Hicaliber Team

Over the past 20 years, the kitchen has transformed from a hidden room in a home to a multi-generational, multi-purpose space.

The kitchen’s role is no longer limited to cooking and washing up. Now, it’s also a living and entertainment area—a space where the kids do their homework, and parents check emails, make drinks and entertain guests.

With the kitchen being the heart of the home, and usually integrated into an open plan design, it’s important to consider this space in an aesthetic and sculptural way. Fixtures and facades suddenly become a whole lot more important when you can see them from your living area.

But you have to strike the balance. The ultimate goal? A functional kitchen design that doesn’t compromise aesthetic.

It’s something that is definitely achievable, and while you can still have that brushed brass tap you’ve always dreamt of, there are key areas to consider to make sure your kitchen really works.

Must know: Five-zoned approach to kitchen design

The five-zoned approach to kitchen design is the holy grail of kitchen design, and is becoming an increasingly popular framework in which modern kitchens are built around.

Five-zoned kitchen design is a way of categorising and simplifying the ever-diversifying ways that modern kitchens are used. Kitchens have evolved into more than just an area for cooking, and are now just as much a living space.

These five zones are:

1. Consumables – where you store your perishables and non-perishables (pantry & fridge)
2. Non-consumables – where you store your tools for cooking and eating (cookware, crockery, utensils)
3. Cleaning – areas that go from dirty to clean (sink, bins, dishwasher)
4. Cooking – your cooktop and oven
5. Preparation Space – your bench space

Kitchen functionality is about determining how these five areas interact with each other and how you will use them in your daily life.

Use practical exercises to plan your layout

You may have heard of L-shaped, U-shaped and galley layouts. Before you rush into choosing one, we recommend using practical exercises to visualise how you will use the space.

For example, in order to satisfy your normal weekly grocery shop, you will need to be able to maneuver an armful of groceries easily. They’ll be moving from the bench space to the consumable zone within a few steps in an ideal scenario. Otherwise this task may become just that little bit more tedious!

Something else to consider is washing up. The cleaning zone should be positioned so that you can put away clean dishes and utensils without too much effort. This may also reduce water splashes!

You can extend these imaginary exercises to every activity you do in your kitchen—meal prep, making lunches, baking, even cleaning and taking out the bins.

While you’re running through these ‘mental checks’ always come back to the five zones and consider how their positioning can make these daily tasks easier.

Small kitchen design and the working triangle

The working triangle is a kitchen design framework that was coined in the 1920s. It’s relatively simple—the theory states that a kitchen’s three main work areas (sink, refrigerator, stove) should form a triangle.

This approach allows you to access your consumable zone, cooking zone and cleaning zone with ease and ensures a path free of clutter. It is especially useful for small kitchens that need to utilise space to create comfort and convenience.

The working triangle can help eliminate clutter and obstacles, as you must ensure there is a smooth flow of traffic between each of the triangle’s ‘points’.

A simple but effective way to incorporate this is by adding your bin to your storage area. Otherwise, your free-standing bin may become something of a sticking point in your kitchen plan.

You can never have too much storage

It can be easy to fall into the trap of ‘bench-as-storage’. You’ll promise yourself that you’ll keep it tidy and stay on top of managing the space… but the truth is, you likely won’t.

Ample, smart storage space instantly de-clutters your kitchen and provides you with easy access to your appliances when you need them.

You can never have too much storage in your kitchen, but you also want to make sure that it’s the right kind of storage.

You don’t want to simply stack your pots and pans and have your everyday food processor pushed right into the back of a cupboard. Every time you need something, you’ll have to unload everything from the shelf or drawer, then pack it all away again.

Your new home consultant will be able to help step you through the myriad different types of kitchen storage available—from custom spice drawers to slide-out and magnetic racks, there’s a solution for every type of cook.

Integrate your appliances

We told you we liked storage. And integrated appliances take this concept one step further.

Simply put, integrated kitchen appliances have fronts that match your cabinetry.

Integration is almost like ‘storing your appliances’ — it helps reduce the visual clutter in your kitchen. From a functional perspective, it also can help you save on space, and makes your kitchen much easier to clean.

If you have the budget to accommodate, they’re an absolute must in a modern kitchen.

Putting it into practice

So where to from here?

A great place to start is to consider what your biggest constraints are and working backwards.

At the end of the day, kitchen design is a bit of a science. Taking the time to consult an expert will pay dividends, ensuring you aren’t running circles around your kitchen every time you prepare a meal.

The Master Bedroom isn’t just any room in the house—it’s your private sanctuary. It should be your favourite room in your home, where you can let go of the day’s stress and simply relax.

Stuck for ideas on decorating or designing your master bedroom? Check out these ten master bedroom design ideas that will never go out of style.

Navy comfort

A well-dressed bed is often the hero of a master bedroom design, and this is no exception. We love a theme, and the navy palette in this bedroom is totally timeless.

Minimal magic

Sometimes, less is more. This master bedroom design heroes a plush bed with a grey and white palette, while small indoor plants and timber furniture add warmth. The overall aesthetic is totally refined (and one Marie Kondo would be proud of)!

Clever contrast

This design uses a light, neutral palette with darker details in the throw, cushions and armchair. The two-toned panelled feature wall adds architectural interest—this dimension and detail are mirrored throughout other areas of the home.

Make a statement

When done wrong, dark panelled walls can make a room feel tight, dark and outdated. But when done right—oh, boy is it timeless! This dark veejay panelling combined with the delightful bedside pendants makes for a total statement.

Perfectly private

Now how’s this for a clever master bedroom design idea? The semitransparent curtain allows filtered natural light without compromising on privacy. An understated, modern aesthetic is achieved with grey and green, with a necessary pop of plant life to bring the outside in.

Pops of pink in Modern Hamptons

Modern Hamptons design uses classic materials and textures from the traditional Hamptons look, with a contemporary interpretation of the colour palette. This master bedroom adds pops of pink against neutral tones, channeling the coastal, relaxed aesthetic of the Hamptons with the fun-loving Australian personality.

Traditional Hamptons

Is traditional Hamptons more your style? This master bedroom design features a white and blue palette against natural wooden features for a result that is both calm and warm.

Velvet and hardwood

Nothing says elegance and sophistication like dark hardwood flooring paired with a velvet bedhead. Add pendant lighting to the mix and you have a master bedroom fit for a king (or queen)!

White on white

This stunning master bedroom uses a monochromatic palette with layered texture for depth and added interest. Topped off with beautiful, large windows, this design will ensure you’re getting your daily dose of vitamin D.

Neutral classic

This bedroom channels coastal design with the panelled feature wall, and uses classic furniture and decor to complete the look. Statement bedside lamps make for a room that will feel like a seaside Airbnb, every night of the week.

Planning your dream home? Get in touch with your local G.J. Gardner office and turn your Master Bedroom Design Ideas into a reality.

Hosting a dinner party? No matter what you do, everyone always ends up in the kitchen. Your guests are ether chatting to the cook, making drinks, helping prepare food or getting in the way!

The kitchen is the heart of your home, and with the rise of open plan living, the heart is more exposed than ever before.

This isn’t at all a bad thing, as it gives you the opportunity to consider your kitchen differently. Kitchens are now treated in a more sculptural way, and you want them to be aesthetically cohesive with the look of your living space.

So, if the kitchen is a thing of beauty, what about the dishes? Lunchboxes? Toasted sandwich maker?

Hiding all these things away is easy when you have the right kind of functional storage space, and with the modernisation of kitchen spaces comes the resurgence of a centuries-old tradition—the butler’s pantry.

The history of the butler’s pantry

Butler’s pantries became popular from the 1850s onwards, primarily in affluent households with a butler and wait staff. In addition to a range of household duties, the butler was often responsible for managing the pantry items and serving food. ‘Plating up’ happened in the butler’s pantry, and then meals were served in the dining room.

Throughout the late 19^th century Butler’s pantries started to become popular in middle class homes too. Although these households didn’t have staff, this space was used by family members for storage and food preparation.

From the 1940s, storing and preparing food became easier. Fridges and freezers became popular and the pantry moved into a singular kitchen cupboard.

Bye, bye butler’s pantry.

This feature has laid dormant in a home designer’s toolbox for more than 50 years, until now.

Functional kitchen design

In recent years, butler’s pantries have exploded in popularity. These days, a butler’s pantry is less about accommodating wait staff, and more about functional kitchen design.

A butler’s pantry will help you in three key areas, making everything from everyday meal prep to extravagant entertaining a breeze.

Storage

The butler’s pantry is the perfect place to store and use big, bulky appliances. Things like stand mixers, coffee machines and juicers all belong in a butler’s pantry.

A butler’s pantry helps keep your bench space clean and tidy: Palm Cove Estate Display Home

Preparation

A butler’s pantry is the perfect place to do messy meal prep, before moving your ingredients into the kitchen to cook. Peeling and chopping vegetables, making sauces and assembling salads are all great butler’s pantry activities.

Clean up

A butler’s pantry is also the perfect place to go from dirty to clean. If you choose to add a sink and dishwasher into your butler’s pantry, you can do all of your day-to-day kitchen cleaning out of sight.

The saviour of entertaining, a butler’s pantry also allows you to hide all your cooking mess until after the night is done. After all, the last thing you want to see when you’re relaxing with an after-dinner drink is a pile of dirty dishes.

Do you need a butler’s pantry?

A butler’s pantry might seem like a luxury, but we’d argue otherwise. ‘Luxury’ generally implies a degree of frivolity, but as we’ve proven, this home design feature is seriously useful.

View all G.J. Gardner’s Home Designs with a Butler’s Pantry.

Choosing a colour palette for your home is a big decision. After all, it’s more than just deciding on a paint colour and buying some throw cushions. To do it right, you must consider all of the surfaces, finishes and inclusions across your whole home.

It’s understandable for this to seem like a daunting task, but by learning a few simple rules, tuning in to your personal preferences and following your gut, you’ll feel like a colour palette expert.

Before you start

Your floor is going to dictate a lot of your colour choices, including the colour of your walls and your furniture. Use the floor as the foundation for your colour palette in every room, and you’ll be off to a great start.

Make note of your lighting

Lighting will always affect your home interior planning – especially when it comes to colour. Depending on the availability of natural light, the season and the types of light bulbs you use, the hues and tones of your room will alter.

For example, the natural light in south-facing rooms bring out the best in cool and warm colours – dark colours will look brighter and lighter colours will glow! You may want to consider how you want your room’s colours to interact with the lighting, and how you can best utilise the light to amplify colour.

If you’re building a new home, your builder will be able to help you understand how your home is positioned on the block, and therefore how the light will affect your key living zones.

Consider the mood

Your colour palette is as much about creating a mood for your home as it is an expression on your personality. Remember that the selection of colours can determine the ambience of your space.

Warm colours are known to inspire vibrance and confidence and a great for promoting intimacy, while cooler tones can relax and bring a sense of calmness to your area.

Your personality and taste are crucial here. Trends come and go, and you want the mood of your space to really reflect who you are.

Remember colour theory

Basic knowledge of colour theory is a must when developing a colour palette. Finding the right foundation for your colour palette can help create clarity for your vision. The three basic colour schemes are:

• Monochromatic colours. These are various shade of the same colour. Choose a monochromatic palette for a more minimal aesthetic, adding depth with prints and patterns in your furniture and fabrics.
• Analogous colours. Often soothing, these colours are next to each other on the colour wheel and work to bring a cohesive and harmonious look to the home. Imagine blues paired with teals and greens.
• Complementary colours. By using two opposing colours on the wheel, like blue and orange, you can create an atmosphere of high-energy. Black and white, while not on the colour wheel, are also technically complements. This is perfect if you’re wanting a bold and dramatic look.

Be inspired by local landscapes

We are blessed in Australia to have such a stunning landscape – it would be a shame not to make use of it.

You could pay homage to the great Australian bush by adding pops of native greenery or be inspired by a nearing beach and include coastal tones. By featuring some natural elements, you can achieve a cohesive look with your outside environment. Plus, bringing the outside in is said to boost your overall wellbeing and happiness.

Colour trend: warm neutrals

Neutral tones are a tried-and-tested classic that aren’t likely to go out of fashion. Choose the right neutral colours and your home will exude pared back elegance and warmth. Think white paired with greys, browns or anything muted.

You can create a relaxed and peaceful environment by adding texture with rugs, cushions, and artworks.

Colour trend: re-welcoming blue and green

Though blue and green never really went out of style, these two colours are well and truly back in the colour palette spotlight.

Blue tones can provide a peaceful and warm ambience to your home, while lighter shades can make the room feel larger. Green tones are a great way to bring nature into your home. They symbolise the natural elements of earth, clean air and encourage natural light.

Want to learn more about home design? Why not check out our Guide to Modern Hamptons Style.

There’s no denying that your bathrooms are extremely important areas of your home. Some think that a rain head and a big tub are all you need to make the perfect bathroom, but there’s much more to modern bathroom design than meets the eye.

There’s also a long-held myth that designing a bathroom should be all about making practical choices.

Bathrooms should not just be about functionality! They are also a unique opportunity for beautiful finishing and design choices.

Modern bathroom design can mean different things to different people. But there are a few basic rules you can follow to make sure your bathroom is both enduring and on-trend.

Start with a neutral base

By starting with a neutral base for your bathroom’s colour scheme, you won’t have to fret about it becoming outdated or out-of-touch. A modern bathroom design makes great use of white, black and grey as well as other neutral colours.

Choosing these colours as a base for your palette, from tiles to basins allows you the opportunity to add impact through colour in items like taps and basins, accessories, art and towels. This way, your bathroom can evolve with your changing tastes and colour trends.

Add visual interest

Think of visual interest as an element that grabs someone’s attention. Taking time to consider and balance these ‘interesting’ details can take your bathroom from an average 5 to a solid 10/10.

Consider how you could add contrast or texture to your bathroom design through your:

• Vanity
• Tapware
• Tile and grout choice
• Basin
• Accessories

Make the most out of the space you have

Space isn’t infinite, and the key to modern bathroom design is working to create as much space as possible.

You can do this by using large, thin-framed mirrors to create the illusion of space, or investing in transparent glass shower walls that will open up your bathroom.

Glass shower walls will open up your bathroom, Freshwater Display Home, Brookvale NSW

De-clutter through storage solutions

De-cluttering through storage isn’t a new concept for the home – but it’s even more important to consider this in your bathroom where space is often tight.

You can use floating vanities and cabinets to design a more minimalistic and streamlined look that frees floor space and gives the appearance of ample room.

Include geometric shapes where possible

Geometric shapes can take your bathroom design game to the next level. You can easily implement sleek and simple squares and rectangles in your vanities, storage areas and sinks. But you don’t have to feel ‘squared’ in by just these shapes. You can add a unique flare to the geometric shape principle by using egg-like shapes to soften the edges of you bathroom.

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to add geometric shapes is through your tiling. They’re a great way to impact your bathroom—they’re a fantastic design feature that will give your bathroom character, and something you need to consider when designing.

Consider how you’re going to use different tiles in different ways, Freshwater Display Home, Brookvale NSW

You could break a bathroom wall with two different feature tiles, or perhaps you can use your feature tile on your bathroom floors and let it travel halfway up your wall.

Add fresh flowers or plants

We’ve talked about geometric shapes and neutral colours – you won’t be surprised to learn that one of the biggest risks in adopting an uber-modern bathroom design is that it can feel sterile or cold. One of the easiest ways to soften your bathroom is to add a touch of warmth using fresh flowers and plants.

An orchid or new succulent will brighten your morning hygiene routine and give your bathroom a cosier and more relaxing appeal.

Treat yourself

Freestanding bathtubs are an extremely luxurious inclusion to a modern bathroom. If you have the space, they’re a beautiful sculptural element to include in your ensuite design.

Whatever style you decide, use these modern bathroom design rules to create functional, beautiful spaces that are a private sanctuary for you, your family and guests.

As Australians, we love the outdoors. We love the sun, the fresh air, and the lush, feel-good greenery.

That’s why it’s so important to take the time to design a considered, functional outdoor living space.

Whether your perfect outdoor living space is a deck overlooking your garden, or an alfresco for entertaining your guests, these are some essential things to consider when designing this area.

Create a shaded area

Creating an area of shade is an absolute must in your backyard. Living in Australia, we are both blessed and cursed with our bright, warm sun.

Create a shaded area, Broadbeach Display Home, Drouin, VIC

To design a comfortable and functional outdoor living area, there needs to be a generous amount of shaded area to protect yourself from harsh sunlight, annoying glare and create a cool area to sit and relax in.

Shelter is essential

You can’t talk about shaded areas without talking about shelter. A comfortable shaded area is achieved through quality and well-designed shelter.

The key to a functional outdoor alfresco area is in providing adequate cover from the weather.

And the same goes for decked backyards. Roofing solutions offer a sense of permanence, weather protection and pulls together your outdoor aesthetic.

Think of the weather your home will endure. Throughout most of Queensland, you are likely to experience mild and dry winters, but have tropical summers with plenty of rain. If you’re by the ocean, you’ll have to consider the sea salt and spray. Your roofing solutions should be weather-proof and location-appropriate to ensure you and your home are properly protected.

Bring the indoors, outdoors

It’s common to consider “bringing the outside in” when designing our homes, but we rarely ever hear “bring the inside out” – but we should!

Creating a seamless connection between your inside and outside areas gives the illusion of a larger space and enables a more functional, open plan experience. Your alfresco area should be both open to the backyard and connected to the inside.

A seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, Parkview Display Home, Taylor, ACT

A well-stocked barbecue area, dining setting and outdoor kitchen with a sink can also make your life easier—think about what you’ll need to entertain guests or enjoy a Sunday summer lunch with your family.

Make a checklist for its practicality

If you want to make sure your outdoor living space is perfect, simply design a checklist.

Think about these questions before you put pen to paper:

• What will the area be used for most? Is it for me-time, family-time or entertaining?
• Where in your backyard will the sun be the harshest?
• What part of the day will you use it the most – morning, afternoon or evening?
• How often will you use it be used in winter?
• How will the weather conditions affect maintenance?

This checklist will help you plan for longevity in your materials and furnishings, as well as plan your shelter and shade locations. But more importantly, thinking these questions through will give you a proper visualisation of the purpose of your outdoor living area.

The laundry tends to go unconsidered during the design process, but this room majorly impact your home’s performance.  

Whilst it might not be our favourite past time, recent surveys have found that many Australians spend over 1 week a year doing laundry. From extra storage to a chore hotspot, astute design choices will help you make the most of this wet room.  

Your laundry space should allow room to manoeuvre with bulky items and cleaning supplies, so as to prevent adding any pain points to your housework. But more importantly, it should still capture the overall design style of your home to create a sense of continuity.

Our G.J. Gardner Homes’ team is here to help you find the right laundry design for your home. Our design team will help you find a laundry design to enhance your everyday tasks. Explore our laundry design ideas to find inspiration for this utility space.  

Laundry design ideas for Australian homes 

Due to the laid-back design style of Australian homes, one of the leading laundry design ideas is to incorporate the “mudroom”. This laundry design includes a secondary entry to your home, usually located along the side or the back of the home. A mudroom laundry offers transitional space between the outside and the main areas of the house. Not only does this design let you avoid tracing dirty clothes throughout your home, but this extra door also provides you with easy access to the outdoors for when it’s time to hang your laundry.  

This design idea requires a bigger space, offering additional storage for more than just your laundry equipment.   

Take cues from the kitchen 

If you have a keen interest in styling your laundry to be an asset to your home, a great place to start is to mirror the styling of your kitchen. 

Your kitchen and laundry both hold a similar function in your home, in that they are primarily a place for performing necessary household duties among other secondary functions. They have the job of housing many similar appliances and similar features like sinks, cupboards and shelving. 

They are also often located relatively close by to one another, as a practical way of keeping plumbing foundations less complicated during construction. It is relatively easy to then draw parallels between the two and draw styling ideas accordingly. 

The laundry in the Freshwater Display Home in Brookvale, NSW pairs the laundry styling with the kitchen by making use of similar oak timber features, tapware, crisp white benchtops, and dark black panelling. This ensemble makes for a dynamic and expressive laundry space, which echoes much of the features from the expertly designed kitchen area.  

The laundry in the Freshwater Display Home uses the same textures and finishings as the kitchen.

Compact Laundry Design Ideas  

A popular compact laundry design is designating the space to just a cupboard. The perfect choice for small homes, this compact laundry design integrates your laundry machines into just a cupboard to maximise functionality and storage without occupying much of the floor space. This design idea lets your laundry be seamlessly blended into the rest of your home for a discreet and organised laundry station. With carefully designed compartments and shelves, the laundry cupboard efficiently accommodates essential laundry appliances and supplies. The streamlined appearance of these compact laundry cupboards helps maintain a clutter-free environment and lets you give more of your floor plan to your living areas than your utility areas.  

Modern Laundry Design Ideas 

Modern laundry designs showcase sleek and minimalist aesthetics, elevating the overall look of the space. These designs often feature innovative storage solutions and hidden compartments, keeping laundry essentials organised and out of sight. To finish designing your stylish laundry, consider these tips: 

• Streamline your laundry by hiding the plumbing inside your cabinetry and choosing an inset sink 
• Keep it fresh by adding plants and ensuring there is natural light through a skylight or doorway 
• Add luxe elements like soap and a candle as a stylish finishing touch