Kitchen Make-Over

kitchen renovation ideas

How To Find the Best Kitchen Renovation Ideas

How To Find the Best Kitchen Renovation Ideas 

Are you ready for a change and wondering how to find ideas for your kitchen renovations? This blog looks at some of the tools you can use to get inspired, including:

  • The Internet
  • Pinterest
  • Magazines
  • Travel
  • Open Homes
  • Kitchen Showrooms

The Internet

Of course, it goes without saying that the internet will be your first port of call. There is literally no limit to the ideas, designs, creativity, and funky innovations available to be discovered online.

Simply start off with your internet search engine and a few keywords of interest to you, such as “open plan kitchen” or “modern kitchen renovation ideas”, and watch yourself fall down the rabbit hole of infinite possibilities. We expect you’ll resurface. Eventually. 

Pinterest 

Yes – Pinterest does count as the internet. However, as one of the largest visual discovery engines available, it deserves a special mention. The great thing about pinterest is that it sorts images by keyword and category, so there’s no need for you to sift through pages of writing to get to the good stuff. The pictures! As the old adage goes, “a picture says a thousand words.”

Pinterest will also conveniently provide you with recommendations for similar search results that match your current “pins” – AKA things you like. So, if you’re going to town with your searches on kitchen trends and renovation ideas, Pinterest will bring you more and more research material to fuel your design inspiration.  

Magazines

A traditional favourite, magazines are easy to pick up at your local supermarket and convenience stores. From interior design to architecture, you’ll find a wide range of titles that will offer inspiration and ideas for your kitchen renovations.

It’s also a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon – flicking through a selection of magazines over a cup of coffee and snacks. You can mark up the pages and pictures of interest, or simply tear them out and create a vision board of ideas to pin up in your kitchen.  

Travel

Travel is a wonderful way to see how interior design differs between cultures and countries, and can plant some great ideas for your home decor. Perhaps you’d like to have your kitchen renovations reflect the beach and surf of Bali, or the bright and vivid colours of Mexico.

You might be amazed at the styles you fall in love with while travelling abroad. The beauty of modern accommodation options like house sitting and AirBnB, is that you get to intimately explore and experience your host’s home. 

Open Homes

Going to open homes can be an interesting, if slightly unconventional way to hawk ideas and do some stealthy kitchen renovation reconnaissance. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy having a nosy and seeing what other people have done in their kitchens?

Why not turn it into a game, and dedicate a weekend to checking out all the open homes in your area? Get into character as a pair of loved-up newlyweds, or a property investor. You can treat yourself to coffee and lunch to debrief and discuss your findings!

Kitchen Showrooms

Kitchen showrooms are a fantastic way to see a wide range of modern kitchen layouts and styles. They conveniently showcase the different styles of kitchen equipment you can choose from, such as ovens, stovetops, cupboards, and lighting. A showroom will also give you a good idea of what materials are available for your kitchen surfaces, including flooring, benchtops, and cabinets. 

Express Kitchens has a dedicated showroom for your convenience, located in Narangba, Brisbane. Stop by anytime to see our quality workmanship and chat to us about ideas for your dream kitchen renovation. 

Come & Visit Our Showroom Today!

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

Kitchen Renovation Ideas
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Custom Kitchens

How Do We Build Your Custom Kitchens? Meet Our Trusted Suppliers

How Do We Build Your Custom Kitchens? Meet Our Trusted Suppliers

Express Kitchens proudly designs and manufactures your custom kitchens in our Brendale factory, Brisbane. In order to build the kitchen of your dreams, we have a range of trusted and valued suppliers on hand to provide us with a variety of top quality products and materials. In this blog, we’d like to introduce to you the trade partners that help us to deliver custom kitchens with:

Laminex

The origins of Laminex reside in the suburbs of Melbourne, 1934, where founder Bob Sykes first began creating decorative laminates. Since then, they have grown and diversified their range to include high-quality products such as:

  • Engineered stone
  • Modern laminates
  • Acrylic surfaces; and
  • Timber paneling 

As well as being proudly Australian owned and run, Laminex takes their environmental responsibility seriously, with:

  • Green Tag certification
  • Responsible forest management
  • Innovative recycling and reuse programs 
  • Timber and environmental certifications across manufacturing sites

Multiform

Multiform has been providing exceptional quality benchtop materials since 1986. Based in Carole Park, Brisbane, their factory is home to cutting-edge technology and equipment that guarantees the highest levels of quality assurance. Multiform is passionate about delivering stone, laminate, and solid surface benchtops that stand out from the rest – a great choice for your custom designed kitchen! 

Nikpol

As a 100% Australian owned and operated business, Nikpol supply hardware, decorative surfaces, and appliances to the renovation, recreational vehicle (RV), and construction industries. Since 1978, they’ve worked hard to establish a reputation for being among Europe’s finest design and innovation brands.

Nikpol believes in providing customers with interior solutions that reflect environmental care, awareness, and the need for sustainable solutions. They are both FSC and Green Tag certified, to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility.    

Silestone

When it comes to high fashion and style, Silestone is a globally recognised brand. Silestone by Cosentino is a compound made from 90% quartz, known for its high durability, strength, and wide range of colours and textures. 

Of course, who says beauty can’t be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing? With excellent stain resistance, Silestone provides a beautiful and practical choice for kitchen benchtops, bathrooms, floors, and wall cladding. 

Polytec

Polytec is a distributor of cabinet doors, panels, benchtops, and laminates, as a subsidiary of Australian owned company Borg Manufacturing. In addition to quality materials and craftsmanship, Polytec is known for its customer service, innovation, and the use of avant-garde technology and computer manufacturing systems. With such dedication to providing the finest quality, you can rest assured that your custom kitchen will be made of only the best materials!

Nover

Another fantastic Australian owned and operated business, Nover supplies the kitchen and joinery industry throughout Australia. Founded in 1954, Nover has a whopping 60+ years in the industry, and is known for their: 

  • Convenience
  • Range
  • Quality; and
  • Service

With a huge range of more than 25,000 products in 17 categories, Nover are a trusted source of materials for Express Kitchens when building your custom designed kitchen.

Smartstone

Smartstone brings you the best of both worlds with its high-tech engineered quartz. Manufactured with a minimum of 93% quartz, Smartstone quartz combines natural stone with pigments and resins to produce a highly durable surface. Since their establishment in 2002, Smartstone has made a name as a trusted Australian distributor of engineered quartz surfaces – and has recently expanded its distribution to the US, Singapore and New Zealand markets.

Smartstone quartz surfaces can be used in virtually any residential or commercial indoor surfacing application, and thanks to its non-porous quality, is a great choice for: 

  • Kitchen benchtops 
  • Splashbacks
  • Bathroom vanities
  • Bath surrounds; and 
  • Wall panelling 

Hettich

Hettich is a German company that design and produce a variety of fittings to be used for any number of functions when it comes to building custom kitchen cabinetry and other furniture. These include: 

  • Hinges
  • Drawer systems & runners
  • Sliding & folding door systems

At Hettich, they believe that “good furniture needs good solutions” – which is why they combine intelligent technology, functionality, and design to make high-quality, effective products. Whether it’s DIY or professional construction, Hettich offer their significant expertise and advice to get the job done right. 

Caesarstone

Who knew stone better than Ancient Rome? Founded in 1987 near the ancient Roman city of Caesarea, Caesarstone brings a taste of the exotic with its high-quality, premium quartz surfaces. Considered to be a global leader and pioneer in its field, Caesarstone prides itself on its ongoing commitment to research & development, innovation and the highest quality standards.

Caesarstone can be used in residential and commercial interiors, including:

  • Kitchen benchtops, 
  • Splashbacks
  • Bathroom vanities
  • Wall panelling; and
  • Furniture

Formica

Formica are passionate about providing quality, service, and innovative product lines for maximum customer satisfaction. As the world’s largest manufacturer of High Pressure Laminate (HPL), Formica offers a huge collection of laminate, including: 

  • 120 on-trend plain colours 
  • 65 popular woodgrains; and 
  • 62 authentic patterns

These are combined with innovative textures to transform interiors, and are suitable for most applications, such as:

  • Doors
  • Contract furniture; and 
  • Wall panelling. 

Flex Corporation

Flex Corporation are proud to bring local, community values to their customers. As a growing, family-owned Australian business, Flex Corporation are highly focused on delivering quality, trusted products and services to the kitchen industry. They prioritise:  

  • Competitive pricing
  • Great service
  • Offering a wide range of quality products

Flex Corporation specialise in producing innovative and creative melamine products for the cabinetmaking industry. Some of their core products include: 

  • Decorative melamine doors & panels
  • Routered MDF doors
  • Commodity board; and 
  • Laminate benchtops

At Express Kitchens, we believe in delivering only the highest quality of materials and craftsmanship. As you can see from this blog, that’s why we work with only the best! 

Ready to Discuss Your Custom Designed Kitchen?

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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kitchen makeover

5 Simple Steps to Your Complete Kitchen Makeover

5 Simple Steps to Your Complete Kitchen Makeover

Do you need a kitchen makeover, but feel overwhelmed by the process? It doesn’t have to be like that! If you find the right kitchen installer, the process can be smooth and simple, with minimal disruption. In fact, at Express Kitchens we can get your entire kitchen makeover done in five simple steps. Let’s take a look: 

  • Step 1 – Assess your current kitchen 
  • Step 2 –  Benefit from a complimentary in-home consultation  
  • Step 3 – Confirm your design selection and choice of materials 
  • Step 4 – Vacate your kitchen for one day 
  • Step 5 – Enjoy the functionality and aesthetics of your new kitchen!

Step 1 – Assess Your Current Kitchen 

For this first step the ball is in your court! It’s really about taking the time to think about what you want your kitchen to be. Ask yourself, what elements of the kitchen work well? What’s not working? What do you need your kitchen to have that it’s currently lacking?

This might include features like: 

  • A different kitchen layout to make the kitchen more functional and/or spacious
  • More storage space; perhaps even a butler’s pantry
  • More direct sunlight; this might mean knocking down a non-load-bearing wall
  • A kitchen island – islands are hugely popular for the social interactions they help facilitate 

Step 2 – Benefit from a Complimentary In-Home Consultation

For a professional kitchen designer to really get a sense of your style and taste and of how your kitchen relates to the rest of the house, an in-home consultation is a must. At Express Kitchens we offer an obligation-free one hour in-home consult to make sure we understand what you want. Our kitchen makeovers Brisbane are driven by our customers’ vision however, our experienced kitchen designers can also advise you on what will work best with the space you have, and make suggestions you may not have considered.

As part of your kitchen makeover consultation, our kitchen designer will input your vision into our 3D software. Using this type of software gives you a number of advantages when compared with relying on 2D drawings including:

  • It allows you to easily experiment with different designs and layouts. 
  • It gives you a very clear sense of how your kitchen will look, meaning you’ll actually get the kitchen you want
  • And perhaps the biggest advantage? 3D design can save you money; because it gives you an accurate sense of how your kitchen will look, you’re far less likely to change plans halfway through 

Step 3 – Confirm Your Design Selection and Materials 

The 3D design visualisation should have given you a very clear understanding of how different designs will look in the space you have. So the next step is really a matter of selecting your favourite layout and then deciding on materials. At Express Kitchens, we like to keep our kitchen makeovers Brisbane simple; so once you’ve settled on your layout and design features all you really need to consider is: 

  • Benchtops – would you prefer affordable and stylish laminate? If so you can choose from a huge range of designs and colours. Or; opt for engineered stone, also in a large range of designs and colours, from some of Australia’s top tier stone manufacturers
  • Cabinets – We manufacture our own cabinets and have found designer white is far and away the most popular colour choice, both because white never dates and because it brightens up any space

Step 4 – Vacate Your Kitchen for One Day

Treat yourself to an early cafe breakfast and come home to cook dinner in your new kitchen. Literally one day is all we need to remove your old kitchen and complete your kitchen makeover. We work with an efficient team, which includes plumbers and electricians so in one day, we are out of your hair leaving you to your brand new kitchen!

Step 5 – Enjoy Your New Kitchen!

We don’t think this step needs much explaining! At Express Kitchens we are committed to delivering your stylish kitchen makeover on time, and on budget and we hope you’ll enjoy your new kitchen to the fullest. 

 BOOK YOUR FREE IN-HOME CONSULT TODAY

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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kitchen makeovers

Kitchen Makeovers | Do You Need One?

Kitchen Makeovers | Do You Need One?

A classy kitchen makeover can add tens of thousands of dollars to your property value, as well as turn your kitchen into a social hub. But how do you know when a kitchen makeover is necessary?

Below we’ll explore:

  • How to tell when your kitchen needs a makeover
  • Ways to decide how your new kitchen should look
  • Three simple kitchen makeover ideas

Does your Kitchen need a Makeover?

A lot of the time you’ll intuitively know when your kitchen is due for a makeover, but if you’re umming and ahhing it’s worth asking yourself the following questions: 

  • Do you find yourself avoiding the kitchen and/or making excuses not to cook because the space feels uninviting?
  • Is the kitchen dark or gloomy?
  • Does it feel severely dated? This is particularly important to consider if you’re thinking of selling, as modern kitchens sell houses.
  • Is the kitchen functional? Do the layout and design features make cooking easy, or a chore?
  • What condition is the kitchen in? When you look around the room are you identifying signs of wear and tear like cracked and mouldy tiles, scorched or swelling laminate, scratched, squashy cabinetry, dented or peeling lino, flaking paint, missing cabinet knobs etc?

If the above questions have helped you confirm that it’s kitchen makeover time, then it’s time to think about what your kitchen makeover will look like. 

How do You want Your New Kitchen to Look?

You may have a vision in mind, but it can help to refine your ideas further by seeking out sources of inspiration – whether that be magazines, blogs, friend’s kitchens or visits to kitchen showrooms, where you can discuss your vision with kitchen designers. At Express Kitchens our free 3D custom kitchen design service means you can see what your kitchen will look like before its built and make amendments as needed at the design stage.  

Simple Ideas to Consider for Kitchen Makeovers 

If you’re after a complete kitchen makeover, it’s probably safe to assume your kitchen is dated, rundown or severely lacking in functional design features. Here’s our top three suggestions for transforming your kitchen:

  • Open plan design – Open plan kitchens first became popular in Australia in the 1950s and for good reason. The concept has helped enable busy households to keep in touch with each other through shared use of space. If you have an enclosed U-shaped or high walled-galley kitchen, it’s well worth finding out if you can remove non-load bearing walls to create an open-plan design. This would likely bring more light into your kitchen as well as making the space feel bigger and more welcoming.
  • New benchtops – Choosing a new benchtop material is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you create a new kitchen because benchtops are such a visible, dominant feature. Materials like laminate and engineered stone offer a huge range of designs and colours to choose from.
  • Kitchen islands – many Australian kitchens built in the 1980s or earlier don’t have kitchen islands, but nowadays most modern kitchens, in standalone houses, do. Why? Because islands offer extra storage and display space, extra seating space and extra workspace when needed. An island is a great place for younger kids to do homework while parents cook dinner, and the perfect spot for guests to sip drinks and down entrees while the host prepares the main meal.

Kitchen makeovers can transform the way you feel about your kitchen, but it’s well worth putting thought into what you want, so you get a finished result that will satisfy you for decades to come. 

NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR KITCHEN MAKEOVER?

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

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Modern Kitchen Makeovers

What To Look For When It Comes To Getting Modern Kitchen Makeovers

What To Look For When It Comes
To Getting Modern Kitchen Makeovers

So you’ve just opened your favourite home renovation magazine, and are flicking through the modern kitchen makeovers section for inspiration. Perhaps you’ve been looking at getting your kitchen renovated for some time, but you’re not sure what style or design will best suit your space. Perhaps you have a design in mind, but are not sure what kitchen renovation company to go with.

Whatever the case, we’ve broken down some of the key things to look for when it comes to modern kitchen makeovers, so you can get the dream kitchen you’ve always wanted!

Keep It Consistent

One of the major rules when it comes to modern kitchen makeovers is to keep the design consistent with the rest of your home.

For example, if you’re living in a Queenslander style home with dark wood floorboards, then chances are you’re not going to want to go with a sleek design that won’t suit the look and feel of the rest of your home. You may opt for a modern design still, but one that utilises more natural components, such as natural looking tiles or glass, stone bench tops, stainless steel appliances and cream walls to offset the dark flooring in other parts of the house, as an example.

If your home is spacious and airy, you want your kitchen to feel spacious and airy as well. If your home has a sleek, clean inner-city feel, you’ll want your kitchen to emanate this aesthetic.

All of this is especially important to consider if you plan to sell your home at any point in the future. You want to be sure that the time and money spent on modern kitchen makeovers is going to maximise the value of your property and appeal to potential buyers long-term.

Make Sure It’s Practical

Yes, aesthetic is very important when it comes to modern kitchen makeovers, but so is functional design. In fact, too many people emphasise the aesthetic, and forget about making the kitchen practical!

Remember, the kitchen is the heart of the home. When done right, you can get the best of both worlds; a sleek, modern looking kitchen that has the right aesthetic appeal, and is also completely functional.

We always recommend consulting an expert when it comes to the design and layout for modern kitchen makeovers. Why? Quite simply, an experienced designer can flag potential problem areas you may have overlooked, such as where the fridge is located, the height of the benchtops, where the cabinetry is located, or how ventilation is flowing.

Consult An Expert

With the rising popularity of so many home improvement shows, it’s easy enough to think that you can do your kitchen renovation yourself. While small jobs may be possible, here’s the danger… often, kitchen renovations require licensed experts, such as:

  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Licensed Builders
  • And more

Without the use of licensed, experienced professionals – you risk making major mistakes that could potentially cost you more time and money in fixer uppers long-term.

When you choose an experienced, licensed professional to work with, you know you’re fully covered for workmanship and the various moving parts.

Looking to consult an experienced, professional designer on modern kitchen makeovers? Express Kitchens specialises in transforming Brisbane kitchens from old and outdated, to modern and functional – all done quickly and cost-effectively to ensure you get the modern kitchen makeover you desire. We offer complimentary, no obligation consultations with one of our qualified kitchen designers. To book your Free session, simply submit an enquiry online.

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Brisbane Northside Kitchens

Calling All Brisbane Northside Kitchens – It’s Your Time To Impress!

Calling All Brisbane Northside Kitchens
It’s Your Time To Impress!

For many of us, our kitchen is our haven! The kitchen is arguably the room in the house that sees the most activity – for singles, couples, and families alike. Whether yours is one of the south Sydney, northern Cairns, or Brisbane northside kitchens, we all want our kitchen to be a spacious and flowing place that feels good. No tripping over the dishwasher, or having to constantly sidestep family members to get to your coffee machine!

If you’re a Queenslander with your dream kitchen in mind, lucky you – you can sit back and relax while many others do battle with their kitchens daily. Any Brisbane northside kitchens that are in sad need of a renovation, you’ll probably have intimate experience with some of the problems we cover in this article.

Brisbane Northside Kitchens Built Sometime Between the 1950’s – 1990’s

With increased numbers of immigrants and baby boomers, Brisbane experienced a growth spurt from the late 1940s – 1950s. Many houses were built during this time, dictating the style and layout for kitchens throughout Brisbane and other areas as the city limits stretched outwards. So, unless your kitchen has been renovated in the last decade, it’s any wonder it may no longer be meeting the needs and lifestyle of today’s hectic living standards.

Some of the less appealing styles over the years include small kitchen spaces tucked away from living areas, with poky cupboards and interesting wallpaper to say the least. Or perhaps you get to enjoy faded linoleum with “funky” patterns that remind you of when you were a kid?

While everybody loves a good fancy dress party, and retro is always a fun theme – when it comes to our kitchens, we want sleek and modern. Let’s be honest, if your Brisbane northside kitchens look like you’re stuck in a time warp from the “swinging 60s” – a new kitchen is just what the doctor ordered.

There’s Just Not Enough Space!

Thanks to the joys of technology, we all love our gadgets that make culinary life a breeze. Just one problem – space! If you’re suffering from a kitchen that is cramped and poorly designed, you’re kitchen is probably hopelessly cluttered.

Do you dare to dream of the day you can fit your blender, coffee machine, food processor, and toaster seamlessly on the bench all at the same time? Do you find yourself daydreaming of a kitchen where you have enough space for your food, crockery, cutlery, and cooking implements? If the thought of cleaning awkward-to-reach storage cupboards brings you to tears, it’s time for a kitchen remodel!

Brisbane Northside Kitchens With Poor Workflow

Is there anything more frustrating than a kitchen with a terrible workflow? It’s a ‘real’ dilemma for some of us who have to traipse back and forth around the kitchen just to get from the sink to the prep bench, then back to the oven. Not to mention having to squeeze past others in the kitchen thanks to narrow walkways and an inefficient layout.

Even in small houses, a kitchen can be well-designed to perfectly fit the space available – and Brisbane northside kitchens can be designed this way, no exception. Perhaps it means knocking out the wall between the kitchen / living room, putting in an island bench, or changing the style of your storage cupboards.

There are numerous ways that layout can be adjusted to create a kitchen with maximum flow, convenience and space. A fabulous kitchen that you love doesn’t have to be a distant dream – you’ll be amazed at what an improved design and skilled renovation can achieve!

For all the weary souls frustrated by their Brisbane northside kitchens and ready to experience the kitchen of their dreams, get in touch with us today for a free renovation consultation. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about our customised design kitchens – from the 3D design technology used by our professional designers, to the express 1 day kitchen installation *Conditions Apply.

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