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Laminex’s Ultimate Kitchen Renovation Guide offers expert insights and practical solutions, helping homeowners to design functional, stylish kitchens with confidence.
A well-designed kitchen is more than just a place to cook – it’s a hub for connection, gathering, entertaining and daily living. Recognising the significance of this space, Laminex has introduced The Ultimate Kitchen Renovation Guide, a comprehensive resource that simplifies the renovation process into five clear steps: planning, budgeting, storage and layout, style and colour, and material selection. With expert advice and practical solutions, this guide ensures homeowners can create their dream kitchen with confidence and ease.
A successful renovation starts with a well-defined plan. Rachel Oakley, head of marketing at Laminex Australia, emphasises that diving into a renovation without a clear brief can lead to unexpected costs and delays. “Writing a succinct brief is essential for communicating your requirements to any designer, builder or tradesperson,” she says. Researching inspiration and defining goals at the outset will streamline the process and lead to a more cohesive design outcome.
Establishing a budget from the beginning also helps homeowners prioritise their funds. Budgeting early helps separate essentials from luxury upgrades and informs material and product selection. Laminex offers budget-friendly solutions such as cut-to-size compact laminate panels, a customisable option for small and large projects, from alfresco kitchens to restaurant tabletops. Oakley advises allocating about 15 per cent of the budget as contingency for unforeseen expenses. “Prioritise items with the largest spend at the beginning of the project in case your budget becomes overstretched,” she suggests.
With a budget in place, practical considerations such as layout and storage become the next focus. The Ultimate Kitchen Renovation Guide highlights the importance of the ‘Kitchen Work Triangle’ – positioning the sink, cooktop and fridge within 1.2 to 2.7 metres of each other – which helps streamline movement within the space. “Laminex’s custom cabinetry solutions can be tailored to fit your layout, ensuring that the work triangle is optimised,” Oakley explains.
Smart zoning also enhances efficiency, with designated areas for preparation, cooking and cleaning. Laminex’s extensive cabinetry and benchtop options, including its silica-free HIMACS range, provide seamless integration and durability for high-use areas. Colour can also be an effective way to create visual separation between zones. “Using colour to divide sections not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also makes the kitchen more intuitive.”
A kitchen’s style informs its colour palette, making the choice of hues and textures a key part of the design process. Laminex simplifies colour selection with curated palettes designed to suit various aesthetics, from classic neutrals to bold statement hues. “People are becoming more adventurous with colour in their kitchen designs. Bold and vibrant hues like deep navy blues and rich emerald greens add personality, while earthy tones like terracotta, sage green and warm browns bring a sense of grounding. Textured surfaces add visual interest, authenticity and tactility.” Laminex’s range allows homeowners to experiment with texture and contrast, using finishes like AbsoluteMatte for a fingerprint-resistant surface or Woodgrains in AbsoluteGrain for a natural timber look.
Material selection is the final layer in bringing a kitchen design together. Benchtops, cabinetry and fixtures should be chosen for both their visual appeal and durability. Laminex’s range includes high-performance laminates that emulate the look of marble, stone and natural timber, as well as silica-free HIMACS surfaces, ensuring long-lasting quality at a lower cost. For a sculptural element, homeowners can explore cold-formed laminate applications to create curved benchtops and seamless transitions between surfaces.
By following these five steps, homeowners can navigate their kitchen renovation with ease. With expert insights from Laminex and a wealth of versatile solutions, The Ultimate Kitchen Renovation Guide provides a practical roadmap for designing a kitchen that is functional, stylish and built to last.
