The kitchen, often called the heart of the home, is the most hardworking room. This couldn’t ring more true for households that include children or young adults. The kitchen is where family members come together, where moments and meals are shared. Life is busy. Family life is even busier. A fully functioning kitchen, custom-designed for your family’s unique needs and wants, can help reduce the many stresses that make up a day. 

Regardless of your renovation budget or the square meterage available, the following 5 tips will guide you through a family-friendly kitchen renovation. 

With smart space planning, expert design advice and seamless construction services from the team at Balnei & Colina, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start the kitchen renovation process sooner.

In this month's B&C Home Journal, we cover 5 steps to create a family-friendly kitchen renovation. Enjoy!

Robert Fonti

Director, Balnei & Colina

Balnei & Colina Kitchen Renovation Sydney

1. Layout 

When it comes to remodelling a busy family kitchen, precise space planning is crucial. Clearly defined and well-designed zones allow all family members to spend time together while keeping the peace (and sanity levels!). 

An open-plan kitchen in an l-shape or with a central island feels inviting and is conducive to comfortable family gatherings. Kitchen islands are popular additions for families, providing space for meals and homework and more storage opportunities.

If space permits, a desk nook created with custom joinery and well-positioned electrical outlets can offer a dedicated homework zone and a family admin hub.

A discussion with a Balnei & Colina design team member about your specific needs will ensure a custom joinery and layout solution that makes life easier for your whole family.  

Image credit: Andrea McQueen Design

 

 

Balnei & Colina Kitchen Renovation Sydney

2. Safety

With electrical appliances, hot stovetops and boiling water, sharp accessories and toxic cleaning chemicals, kitchens can be fraught with danger for unsuspecting young ones. 

A family-friendly space will consider all aspects of design concerning child safety, giving you peace of mind. Get down low in your current kitchen to gain a child’s perspective. What hazards present themselves and how can you address them in your upcoming kitchen renovation? A few kitchen design ideas to consider are: 

• Position the oven at eye level to keep it out of reach of crawling babies and toddlers.
• Slow-close hinges on cabinet doors and drawers can help avoid pinched fingers. 
• Include rounded corners on benches, cabinetry and handles to eliminated sharp edges.
• Plan your storage carefully and keep cleaning suppliers, cutlery and sharp accessories out of reach for children. 

Image via Pintrest

 

Balnei & Colina - Kitchen Renovation Sydney

3. Durability and quality

Grubby hands, frequent spills and stray Texta marks are all part f living with kids. Add pets into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a full-time cleaning job! 

The trick to spending less time cleaning the kitchen and more time enjoying it with your family is to choose durable, quality surfaces that are hardwearing and easy to maintain. Lookout for reconstituted stone, polyurethane, laminates, porcelain tiles and hardwood. 

When it comes to fittings and fixtures, selecting quality products from trusted brands will ensure your kitchen renovation looks great and functions seamlessly for the long term. 

Let the renovation experts at Balnei & Colina guide you through finish and fittings selections for a family-friendly kitchen design scheme that minimises mess. 

Image credit: Maree Homer Photography

 

Image credit: Marnie Hawson Photography

4. Storage 

Keeping a kitchen neat and organised can be tricky when the entire household congregates in the area; however, it’s easy to stay on top of it when everything has a dedicated place. 

At the planning phase of your kitchen renovation, take stock of what you use regularly and the daily activities that take place in the space. A recent study found that Australian couples with children between the ages of 5-14 spend an average of $336 a week on groceries. That’s a lot of groceries and pantry staples to store!

Balnei & Colina’s skilled kitchen designers work closely with you to make the most of the available space, maximising storage opportunities with custom cabinetry solutions tailored to your exact needs. 

A walk-in pantry, or a butler’s pantry that offers additional food prep space (perfect for when you’re hosting large family gatherings), can be a saviour for growing and expanding families. Extending your kitchen may come at a cost, but the elevated functionality and sense of satisfaction will be worth it in the long run. 

Balnei & Colina - Kitchen Renovation Sydney

5. The construction phase

Juggling a kitchen remodel and a family’s non-stop demands isn’t for the faint-hearted. But with the highly experienced renovation team at Balnei & Colina, the journey of building your new kitchen can be just as enjoyable as the years of kitchen bliss ahead. 

Balnei & Colina renovations provide you with a project timeline outlining key milestones and events for the kitchen renovation works during the planning phase. This will enable you to plan your family’s movements and meals if you decide to remain living in the home during the build. We’ve put together a handy kitchen renovation survival guide to help you through this stage. With our dedication to clear communication and stress-free project management, you can trust the construction phase of your new Balnei & Colina kitchen will run as smoothly as possible. 

Still looking for guidance on your family-friendly kitchen remodel? Leave it to the experts at Balnei & Colina Kitchen Renovations Sydney. From planning to execution, the full-service Balnei & Colina team will help you on every step of the renovation journey. 

Simply book a kitchen design consultation with a kitchen renovation expert today on 1300 450 320 or drop us an email at info@balneiandcolina.com.au. You can also send us your project details via this contact form. 

To stay up to date with the latest kitchen design trends, visit us at balneiandcolina.com.au or connect with us via Facebook or Instagram.

Balnei & Colina - Kitchen Renovation Sydney

Image credit: Brigid Arnott Photography