Trendsideas

Jason Higham: “Rather than choosing a U-shaped or island bench kitchen for this renovation, we opted for a design that incorporated the dining area. This arrangement creates an easy connection and has the other big advantag...

The stainless steel front panel on this kitchen island opens up as an extension to the countertop, revealing a storage space behind.

Custom-designed cabinetry made of Plyboo in this master bedroom connects with the storage cabinetry in the adjacent bathroom. The bedroom also illustrates designer FuTung Cheng’s hallmark construction material – concrete.

There’s no governing rule that all benchtops have to match – with variety, comes visual interest and function-specific choices. This scullery in a kitchen fit-out by Studio Italia features no-nonsense, hard-working stainless ...

For this kitchen design by architect Eliska Lewis, upper cabinet doors open outwards and swing upwards on a sophisticated, labour-saving mechanism – giving easy, unimpeded access to stored items. 

A long marble-clad kitchen island is the central feature of this kitchen and includes a fitted chopping board that can be positioned anywhere along the island.

Along with the lighting, it’s concealed out of sight above this kitchen’s perforated aluminium ceiling. Removing one of the panels gives access to clean the filters. 

Trends can evolve in benchtop design, often in relation to thickness. Slender is becoming increasingly popular, and substantial also remains a hit. So, how about both? This marble island, in a kitchen by Pepper Design, has a ...

While all business for the chef, the island benchtop in this kitchen by Matisse all but conceals a flush hob, pop-up extractor and recessed double sinks.

The material you choose for your benchtop can set the scene for the entire kitchen, as with this new kitchen by Lloyd Hartley Architects – so this will be high on your budget consideration priorities.

A traditional Hamptons aesthetic – in a slightly parred back form –  was introduced ito connect with the detail-rich Queenslander home it forms part of. The pendant lighting over the island played a part in this.

Part of the calm, restful appeal of this kitchen is that the designers visually downplayed its functionality. The expansive open shelving on the front of the island gives it the feel of a piece of furn...