Home Decorating Kitchen Design Planning, Advice and Ideas

The kitchen is said to be the heart of the home or house. Its usually the first place we stop to sit down when we enter the house. It’s where we store our food and prepare our meals and often the kitchen is where we dine.


However its not just the food area of the house as its usually central to the traffic and living flow. Preschoolers will play there while the parent is using the kitchen, children will often do their homework there with the help of the parents while preparing an evening meal and if you have a party you can bet that’s where many of the partygoers will gravitate.


It’s an odd phenomenon but the kitchen is the heart of the home and that’s why this site explores all the areas and needs of the kitchen. All the activities and more are part of the kitchen's role and the themes are endless from contemporary to ultra modern to a traditional country kitchen.



The fantastic thing about modern kitchens is that they can look old or to any style and still be practical with the modern finishes and appliances available. Kitchen design is not a simple process but it is logical and using this site will enable you to answer many of the questions you have about kitchens and how to design and plan a kitchen.


The golden question is how do we go about putting a kitchen and the associated areas together, how do we make the choices from the hundreds of options available.

In this site you will find categories that cover all of the aspects of kitchen design including how to design.
They are as follows:

Planning a kitchen


The planning process


Appliances what they are the basics of how they work and some of the models available.


Plumbing fittings, the faucets, boiling units, dishwashing and garbage disposal.
Lighting, How to create mood in the kitchen, how to make sure the lighting is correct and efficient and how to make sure it’s attractive.


Flooring. The area that gets the most wear and tear and abuse every day, what are your options, timber, vinyl, stone, concrete, carpet, cork. There are a lot of possibilities but which?


Wall finishes. What looks great and is impervious to steam, grease, food spills and yet can be cleaned without staining or deteriorating. We look at a whole lot of options here from tiling to papers to laminates and special paints to mention a few.


Electrical requirements such as the amount of outlets needed for all the appliances that a modern kitchen requires, safety aspects, aesthetics, and planning the positions of these items.


Cabinetry, here is a very large subject. This section helps you choosing different finishes, planning the cabinets layout and why, drawers that have to go into them and where the hardware that goes on the cabinets from self closing hush drawers to handles and hinges.


Storage. This is an endless area with manufacturers coming up with new and innovative store solutions all the time. Here you can see what’s available.


Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes and we will show you how to get the most from the space that you have. We will find out the best ways to flow through your kitchen and make it a comfortable space to work in. So start looking for ideas right now!

Making the Most of Your Bedroom Space with Mirrors

Many people find it hard to think outside the square when finding creative ways to decorate their home. Well that’s what we’re here for!

Decorating with mirrors is a simple, elegant and easy way to create space, light and beauty in your home but often a design tool taken for granted.


Mirrors aren’t just for bathrooms! So I’m here to show you how to make the most of your living space using mirrors.



The most obvious use for a mirror is to look at yourself in. One of my pet hates is having to walk from my bedroom to the bathroom to check my hair, outfit etc before I go out. Always have a mirror somewhere in the bedroom, full length is the best, so you don’t wander out feeling gorgeous and actually have your skirt tucked into your underwear (admit it, its happened to us all once)! A mirror by the front door is also a good idea. It’s easy to check yourself one last time before you leave, can add light and space to a sometimes small entrance way, and is supposedly good Feng Shui, as it confuses any spirits trying to enter your home.

But aside from the obvious, what are some other interesting and functional ways to use mirrors?


Hang above a fireplace or mantel to add a huge amount of space to a room. Make it a beautiful bevelled mirror, a funky art deco design, or whatever suits the style of your room. Instead of using art, use a mirror! It’s also a great way to reflect heat from the fire out into the room.
Try hanging small but interesting mirrors amongst a photo montage on the wall. It will change the feel of it instantly and is unexpected.
If you find a stunning frame but can’t find a picture to go, make it into a mirror. Most glass and framing places sell mirror glass cut to size and will fit it into the frame for you if necessary.

Every babies room should have a mirror. Make it colourful and have interesting things hanging off the frame, or photos of family inserted around the outside. Mirrors are a wonderful learning tool for babies and provide hours of entertainment too!

To add height to a short room, securely attach a mirror to the ceiling to create your own version of a skylight.
A more practical way of using mirrors can include a backsplash for a bath or in the kitchen, as long as you don’t mind constantly cleaning it! Or try mirrors hung on the roof of a tall cupboard to help you see what’s inside.


Mirrors hung between windows add an amazing depth to the room, and there’s no quicker way to create the illusion of space than hanging a floor to ceiling mirror on a wall. I remember I used to go into this music shop that always seemed massive to me, until I realised one entire wall was actually a mirror. It had transformed this narrow strip of a shop into a large open space, and it took me at least three visits before I noticed it was a mirror tricking my eyes.



Mirrors are aesthetically gorgeous and don’t get used enough outside the square.

So next time you have a design block or a space problem, consider mirrors before removing that extra wall!

Tablescapes Combining Collectibles to Create Art in Your Bedroom

Tablescapes are a simple but stunning way to add a little something special to any bare space in your bedroom.

Whether it is a collection or an assortment of things special to you, a tablescape creates artwork out of a lonely corner or a bare table.


It is also a very good way of adding to a theme you already have established.
How to achieve this?

Firstly, choose a range of items that have something in common and you feel you would like displaying in your bedroom. Try to pick items with the same color or theme, which should ideally be continued onto any objects in the immediate surrounding area. Try to choose a variety of textures and shapes. Consider combining some flowers or foliage- but be sure to keep it fresh or use convincing fakes, with candles, photo frames and a special ornament or sculptural piece.




Now, onto the arranging. The best and easiest method is to work in a pyramid shape. Place your biggest piece at the back, or slightly off-center and work forward and outwards with the medium and smaller pieces. Group items of similar theme or color together and add in a contrasting texture or color to add a point of interest to the arrangement. Make sensible decisions - you don’t want your tablescape to look cluttered. If you have lots of little objects, create a grounded look (and one that’s easier to clean!) by placing them on a tray or similar, that works as part of the arrangement.



Most importantly, keep your bedroom tablescape clean! Dusty collections have no artistic appeal and look unloved. Don’t be afraid to move items around when you clean to keep the display interesting.

Tablescapes are a quick and easy way to add a bit of personality to any corner of your home.