For getting the kitchen of your dreams…

1 - Choose your appliances

Although they are the last things to be installed they should be the first things you choose. Why?

• Because these make your kitchen work. Only you know how you like to cook, what sort of refrigerator you need, how much frozen food you need to keep handy, what sort of dishwasher you prefer, the microwave you need, etc.
• It helps your kitchen designer allocate the right spaces for your appliances.
• It helps both you and your kitchen manufacturer with budgeting.

2 - Think about your ideal kitchen layout

When you can put your hand on exactly what you need, when you need it then working in your new kitchen will be a breeze. Planning is essential to developing an Intelligent Kitchen.

Thinking about how your new kitchen can be designed to suit your lifestyle gives us the designer a starting point to work from and advise you.

The kitchen is the heart of the home where food is prepared, children nurtured, comfort sought and guests entertained, lifestyle is the key to planning a kitchen that works for you. Your lifestyle, now and what it will be in the foreseeable future influences your kitchen design.
Things to consider…

Where will the sink go?

Most people have it under a window so that they do not have to look at a blank wall whilst working. Also, it is often the best place for plumbing. However, you might want your sink on an island.

Where do you want your hob?

Think about the extraction of cooking fumes. This often necessitates an outside wall for the exhaust port. If you have your hob on an island you will have to think about a special island canopy and whether or not you can run the exhaust through the ceiling.

How much storage do you need?

Think about the gadgets: the coffee maker, the wok, big pots, bowls, trays, etc, etc. They all have to be stored somewhere. Think about how much food you really need to store. Do you eat mostly convenience foods? (Big fridge/freezer). Do you stock up for that disaster? (Big pantry).

Save yourself time and energy:

• Keep distances short to save you time and reduce fatigue.
  

• Get the ergonomics right. - Which equipment do you use the most? Frequently used items should be stored at waist level to reduce the likelihood strains and improve workflow. We can advise you on the best ergonomic worktop height.

• Take advantage of space saving fittings - With easy access storage from our impressive Hettich range of sliding larders, full extension drawers, divided drawers and pull out units. Your back, legs and neck will thank you!
  

15 Best Kitchen Layout Tips

• Always keep in mind that the kitchen should make life easy for you.
• Keep the sink, hob and food preparation areas within easy reach of each other.
• Ensure that you have clear work surfaces on either side of sink and hob.
• Avoid placing appliances in the corners, which can create inaccessible spaces.
• Avoid placing drawers in corners.
• Keep oven and hob separated from the fridge to prevent damage caused by temperature clashes.
• Avoid placing your hob in front of a window especially if it is gas.
• Locate your dishwasher close to the sink.
• Locate cutlery and everyday crockery drawers close to the dishwasher.
• Store cooking pots and trays near to oven and hob.
• Allow for plenty of power points around the kitchen.
• An eye-level oven is safer for young children and better for your back.
• Allow at least 1200 mm between lines of cabinets.
• Allow 1000 mm for access into the kitchen (900 mm minimum).
• Allow 300 mm for breakfast bar overhang.
• Don’t forget to add in a range hood to extract cooking fumes to outside.

3 - Set a budget

With kitchens ranging from $4,000 to $40,000 plus we can create something to suit your unique needs. However, before we design and quote on your new kitchen, you will need to decide realistically and honestly how much you are willing to spend. The cost of your appliances needs to be factored into your budget.

4 - Do your research

• Read the testimonials on our site from happy clients who love their new kitchen.
• Hettich have a great brochure available from our showroom.
• Contact people who have bought a kitchen recently and talk to them about their experience.
• Read magazines; acquaint yourself with styles, colours and importantly, terminology. Learning the correct terminology will help you discuss your kitchen with our designer.
  
  

Want to see your perfect NEW kitchen?

Visit our showroom at Kevin Molloy Joinery Ltd, 14/16 Husheer Pl, Onekawa, Napier.

Please contact us to make a time for personal service:
Email info@kevinmolloyjoinery.co.nz
Phone: 06-843-5037

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Understanding Kitchenware and Electronics

What kind of Kitchen Furniture should I consider?

The trend over the years has been for fitted kitchens. However, there are benefits to selecting freestanding kitchen furniture. You get a very individual look with attractive cupboards and freestanding work surfaces such as wheeled butchers’ blocks that can be tucked out of the way when not in use. You can consider a kitchen table instead of an island. If you move, your lovely kitchen furniture moves with you.
Freestanding furniture tends not to be so practical in a very small space though, where fitted cabinets can be designed to maximise use of awkward corners.

What’s a Kitchen Hob?

Hobs are inset cooking elements, traditionally with four burners - one large, two medium and one small simmer burner. Typically hobs come in standard widths: 600 mm, 700 mm and 900 mm wide and are installed into a cut-out on the benchtop.
There are now many models with five or more burners available including wok burners and long burners for fish kettles, tepanyaki plates and even barbecue griddles.
There are three types of hob – gas, ceramic and induction.

Why choose a Gas Hob?

Gas is a great choice because it offers instant control over the heat. Most professional cooks and chefs prefer naked flame cooking because of the ease of control over the temperature, which makes cooking delicate dishes much easier.
The flame is visible, and easily controlled so temperatures are easy to judge. Gas is a very popular and economical choice even for those without a town gas supply as it is easily hooked up to a LPG cylinder (preferably outside).
Most hobs have mains ignition to light the burners. An important feature to look out for is flame failure cut-out. This means that if the flame goes out, perhaps in a draft, the gas will automatically be cut off. Other models have a system that re-ignites the flame should it go out. These are especially good safety features, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas where gas build-up could cause an explosion.

Why choose a Ceramic Hob?

Modern ceramic hobs are slim and stylish with a scratch resistant surface, usually black, that is easily wiped clean. For a contemporary New York look match a ceramic hob with a glass splash back of the same colour.

Some models even come with extendable cooking zones, which are suitable for larger pots. Ceramic hobs are available with either manual or touch control knobs.

Ceramic hobs require pots and pans that have perfectly flat bottoms to ensure maximum contact with the heat source. If you cook with a wok therefore, a ceramic hob is not for you. The heating and simmer down times are a little slower than gas hobs.

Ceramic hobs are easy to clean but you will need to clean up any spills as soon as possible to make sure they don’t bake on to the glass top. Normally it is best to wait until the hob has cooled before you clean it, but sugary spills need to be cleaned up immediately as they can be hard to shift once baked on.

Why choose an Induction Hob?

In induction hobs the burner or element is replaced by a powerful, high frequency electromagnet. An electromagnetic field is generated by sophisticated electronics in a unit under the ceramic surface of the hob. The electromagnetic field generates a loop current within any ferrous metal that is placed upon the hob, causing it to heat up. The heat is then transferred from the pot to its contents. The electromagnetic field will only produce heat in ferrous metals, which means that your pots and pans must be made of cast iron or steel in order to work. Aluminium or Pyrex for instance, will not work.

Induction cooking is considered to be safer than gas or electric because there are no open flames or hot elements. The hob itself is not hot to touch; it is only the cooking pots that heat up. Even if left switched on it will only generate heat in ferrous metal that is placed upon it. Induction hobs are easy to clean because food spillage does not get burnt on the way it would on a conventional ceramic hob.

Induction hobs are a great choice but only if you do not use a wok or nonferrous cookware. They are also a great talking point; the hidden magic of the heat source always takes a lot of explaining to the uninitiated!

Where should I place my Oven?

Ovens are best built into cabinets. They can be installed either under or over the bench. One of the most popular places for them is in an Oven Tower, where they are often paired with the microwave.

Two full sized ovens are great for people who entertain frequently or cook for large families.

Ovens come in standard sizes to fit standard cabinets, usually 600 mm wide. Be mindful of the installation instructions though as they can affect your guarantee. Your supplier or cabinetmaker should be able to assist you with the appropriate advice.

I’d like a Free-standing Range – what do I need to consider?

Very popular in recent years are the wide free-standing stoves or ranges in stainless steel, which are imported mostly from Europe.

Space will be the ultimate decider. The wide ranges are sometimes very wide at up to 1500 mm and often feature two ovens. The cook top of these wide appliances can give enormous space and provide a wide range of cooking options such wok stands, fish kettles, griddles, etc. all in one package.

The wider ranges sit in their own space and require equally wide range hoods.

Where should my Microwave Oven go?

It is far better to plan a space for them in one of the cabinets either over or under the bench. Most microwaves can be housed in an opening or 600 mm W X 350 mm H but do be mindful of the installation requirements of your model.

Why do I need a Range Hood?

Range hoods are not only a functional appliance but in many kitchens are a focal point. Range hoods vent to the outside or re-circulate air within the kitchen.

Re-circulating range hoods usually have a grease filter, which must be replaced regularly if it is the paper type or be cleaned regularly if it is a screen. Re-circulating range hoods tend not to be very satisfactory in use.

Venting range hoods are more effective at removing grease and cooking fumes, they usually have screens that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The better ones also have grease traps.

Extractors can be hidden in cabinets but these do tend to be the smaller types.

How do I vent a Range Hood?

The most efficient way to vent a range hood is straight up through the roof. A straight pipe works best; bends in the vent pipe add backpressure that requires a stronger motor to overcome. Venting capacity is usually given in cubic meters per hour; that is the number of cubic meters of air that can be moved under ideal conditions.

Conditions are rarely ideal of course, which means that you should usually go for the highest capacity you can, especially if you have a long run or bends, or both. Generally speaking 600 cubic meters per hour is the minimum you should look for. Anything less is unlikely to be satisfactory in use.

Noise is the next consideration. The more powerful the motor of the range hood or the greater the number of motors, the greater the potential noise will be generated. Noise levels are expressed in decibels and you will tend to want a range hood with a lower decibel rating.

For long and difficult exhaust runs it can be necessary to provide an extra fan at the outside wall. This will increase the efficiency of your range hood without causing extra noise in the kitchen. Remember too that flexible hosing, which is corrugated, cause greater air resistance and therefore the need for a more powerful range hood motor. Use smooth ducting wherever possible.

A note of caution about decibel claims of range hood manufacturers and sellers: the noise generated in the laboratory will likely bear no relation to that in the real life situation of your home!

What should I consider when buying a Waste Disposer?

Under-sink kitchen waste disposers offer great convenience to those on main drainage but are not suitable for septic tanks. Raw organic matter causes the microbial balance of septic to be upset and they will not only work inefficiently but bad odours can also be created.

There is a great deal of choice from a number of manufacturers and suppliers but the old adage of: ‘buy cheap, buy expensive’ was never truer than here. The cost of replacing a faulty waste disposer is far more than that of the unit. It has to be installed by a plumber and causes considerable disruption in the kitchen.

Got another question? Call 06-843.5037 or email info@kevinmolloyjoinery.co.nz for all the answers to your kitchen design questions.