Kitchen Mirrors

Vain or genius design? We say genius design! Kitchen mirrors are a hot trend at the moment. Not only can they make your kitchen look bigger but they can also reflect a good view making your kitchen more attractive and it's perfect for achieving that Fen Shui style.

Above a stove

If you fancy keeping an eye on yourself while you cook, this could be for you! OR if your oven is situated in an area that reflects interesting kitchen items an above the stove kitchen mirror can be considered!

Full Length

Make your kitchen look bigger with a full length mirror. Perfect for student apartments and people on the go who may need to check themselves before leaving the home.

Splash Back Mirror

These are quite high maintenance to keep clean but look really great in the right kitchen! Be sure to install tempered glass rather than household mirrors as these will crack under heat.

Above the sink

This is probably the most popular location to place a mirror. Try picking a mirror style that mimics a window.

Mirrors on cabinets

Installing mirrors to your kitchen cabinets can add style and heaps of light to the room.

Pizza Oven Types

Pizza has been a popular food since the 18th century when the people of Naples began adding tomato to flat bread. Since then pizza has become a well love food in most homes and a pizza oven has become the perfect addition to a BBQ or outdoor area. There are several pizza oven types that we thought we'd share with you in case you're thinking of getting one for your kitchen!

Conveyor oven

Typically bought for commercial use as they cook pizzas nice and fast and push them out in an orderly fashion which makes them suitable for restaurant owners. They're generally much larger than other pizza oven types.

Wood-burning oven

Our personal favourite! Pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven gives pizza that authentic, rustic, smoky taste that you can't seem to get from electric oven. These ovens contain wood or coal heated at high temperatures (around 1000 degrees) The oven is built in a dome shape which reflects and intensifies the heat. These ovens can be small or large.

Pizza deck oven

These ovens contain racks that can cook multiple pizzas at once. Because of this feature these ovens are also often used in restaurants, however mini pizza deck ovens can also be bought.

Convection oven

These are commercial or residential and are usually pretty cheap to run. They can be electric or run with gas. They tend to be a lot more energy and cost effective that some of the other ovens.

Countertop oven

These small ovens are perfect for the home as they are small and easy to store away.

Our product picks!

Kitchen Island Types

The kitchen is probably one of the more difficult areas of the home to design and if you're keen on having a kitchen island it's worth knowing the different types of kitchen islands out there and what purpose it's designed for...

Dining

A kitchen island can double up as a work, storage space and a dining area. If you have the space for a kitchen island but not a kitchen island AND a dining table this is a good option.

Cooking

Some home owners opt for a cook top on their kitchen islands so that they can 'cook to a crowd' rather than facing the wall. This design is one for family orientated home lovers who love to cook. This design can be quite expensive though as ventilation can needs to be installed above the island.

Dining and Cooking

If you have the space kitchen islands can double up as a cooking and dining area. For this combo design the dining area is usually raised or lowered slightly in order to keep guests away from the heat of the cook top.

Teppanyaki

If you aren't keen on having your cook tops on the kitchen island why not consider teppanyaki grill? These are really unique to any kitchen, are great for entertaining and are easy to clean. Here's a bit more about teppanyaki cooking.

Washing

Washing up facing a wall can be demotivating! Having a sink for washing up or even for rinsing in your kitchen island can be very handy. You could also install a dish washer in your island. Check out our blog on picking the right kitchen sink for you.

Movable

These are perfect for smaller kitchens. If you want a kitchen island for food prep or storage but don't have the space these work really well. They can be rolled to the centre of the kitchen when needed and rolled off to the side when not in use. You can store crockery in shelving too. Big movable kitchen islands work too!

Kitchen Office Ideas

Working from home is a big thing in today's modern world but without a clear work space it can become tricky to focus. Here are some ideas of home offices in kitchens to inspire that clean, tidy and effective work space in your home!

Empty space

There's often unused space or a spare wall in or close the kitchen. Use that space to set up a small working area. You may have cupboard of shelf space that you don't use that can be removed and replaced with a desk. You can always re-purpose existing cupboard space.

Cork and chalk board

Having a chalk and cork board/splashback in your kitchen office is a great way to keep your bills or reminders organised and visible so you don't forget them!

Organisation

A board with railings to hang storage baskets is an effective way to keep your kitchen office organised.

Power points

Make sure you plan your kitchen so that your office appliances can reach the power points. Check out our blog on kitchen power point planning here.

Mount the monitor

Consider mounting your computer monitor to the wall to save yourself some desk space.

Folding office chair

Get a foldable office chair to save some space. Alternatively if the space is there get an exercise ball or stool that can be stored away under the desk.

Kitchen Chair Types

Picking the right chairs for your kitchen or dining table is really important to make sure your decision suits your style and comfort. Here is a list of common kitchen chair types and some of their pros and cons...

Arm Chair

These tend to have a formal feel and depending on the style can be quite elaborate, however we tend to find arm chairs a bit restricting. The seating part can be solid or cushioned and if it's cushioned upholstering it can be a good way to make the arm chair look less formal! Generally an arm chair sits at the head of the table with side chairs on the side.

Side Chair

A bit less formal and a lot less restricting that an arm chair. Typically, side chairs are not upholstered, but you can always buy those tie on cushions if you are wanting to make the chair a bit more comfy!

 

Parsons Chair

A really stylish option for your kitchen table! These chairs are pretty versatile design wise and look good in most spaces, however may not always fit! They tend to be slightly larger so perhaps not suitable for smaller kitchens. Parsons chairs are great for back support as they're usually pretty high, however can be restricing for the head area. They can also be covered and upholstered.

Ladder Back Chair

This is a more traditional chair that, like the Parsons chair typically has a long back. It fits most decor styles, however we find that the back can be quite uncomfortable and dig into you if you're sitting for long period of time.

Modern Chair

These come in a wild variety of styles but are typically made from a combination of materials, mostly metal, wood or/or plastic. If you're looking for a unique piece of customized furniture. We can always help with that!

Upholstered versus un-upholstered

Upholstered furniture is a great way to incorporate the colours and design you want your home but can be a nightmare to keep clean especially if you have kids in the house. There is an way around keeping cushions clean if you're able to pull out the cushion part of the chair and get washable covered. This, however does not always look as sleek as a proper upholstered cushion.

New Year's Eve Outdoor Party Tips

If you're planning on celebrating the New Year in your outdoor area, check out these New Year's Eve Outdoor Pary tips to ensure your outdoor area is comfortable for you and your guests to enjoy the party!

Lanterns

Create extra light and an atmosphere with lanterns. These can be picked up from the Reject Shop or Cheap as Chips at a reasonable price. A simple piece of decor that not only serves a function but looks good. Tie them up to your deck roof in bunches for something different. You can also wrap the smaller lanterns around your deck poles.

Something for the kids (or adults)

Set up a piñata for the kids. These can be picked up from most dress up costume stores like Costume Box. If you're planning a kid free party, fill up the piñata with $1 gifts that people can wear after it's broken.

Keep mozzies away

Put away any fragrant candles or water to repel mosquito. Check out our blog on environmentally friendly insect repellents here.

Get snappy

Buy some selfie sticks (these can also be picked up for about $5 from the Reject Shop or Cheap as Chips) and hand these out to guests to take selfies throughout the party which can later be strung together to music to make a photo movie of the party!

Party pack

Put together a novelty party pack that guests can use throughout the night.

• Sparklers
• Mini champagne
• Party blowers
• Chewing gum
• Mini top hats

Christmas BBQ Ideas

Why not do something different this Christmas and host a Christmas BBQ?  Think festive punch, scented candles, fairy lights and delicious marinated meats to share with your loved ones. Here are some Christmas BBQ ideas to get you started...

1. Set-up

 Set up a festive table under the shade with a few bit and bobs to make it really Christmassy!

 - Christmas spice scented candles

- Crackers

- Festive paper plates

- Hesian table cloth and pine cones

- Christmas centre piece of lemons for drinks

 2. Christmas lights

 You can get solar or battery powered fairy lights from pretty much anywhere. Wrapping them around the table legs, around the deck (if you have one) or hanging them in nearby trees or bushes should create a beautiful Christmas atmosphere.

3. Nibbles

 Get a Christmas platter together with delicious cheeses, cold meats, nuts and jam or if you're looking for something different - a cheese fondue! Make your fondue Christmassy with some festive dipping forks or cut bread into festive shapes (like stars and hearts) If you want to serve a big Christmas meal try and keep the fondue dipping items to veggies like broccoli, radishes and cherry tomatoes. You can find fondue recipes in a blog we wrote here.

4. Mains

 There are some great recipes out there for marinated meat to cook on a barbie for Christmas. Here are our top three:

Christmas barbecued turkey

Australian chook

Aussie Lamb Roast

Bean, green and potato salads will all go down well with any of these dishes.

5. Drinks

 If you're expecting a lot of guests its worth making big batches of drinks that people can help themselved to. Here are some great receipes for punches and ice teas you could serve:

Christmas fruit punch

Lemon and mind iced tea

Ginger and lemon punched

For a more traditional Christmas drink - try egg nog

It's always a good idea when you're organising a party to have an easily accessible drinks station so people can help themselves.

We hope this post inspired you to put on an Aussie Christmas BBQ! Have a wonderful Christmas!

Getting Your Outdoor Space Summer Ready

With hot temperatures upon us you might want to think about getting your outdoor space ready for summer so here are some tips to get your outdoor space summer ready...

Chop and trim

Tidy up your garden by trimming any invasive bushes or hedges and cut back any branches that might be hanging hazardously low. Spray away the weeds and and sweep away the leaves! Some good natural weed destroyers include pouring boiling hot water and salt over them. A good environmentally friendly tip, however be careful which salt you select as it can ware down certain types of concrete over time. Here are some more environmentally friendly ways to get rid of weeds.

Throw away clutter

It's easy to allow your outdoor space to fill up with things you don't need or don't use often enough (old kids toys is a common one!) Consider tossing what you don't need or organising it using up-cycled trunks or storage benches.

Make it quirky

Brighten up the area with eclectic buys from charity stores. Bright fabrics, cactus plants, upcylced metal furnitur and colourful pot plants.

Light it up!

Take down your old rusty fairy lights and get some new ones up. There is a great selection of industrial looking hanging lights out there at the moment which can light and brighten up the area. Opt for the solar powered lights for a more environmentally friendly choice. Lanterns and candles are a must for any outdoor area too!

Put up a shade cloth

If you don't have a shaded deck it's a good idea to either stock up on some umbrellas or for a more boho look buy a shade cloth to drape temporarily (as needed) in your outdoor area. You can get heavy duty shade cloth or buy some coloured fabric that will do the trick.