Six Ways to Get Your Kitchen Summer Ready
Photography by Bjil Architecture – Sydney, Australia.
Australian’s are rejoicing in the warm weather of summer, holidays and life returning to a semi-normal state.
That means we need to get our kitchens into tip top shape, quick smart. No more shoving pots and pans away, leaving items lying on the island or letting dishes soak in the sink. So, glove up and get mentally prepared to tackle the mess that is your kitchen.
We’ve got six tips that you can use to get your kitchen summer ready. Keep reading to find out what we have in store.
Spic and Span
Photography by Karen Aston Design – Sydney, Australia.
While Spring has come in gone, it’s not too late to get your clean on. Kitchen cleaning can be a mammoth task, but if you break it into segments it’s more digestible and not as overwhelming as it may seem. Clear out and reorganise key zones such as cutlery and utensil trays, pantry, under the sink and in the baking section, reducing or reassembling your collection makes a big impact.
Take the time to give everything a thorough wipe down and spritz. Gleaming appliances and polished shelves have never looked better. If you’re having trouble organising install some cutlery trays and magic storage systems to simplify your cupboards. Our favourite Innerware comes from Titus Tekform, take a peek at what they have to offer.
Master the Mess
Photography by Cresmark Custom Homes – Australia
Photography by Novo Property Pty Ltd – Brisbane, Toronto, Canada
If you already have a walk-in or butler’s pantry, you know how messy it can get. Often the dumping ground for dishes, lunch boxes and baking equipment, the place can get out of hand pretty quickly.
Master the mess of your pantry by dividing it into sections, reassess, toss and relocate all items. If the current organisation plan isn’t working for you, rearrange it so it suits your lifestyle more comfortably.
A well-organised pantry will make everyday life a breeze as well as planning meals and preparing shopping lists. Make sure all of your items are visible; investing in Lazy Susan’s and clear containers are a must, that way you won’t overbuy or lose any important ingredients. When organising your pantry, we recommend, sorting by type, use-by-date and have every day and to-go items at eye-level.
If you realise you need to expand your pantry, consider additional sink, tapware and various appliances that will make cleaning and preparing a breeze.
Picture Perfect
Photography by Bjil Architecture – Sydney, Australia.
Photography by Bauer Syndication for Homes+ - Australia
Natural light and lush greenery, spell Summer for us. Window backslashes are becoming the perfect addition to dark kitchens. When used creatively, window backslashes can create the illusion of a larger space, by reflecting light back into your kitchen.
Choose a recessed frame for the illusion of your backsplash being entirely glass, which gives the space a grander and luxurious feel. Glass backslashes can be quite easy to clean; hot soap and water with a handy squeegee will make your cleaning time fast and efficient.
Great Outdoors
Photography by Daniel Fuge for Rebecca Naughtin Architect – Melbourne, Australia
Photography by Tatjana Plitt for Mihaly Slocombe – Melbourne, Australia
What’s better than natural sunlight and spending time with friends and family? Summer is the perfect time of year to spend all day outdoors and soak up those rays. You don’t have to install a new deck or swimming pool to get the most out of summer.
A simple set of Bi-Fold doors or a servery bench and window, that opens up from your kitchen to the backyard will do just fine. Pull the barbie up close and lay the table with beautiful salads and cold drinks. Opening your kitchen up helps your family or guests stay connected whether they’re cooking inside and out and creates a seamless flow between the two spaces.
Island Dreams
Photography by Green Chip Constructions Pty Ltd - Sydney, Australia
Photography by Carty Homes – Sydney, Australia
We want a seat at this table! Whether you’re wanting more countertop real estate, a place to sip mimosas with friends or a place to work hard, you’ll need a bigger island.
As the heart of the home, the kitchen becomes the focal point and many homes now revolve around the island. Kitchen islands are multipurpose and serve more functions than you imagine, the one piece in a kitchen that we never regret is the island. If you don’t have the space for one, we recommend utilising a U-Shaped or L-Shaped kitchen layout to create a peninsula where you can pull up a chair.
Simple Styling
Photography by Green Chip Constructions Pty Ltd - Sydney, Australia
Now that you’ve mastered the mess and your kitchen is clean and clear, it’s time for the icing on the cake. Adding welcoming touches and flair of personality can bring your kitchen to life.
Keep it simple and neat so your countertops remain free of clutter. Freshly cut flowers are the perfect addition to add greenery and vibrance into your home. The kitchen is a high traffic area and will mean that the scent of the flowers will flow through your home and will be greatly appreciated by guests and family members. If you can’t justify fresh flowers, why not opt for a dried bouquet or faux flowers can still amp up your kitchen. If you’re poor on time flower delivery services can deliver right to your doorstep.
Layered arrangements that rest against your backsplash are the perfect way to incorporate your statement supplies. As an example, a cutting board, a chalkboard for meal preps, salt and pepper grinders, utensil holders, and small décor pieces like canisters and small pinch bowls add simplicity and style to your kitchen.
Open shelving gives you the perfect opportunity to display your beautiful ceramic pieces such as oil bottles, sugar bowls, cake stands, teapots and vases. Add your favourite cookbooks for depth and dimension, art prints can also be layered above and become an anchor to the little accents you incorporate.
Whatever you choose to display will be unique and beautiful. If you’re struggling with styling your space, we recommend popping over to Pinterest or Instagram to help you visualise the best layout for your styling needs.
We have one more blog post coming before we wrap it up for the year. Get our latest updates by subscribing to our Newsletters and following us on Instagram and Facebook.