or your kitchen. 

Get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her 

Related Resources:
How to Choose the Right Bench Top
The Art of Decluttering Podcast

To black or not to black – that is the question often asked of interior designers regarding black tapwear and accessories. Will they date, and should you use them? Frances discusses this topic in this Forever Home Live, putting her view forward, along with industry experts she's chatted with too. And if you do decide to use black – how to buy quality.

In this FB Live Frances chats about rugs and how to choose them. She discusses the use of rugs to anchor a space, and creating a soft space to relax on. She outlines their other uses for noise mitigation, creating layers in your room and adding texture and colour.

Kitchen Design Essentials is a podcast series to provide all the information you need for your kitchen renovation, new kitchen or kitchen makeover.

Frances provides an overview of what to expect in this specialised Kitchen Design Season and outlines all the areas that will be covered in this multi episode podcast. All you need to know to complete your kitchen will be covered, from layout, design considerations, materials, lighting, storage, pantries, taps, sinks and appliances.

SHOW NOTES

Kitchen Designs need to work hard for all families. They are your entertaining space, a family congregation space and the hub of the home. Therefore, it is important to get it right. In this episode of the podcast, Frances outlines the Kitchen Design Essentials Season. What's in store, who will be joining her, what will be covered, and why you should listen in!

In this special Podcast Season – Kitchen Design Essentials, Frances will discuss every element to do with Kitchen Design, as well as inviting amazing guests onto the show to go into detail on different topics. A common mistake often made is joinery made for the space, rather than the people that will be using it.  A square peg into a round hole scenario, which is not the best approach to creating a kitchen that is designed  around  how they're going to live.

The Kitchen Design Essentials Podcast Season is created for those  who are:

• Thinking of, or in the process of doing a kitchen renovation
• Creating a kitchen from scratch for a new home
• Looking at a kitchen makeover instead of a full renovation
• Interested in kitchen design
• Wanting lots of knowledge to plan for your kitchen in the future.

Guests on the show

Experts from all areas such as material manufacturers, builders, lighting designers, and appliance representatives, will be joining Frances to share their insight and expertise on various topics, so you're getting well rounded information from a wide source of specialists.

What the season will cover:

• When's it best to do a makeover Vs renovation
• Where best to locate your kitchen
• Design layouts
• How to assess your design
• Custom design and flat packs
• Cabinetry materials
• Benchtop materials
• Details – handles and hardware
• Taps and sinks
• Splashbacks
• Butler's pantries, WIP & appliance cupboards
• Key measurements & kitchen triangle/work area
• Appliances
• Lighting
• Ventilation
• Colours and decorating
• Storage & bins
• Makeovers
• Outdoor kitchens

Frances will cover the  best location for your kitchen in your home, the orientation of kitchen,  advantages and disadvantages of certain layouts and key considerations to think about when choosing your kitchen layout.

Assessing designs and how to know if the design presented to you is going to work for you. Frances will  also talk about custom design kitchens and flat pack kitchens cabinetry materials and their advantages and disadvantages material types.

Frances will also cover benchtop materials, including new products coming onto the market, splashbacks and regulations, handles and hardware details, and other elements that really complete and finish your kitchen off, making it unique to you.

The differences between tap and sink types and what to look for, and where to spend.

Butler's Pantry, Walk-in-Pantries and appliance cupboards will also be discussed to allow you to determine what will work best for you.

Frances runs through appliances, how to assess what's best for you, and understanding key measurements.

Finally, Frances will discuss the importance of good task lighting, decorative lighting and how to avoid glare and shadow, plus the ever important (and often forgotten) element of good ventilation.

Decorating and choosing colours can be fun, and Frances will outline key considerations when selecting colours, as well and how to decorate your kitchen.

Available Services:

If you're thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.

Do you think you may need help to make sure you don't miss anything with your Kitchen Design? Check out Kitchen and Bathroom Bliss Package. With our help, your kitchen and bathroom renovations will be far less stressful and the results will stand the test of time.

You may also book an initial consultation to start the process of renovating or building your new home or get one-off advice to finish your home.

Got big plans for a new home or renovation that you can start preparing for? Your Forever Home- The First Step might be the perfect course to ensure your planned, prepared and informed, right from the outset, to create a home of your dreams. The EOFY Sale is saving you $300 off the Your Forever Home – The First Steps Online Course. Now only $197 instead of $497. Only valid until 15th July 2020

Storage in bathrooms cannot be overlooked. This Forever Home Lives goes through the importance of storage in bathrooms for them to function adequately. Bathrooms should not only look fabulous, but they need to work for us too. Frances runs through storage solutions for all bathrooms.

Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar

If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register.

In this Forever Home Live, Frances chats about choosing tapwear, showers and bathroom accessories and how they need marry in with each other for a cohesive scheme. What taps are best for the kitchen and laundry and how they don't need to match all the other taps in your home!

Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar

If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register.

Confused about all the different types of carpets available and how to select the right one? In this episode, Frances outlines different carpet types, from twist to plush to loop pile, along with carpet weights and fibres and how to choose one over another. Further, she chats through the important aspect of what colour carpet to choose, and dispels all the misnomers about having a dark carpet to hide stains.

There are so many different options available when it comes to choosing benchtops for kitchens, laundries and bathrooms. With new materials launching all the time.

In this Forever Home Live Frances runs through the main considerations when selecting your benchtops.

Frances outlines why it's so important to create a furniture layout at floorplan stage in this episode. This is essential listening to avoid big mistakes! She outlines the implications that can occur when a furniture layout is not done before building starts, using a real life example and the compromises made because there was no plan.

Frances runs through the criteria and parameters around the Australian Government's Home Builder Scheme, and who is eligible for the $25K grant.

She also discusses window splashbacks for above a stove. The likes and dislikes about this scenario.

Why is flooring so important? In this Forever Home Live Frances discusses why choosing your floor first is critical to getting all your material choices right. Floors take up a lot of budget, cover a large area and need to work super hard, so get the low down on floors in this episode.

In this Forever Home Live Frances discusses the topic of a sink in your kitchen island bench and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of a sink in the bench. This episode will allow you to make an informed choice on which is the best option for you.

SHOW NOTES

In this Forever Home Live Frances discusses the topic of a sink in your kitchen island bench and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of this as an option in your kitchen design.

Things to consider with a sink  in an Island Bench;

Water Splashing

A sink inevitably means water splashing, which is not ideal for a food prep area, or when people are sitting at your bench.

Visual Dirty Dishes

Having the dirty dishes for all to see and "in the face" of someone sitting at the island is not ideal. The clean up area around your sink is not conducive to a lovely clean island bench aesthetic

It obstructs a large lineal area

Island benches serve different purposes- a buffet, breakfast bar andfood prep area. With a sink in this large lineal space, it obstructs your largest lineal area in the kitchen. Additionally, it prevents people from being able to sit at the bench where the sink is, so you're losing seating too

Not all kitchen designs have the luxury of having enough space for the sink to be off the island bench. It's that's the case, keep the sink to one side of the bench rather than in the middle. Retain as much lineal space as you can.

Available Resources

Need help with your Kitchen design? Book a Chat with Frances to see how we can help.  or you may check our Kitchen Bliss service. 

Related Resources

How to Choose the Right Benchtop

Top 5 Tips for Selecting Benchtops

Toilets may not be the sexiest subject to discuss, however they are still an  essential element  when renovating or creating your Forever Home.

This episode covers the differences between toilet styles and types of toilets so you can decide on  type of toilet is the best for you. Not all toilets are the same, and Frances covers rimless, back to wall, hidden cistern and floating pan options.

Back to Wall toilets

Back to Wall toilets have a visible cistern.  It's entire toilet system that  goes back against the wall, hence why it's called back to wall. Available with a  ceramic  or plastic cistern. This type of toilet most cost effective toilet systems, however they do come in a wide variety of styles and budgets.

Rimless toilets

Rimless toilets allow for easier cleaning, as well as having a more internal streamlined and simplified aesthetic. Being rimless, they are easier to clean, and more  hygienic as dirt does not get trapped under the rim,  Most rimless toilets use a direct flush technique which means flushing doesn't come from underneath the rim.  

Rimless toilets are generally more expensive than a standard back to wall toilet, particularly if you're after a particular brand. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars more for a rimless style toilet.

Hidden Cistern

Hidden cisterns are normally hidden within the wall cavity. The pan is exposed but the cistern is hidden with flushing operated via a flush plate on the wall.  It requires less space so their shorter length makes them ideal for smaller style powder rooms or tight spaces.

Compared to traditional back to wall toilets, they  are more expensive with the different elements  purchased individually- pan, flush plate and cistern. In addition, they also require additional work to install which can increase  the installation cost.

Some people prefer the aesthetic of a hidden cistern, making the overall look of the toilet less bulky, but this is a personal preference.

Floating Pans

Floating Pan operate with a hidden cistern. Instead of the pan being on the floor, it is wall mounted and floating off the floor. It again created a more steamlined look, and makes floor cleaning easier.  

Floating pan and hidden cistern are the most  expensive option.

Things to consider in choosing Toilets;

Price

Toilets can be anywhere from $300 upwards of $2000 depending on its, brand, components and and aesthetic.

Interchangeable seats

Most toilets have interchangeable seats. Make sure you get one that has a click mechanism to easily take them off for cleaning. 

Size and height

For easy accessibility some clients prefer toilets that are a little bit higher than standard. It makes it easier as you get older to get back up, and also for tall people.

Available Services

It's easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating stylish, functional and durable  bathrooms.

With our help, your bathroom renovation will be far less stressful, and the results will stand the test of time. Interested? Book a FREE 15-minute chat with Frances today! 

You may also book an initial consultation to start the process of renovating or building your new home or get one-off advice to finish your home.

Related Resources

Australian House and Garden Top 50 Rooms Award

In This Forever Home Live Frances discusses the importance of spatial planning and how it affects other choices and selections in your home. She discussed the importance of conducting this at floorplan stage and the reason why. #foreverhome #newhome #newbuild #renovation #homeplanning #ownerbuilder

Don't leave your joinery drawings until you're part way through the build. Frances outlines why this is not ideal, and what you can achieve in completing internal elevations and joinery drawings before building. She outlines how you can save money, compromises you can avoid, and why you'll get a much better result with them.
#foreverhome #newhome #newbuild #renovation #homeplanning #ownerbuilder

Choosing internal and external paint colours for your home is not as easy as it seems. There are many factors to consider to ensure you get it right and asking an online forum is not the ideal method to getting the right colours for your home. Frances chats through what to consider to get it right and how not all colours are the same.

In this Forever Home live, Frances outlines her view on the top 3 trends for 2020 and what will be with us to stay.

#foreverhome #newhome #newbuild #renovation #homeplanning #ownerbuilder #trendsin2020
#style

There are a number of specialists required to make your Forever Home a reality.

In this episode Frances outlines key specialists she believes make a big difference to the overall outcome for your home. Engaged early on, each one is able to add their expertise to the project, and work together, rather than in silos. Ultimately, they add massive value to your overall Forever Home Master Plan.

SHOW NOTES

Architect and/or Draftsman
An architect designs the concept for the home, including the building envelope and floorplans. All structural requirements are part of the architect's remit.

A draftsman prepares structural technical drawings and is also able to draft floorplans and the building envelope, however comes with less design training. Choosing who will suit your project more is a personal decision and often comes down to referrals, expertise and exactly what's required for your home.

Landscaper
Engaging with a landscaper early on means you have your whole site considered, not just the home itself. Landscapers provide the plan for your external zones including entertaining areas, garden and pool. It makes sense that the landscaper is involved early on so that the flow to the outdoors and the way the outdoors is in tune and relates to the indoors is taken into consideration at floor plan stage, so nothing is missed. You don't necessarily need to have the plan executed until later, but at least having a plan ensures nothing is left out or forgotten.

Interior Designer
An interior designer will look all internal areas of your home for functionality, flow, durability, and aesthetics. Hiring them early on can help you avoid costly mistakes that will not only help you save money but can increase the value of your home. An interior designer will get into the 'nitty gritty' and details of space planning, too. They will review space planning, flow and create a furniture layouts for each room to ensure windows are in the right location for your interior layout, and that key furniture pieces will fit where you want it to go. Interior designers also recommend and select all the materials, fittings and fixtures for the home ensuring continuity, flow and correct proportions. The alleviates stress, overwhelm and makes the process quicker and easier.

Sustainability Expert
Sustainability experts often work closely with the passive house principles, ensuring you maximise the energy efficiency of your home They review plans early ono recommend products that are going to make your home more energy efficient, and sustainable.

Make a list of the important elements for you, as this will assist you in finding the right team of people to design your home. Ask friends or family about experts they're engaged for their home. A personal referral is a great place to start.

Available Services:
Ready to renovate or build but not sure where to start? Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes. Book our FREE Forever Home chat and we'll discuss your biggest challenges and talk about some possible ways to move forward. 

You may also book an initial consultation to start the process of renovating or building your new home or get one-off advice to finish your home.

Related Resources:
Finding an Architect or Draftsperson 
Why Engage an Interior Designer Early 

In this Forever Home Live, Frances outlines some of the preliminaries to consider when planning your Forever Home, and the timelines to allow for them. There is a lot to plan for in advance of getting your home designed, which is outlined in this episode.

SHOW NOTES

Lifestyle
The design of your home should incorporate all aspects of home life that are important to you and your family. Think carefully about current family lifestyle, and how that may change over time. Ensure your interior designer has a good understanding of how you would to live and relax in your home so lifestyle requirements are part of the design and flow naturally.

Access to local amenities
Think about access to local amenities when choosing the location for your home. How important are commuting distances to work, access to public transport, schools, shopping, recreation facilities, hospitals, church, open spaces?

Land and your site
Selecting the ideal site on which to build your home is an important decision and impacts many aspects of your design and build. Think about the land orientation, size, garden requirements, outdoor living and ultimately how the site needs to serve you.

Timelines
How long does it take to build or renovate a house? It's a question often asked by clients before going through the building process. To give you an idea, Frances mentions some of the factors that might affect the building process.

Floor plans and Elevations- Your feedback and any changes have a big impact on timing and having your plans completed.

Planning permit- Getting a planning permit from the local authority can add many months to the design and build process.

Internal Specifications- Engaging an interior designer early on can make the process quicker as they can pull all the materials, fixtures and fittings together in a timely manner. They know where to go to source what you need.

Some delays in any build is to be expected, but many can be managed, and knowing what to expect can mitigate the stress.

Available Services:
If you're thinking about renovating or building your own 'Forever Home', Your Forever Home- The First Steps Online Course is the perfect course to ensure you're planned, prepared and informed, right from the outset, to create a home of your dreams. To join, click the link here.

Related Resources:
The Five Building Stages 
What you need to know before your build 

Frances reflects on 2023 on a personal and design perspective and shares highlights of the year including finished homes, awards, media coverage and what's in store for 2024.

Internal doors are an often overlooked as an important design element when creating your home. They have many purposes, and critical to good performance and flexibility in any home.

In this Forever Home Live, Frances discusses the importance of doors and the many benefits they provide in your Forever Home design, including their purpose in different scenarios.

Noise Mitigation
The use of doors is critical for noise mitigation. It hampers noise traveling throughout your home, both along hallways and up and down stairs

Privacy
How a home is laid out is also important in terms of bedrooms zoned away from living spaces and laundries. The use of doors allows for the creation of privacy, for a study, bedroom, lounge, and retreat area.

Energy Efficiency
Creating zones allows for energy efficiency, and the ability to close of certain rooms in a home, meaning unutilised areas are not heated or cooled unnecessarily.

Multifunctional
The problem with rooms not having doors is not being able to use that space for make something else. Having doors also for flexibility in what a space can be used for.Doors can be opened up to create an illusion of space whether it's double cavity sliding doors or a hinge door.

Services Available
Will your floor plan work for you for years to come? Have one of our team look over your plans so you have the peace of mind that you're on the right track with your new build or renovation. Find out more about it here. 

Related Resources
Three Ways to Future Proof Your Home
A Quiet Life with Noise Mitigation

Learn all about Forever Home Podcast host, Frances Cosway as she shares her journey from Corporate Marketing Executive to Interior Designer to Forever Home Expert. She openly and honestly reveals how she left the corporate world and how she started in interior design to follow her passion.

SHOW NOTES

Frances' unique style and influences developed from working on interior design projects in Europe, where she lived for over a decade in Amsterdam. Ljubjlana, Antwerp and London.
She purchased her first apartment in Amsterdam which she renovated and infused her own cultural aspects from Australia (like adding a bath and a decent kitchen) and combining that with elements from Northern Europe, like bright colours.
Frances then moved to London and bought her second apartment which she also renovated, injecting what she loved into add, and adding her treasured pieces from Amsterdam.
It was in London when she started doing interior projects for her friends that she fell in love with the process of creating an idea and executing it, so decided to study interior design

She came back to Australia in 2009 and started White Pebble Interiors in 2010, leaving the corporate world behind. From then on, she has never stopped following her passion of helping others create their own Forever Home.

She built her own award-winning Forever Home in 2014, managing the build from lock up stage and published her first book, 'Your Forever Home' in 2017. She has presented at dozens of national conferences, writes for numerous publications, been interviewed on TV, and has had her projects featured in House and Garden, Houzz and Design Homes Australia. She is incredibly passionate about creating Forever Homes that will stand the test of time and reflective of the home owner's personality and life story, rather than a cookie cutter approach.

Frances is driven to make sure people create homes that they love and are not about trends. Her passion is to give people the confidence to choose elements that are reflective for themselves and create homes that are so functional, sustainable and adaptable.

Frances will continue to share all her insights, passions and things that can help you create a Forever Home- A home that you are going to love Forever.

Services Available:
If you're thinking about renovating or building your own "Forever Home", get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a chat with her.

Got big plans for a new home or renovation that you can start preparing for? Your Forever Home- The First Step might be the perfect course to ensure your planned, prepared and informed, right from the outset, to create a home of your dreams. With so many people now in social isolation, we have opened up the Bonus Bundle adding $900 of bonuses to the course. Click here for more info.

Frances built her own award winning sustainable Forever Home in 2014. Here she runs through what was done with her home to make it sustainable, comfortable and energy saving.