Design

It’s simple to design your kitchen’s theme – when you know how. Get it right and you’ll feel at ease every time you walk into your kitchen. Learn some tips and tricks to help you plan your kitchen design, and discover how to pinpoint your colour scheme and plan your theme in today’s blog. Define your colour scheme Browse through Houzz and scroll through your Instagram feed. Don’t limit yourself to interior design publications; have a look around and take note of which colours catch your attention. The ones that make you happiest are the best ones to choose – after all, you want to live in a space you love. To narrow down your palette, select your favourite colour – this will be your base – and choose two or three complementary colours. To help, you could pick up a colour wheel from a hardware store, and use it to

If you’re dreaming of extra space in your kitchen, and you want a piece that’s both beautiful and functional, a kitchen island might be for you. Here, we’ll take you through the most important design principles and functional considerations when it comes to designing an island for your style and lifestyle. Size and shape of your kitchen The size of your island can be anywhere from a narrow counter that floats in the centre of the room, to a large square or rectangle that dominates the space. The option you choose depends on how big your kitchen is, what shape the kitchen is and whether you want to integrate appliances. Your island should complement the existing space; design an island that’s a similar shape to your kitchen to keep things in proportion. Don’t go too large as a huge island could overwhelm the room visually, or make it difficult to

When designing your kitchen, it can be fun to focus on the big ticket items: a new oven, gleaming bench tops and a fancy fridge. But flooring is an essential element to include in your renovation plans and it serves both a functional and design purpose. Not only is it good to have a well-functioning floor that can withstand dropped knives, spilled liquids and scalding equipment – while remaining ergonomically sound – but a well designed floor can draw the eye and tie the whole design of your kitchen together. Strong and sturdy Durability is the top concern for your floors. Choosing materials like concrete, stone or tiling will ensure your floor can withstand some of the harshest knocks without showing the wear and tear. [caption id="attachment_8562" align="alignnone" width="356"] The concrete flooring works excellently with the wood elements of this kitchen[/caption] Concrete is a great contemporary design option, but can sometimes feel cold

Like any creative field, interior design has a unique set of trends that emerge every year and set the course for new designs. While we at Apollo Kitchens tend to draw from a classic lookbook of styles, we’re also privy to the latest trends and innovations in interior design. We love to incorporate elements of old and new into clients’ projects. So what have the biggest design trends of 2018 been so far? We take a look back on the last six months to see what’s happened so far. Natural elements This year has seen a huge rise in the number of designs that incorporate natural elements, whether that’s in the visible wood grain of benches and cupboards, or the rich, earthy colour palettes. Indoor plants have also made a comeback with fiddle leaf ferns, monstera, rubber trees and hanging baskets providing an organic backdrop. Clean lines Some years, designers incorporate bold, fussy

The movement towards minimalism has meant that more and more people are choosing quality items that they'll adore for their kitchen designs. And we couldn’t be happier. While it can be tempting to choose many low-cost items to renovate many rooms at once, you’ll receive far superior outcomes when you focus on one element at a time, and truly think about the look you want to achieve. At Apollo Kitchens, we value beautifully designed products and long-lasting natural elements – and want to create homes that reflect our clients’ lifestyles and personalities. The only way to do this is to carefully plan and select items that aren’t just gorgeous but will last for years to come. Materials will last longer Investing in high-quality materials and artistry ensures your renovation remains faultless for as long as possible. Choose natural stones, woods and fibres over synthetic kinds and your kitchen will age gracefully.

Making changes in your home is one sure way of increasing the value when it comes time to sell, but there are certain things that will appeal to buyers more than others. Whether you’re looking to sell now and want some easy ways to boost your income, or you have plans to sell in the future and want to safeguard your investment, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Get the most value for your money and select the most cost-effective renovations that will give you the highest return. Here’s how we at Apollo Kitchens ensure your renovation will benefit your pocket. Stick to a timeless design palette While we love interior design quirks and want to help your personality shine through in your reno, pre-sale is not the right moment to do this. When you’re about to put your home on the market, avoid passing trends and

Ever wonder why the best home chefs seem to work effortlessly and without stress? They chop vegetables, sear meat and season with the perfect combination of herbs and spices – all without breaking a sweat. The secret to stress-free cooking is an organised foundation. When everything is in its place, you’ll be able to reach for the implement or ingredient you need at the right point in the recipe. No more digging around drawers or poring through your pantry to locate what you need. While at Apollo Kitchens we know a thing or two about intelligent kitchen design, we also know how to maximise your use of space to get the best results. Here are our top tips for a streamlined process from start to finish. Keep commonly used items close by While you want to steer away from cluttered countertops, you should still employ logic when it comes

These days, businesses and individuals are striving more and more to decrease their footprints and design more ethical ways of working. What better place to start than in the kitchen, where decisions about materials, appliances, energy, finishes and lighting can all make a difference to a business’s green credentials. Whether you have an established business and are looking to refit your kitchen space, designing a complete apartment block, or just looking for ways to greenify your residential kitchen, there are several steps you can take to make a more ethical, modern kitchen. Here, the team at Apollo Kitchens runs through our top tips for greenifying your commercial space. With decades of experience designing functional, stylish kitchens, we’re able to create attractive, on-brand and green kitchens for your home or business by managing the whole project from start to finish. Lighting In modern design, beautiful lighting is often a non-negotiable and the right

Renovating your kitchen is a great step to take when you want to upgrade your lifestyle and add value to your home. Not only will a brand new kitchen let you cook and entertain more seamlessly, when it comes time to sell, you’ll be able to reap your return on investment. If you’ve got your heart set on a kitchen renovation – or are just exploring your options – we’re making it easy with our top things to consider before paying your first deposit. Hire a professional project manager Like with any big project, it can be challenging to manage a wealth of moving parts on your own. From sourcing products to hiring contractors and abiding by local legislation, it can be unwieldy to juggle it all. Instead of managing the renovation yourself – and risk compromising quality – hire a professional project manager. At Apollo Kitchens, our managers streamline the process

Your bench-top is arguably the most attention-grabbing piece in your kitchen, and it fulfills an essential day-to-day purpose, too. Nail the look, and you can make your bench-top can work wonders for you. Miss the mark and you could be left with a drab centerpiece that does nothing to match your needs. These days, you have the freedom to choose from a wide range of materials, finishes and styles when it comes to designing your space. But this wide range of options can also be overwhelming, as you struggle to pinpoint which material is right for you. In this post, the team at Apollo Kitchens have put together a list of materials for your kitchen bench that don’t just look brilliant but are incredibly durable too. [gallery type="slideshow" link="none" size="full" ids="8587,8586,8585,8584"] Stone Stone is an elegant choice for your bench-top and, depending on the type of stone you choose, can be a