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During 30 years in the business, John van Doormaal from Innovative Kitchens has seen a big change in the way we use our kitchens. “It’s not just one person who’s using the kitchen now,” he says. “Children, teenagers, husbands and wives are all using it. It has become the focal point of … View moreDuring 30 years in the business, John van Doormaal from Innovative Kitchens has seen a big change in the way we use our kitchens. “It’s not just one person who’s using the kitchen now,” he says. “Children, teenagers, husbands and wives are all using it. It has become the focal point of the home.” He talks us through what’s trending in the design world and how you can use these ideas to inspire your own kitchen renovation.
1. Kitchen Island
John says the biggest change in the past 10 plus years is that, if they have the space, everyone wants a kitchen island. “It’s very useful in that it becomes a hub that people can gather around – in the same way that in the 1970s we designed returns with bar leaners. It’s where most people spend their time – they have their laptop there and the kids do their homework there, so nowadays we always put a powerpoint with a USB port in the island.”
2. Butler’s Pantry
Another big trend is the walk-in butlers’ pantry. “What the scullery does is hide the mess so you can have everything out and handy on the shelves, then just close the door,” says John. “It also means that the main kitchen doesn’t have to be as big, so it’s more affordable if you want to use premium materials for the cabinetry.”
3. Supersize appliances
He says when it comes to renovations, many people are happy with the footprint of their existing kitchen, but want to utilise the same space better. “People often want more in the kitchen than they can actually fit,” he says. “In the last few years everything’s gone big. Fifteen years ago, most freestanding stoves were 600mm wide, but now everyone wants 900mm. A normal fridge used to be 630-640mm wide but now they want a double-door fridge, which are all over 900mm wide.
4. Space-saving storage
“If we can turn some cupboards into drawers or move a wall or shift something, they’ll have the same footprint with a more useful amount of storage. As long as there’s enough room we add lots more drawers and pullouts,” he says. “They are a bit more expensive, but you double the space efficiency and you can see their contents easily so you know what you’ve got. I call them ‘pullout shelves’.”
5. Creative colour
In terms of colour options, John says people have a lot more choice these days, but white is still the most popular. “There is also a trend for black, which works if you’ve got a lot of space and light.” Black tapware is becoming fashionable and tiles have overtaken glass splashbacks in the popularity stakes.
6. Fancy Flooring
John says the majority of floors would be some kind of timber, versus tiles or vinyl, and almost all the benchtops he installs these days are a type of granite or engineered stone. “Twenty years ago granite was rare. When engineered stone came in it had flecked granules, but now it has veins running through it to imitate marble.”
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Ian Hamilton is a joint runner-up in our 2019 Resene Shed of the Year. "I think there's so much wastage today. People think if it's broken they need to get rid of it. Whereas I think if it's broken, let's see if we can fix it, or make something else useful out of it," … View moreIan Hamilton is a joint runner-up in our 2019 Resene Shed of the Year. "I think there's so much wastage today. People think if it's broken they need to get rid of it. Whereas I think if it's broken, let's see if we can fix it, or make something else useful out of it," he says. "I don't like throwing things away needlessly. I like re-purposing stuff."
I asked these questions in 2017 the answer then was NO.
I ask the questions again, and again wonder why they don't want to know the answers.
Why they don't want to know what Library users think?
Questions :
Library staff
Are they registering requests for help?
Are they … View moreI asked these questions in 2017 the answer then was NO.
I ask the questions again, and again wonder why they don't want to know the answers.
Why they don't want to know what Library users think?
Questions :
Library staff
Are they registering requests for help?
Are they registering complaints?
Do staff point out and direct complainants to feedback forms?
Following questions still go unanswered
I asked Council under the Official Information Act for the research they said time and again supported the changes, there is no research, there is no data, they lied and still refuse to be accountable. They promised a Review – When?
Which Libraries here and overseas have adopted the philosophy?
How long had they been operating said philosophy?
How had it benefited the core business of Libraries (issuing books)?
How many were continuing to operate said philosophy?
How were these Libraries reconciling that children are being taught genre search in schools?
The research doesn't exist - they did not and still do not have any data/research to offer us in support of the changes
Someone clever, generations ago, recognised the emotional connection people can have to books, different search styles, the reverence some of us have for the stories, information, authors, and the books themselves and arranged the offering of books to others in the best way possible to cover all styles, it wasn’t an accident it was an expert professional design, that. Has stood the test of time.
To all of you share your point of view thanks, we need everyone who uses the Library to have their say, so we might end up with a balanced way to make our Library inclusive and accessible of everyone, every search style.
Has anyone come across a package not addressed to them in Trentham? Stephen street to be exact. I had a package delivered today and some thieving person came up on my property and stole my package. If anyone has a package from DHL addressed Louise Tillett can you return it. I work hard for things … View moreHas anyone come across a package not addressed to them in Trentham? Stephen street to be exact. I had a package delivered today and some thieving person came up on my property and stole my package. If anyone has a package from DHL addressed Louise Tillett can you return it. I work hard for things in life and this really makes me grumpy 😡.
Looking for a reliable electrician in the Kelson area to carry out a few small(ish) jobs. Any recommendations?
I didn't have time to reply to his messages as I have limited time on wifi - now I can't find him - I thought him thoughtful and challenging -which we all need from time to time
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