What to SPEND versus what to SAVE on in the kitchen
Performance, Function, Vibe: The Kitchen Edition
Just quickly… The Colour & Materials Masterclass is coming back!
Our last one sold out fast — and for good reason. It’s hands-on, inspiring, and packed with practical design magic to help you mix palettes and pair materials like a pro. This is happening on 2nd August in Melbourne - that’s soon!
A new kitchen is full of so. many. decisions. There’s things that you’ve literally never thought of before, like hinges and kicker heights yet here you are spending thousands of dollars on each little decision. And what is worse is that there is a knock on effect: the colour of the cupboards affects the stone you choose, which impacts the splashback. Next thing you’re crying into your oat latte because you can’t decide if your splashback should be zellige or zell-no-thanks.
A kitchen is just a string of high-stakes, domino-effect decisions. And don’t even get me started on mixing metallics. (I mean, will the design police come for me if I do chrome tapware with a brass pendant?! Probably not. But still.)
So to help you out, I’m sharing my little kitchen design framework. It’s like the Holy Trinity of Kitchen Design (trademark pending):
Performance. Function. Vibe.
Let’s unpack, shall we?
Performance
How do the materials hold up in the kitchen?
Are you a flamboyant cook who needs flames, gadgets, and gadgets for your gadgets? Or are you more of a “reheat and eat on the couch” operator? Because if you're not actually going to use that vacuum-sealing sous-vide contraption, maybe don’t let it take up valuable real estate in the kitchen.
Be real here, do you want to be a Martha Stewart when you’re really a Carrie Bradshaw?
Performance also means:
Durable surfaces (read: can handle beetroot and red wine)
Extraction fans that actually extract
Tapware that doesn’t give up after a year
Appliances that suit you, not a TV chef
I’d argue that sometimes these high performing kitchens can be the most interesting vibey spaces because they are so utilitarian and it’s where the cooking action is happening.
Function
You might imagine that the function of the kitchen would be the most important aspect…. however we have seen a decline in how the kitchen functions because often kitchens are there mostly just for show. The butlers pantry is where the real cooking actually happens.
There is a huge trend towards a main kitchen in the open plan area with another kitchen hidden from sight. I am not only referring to high-end luxury homes, this has become quite standard. This can mean there are two seperate ovens, two sinks, two dishwashers, two cooktops and a second mortgage?! Yet I am yet to work with a client that has a butler, so why two kitchens?
To me, this is disfunctional and quite wasteful. So I am going a little against the trend on this one. I fully support a walk-in pantry with appliances and another sink yet when there are essentially two kitchens side-by-side, it’s disfunctional.
Have I designed kitchens like this myself? Yes many times. It’s just not what I would do for my own way of living.
Instead, be brutally honest with yourself:
What do you actually cook?
Do you entertain?
Any coeliac or vegan situations to cater for?
Do you need a dedicated tea station or pasta bench?
Think of it like kitchen therapy. Ask the right questions now, avoid the renovation regrets later.
Vibe
Look, I’m always about the vibe. BUT in the kitchen I think we have become confused with a space that looks perfect to equal the vibe. (No one’s vibing in a kitchen they’re afraid to cook in.)
It’s a kitchen all for show and no action. A kitchen that is on display but is never allowed to get messy, even at dinner time because the actual cooking happens in a window-less cupboard called the butlers pantry. Yes, I wasn’t done having my old rant about this wasteful space.
I actually believe the vibes happen because of function and performance. A kitchen with a good vibe feels comforting, the kinda space where you can all gather round and a friend can find their way around easily enough to make a coffee (this isn’t an invitation to come over and make me a coffee, but maybe it is?!)
Basically it should feel like a space where cooking is happening, just happened or about to happen. THAT should be the vibe in a kitchen.
Hot tip: If you want instant, soul-hugging kitchen vibes—go natural stone. Trust me. No regrets there. There are many, many types of stone; marble, quartzite, granite, travertine each with their own sub-categories with pros and cons. That is why firstly splurging on the the time to investigate the function first is so important, then you can splurge on the stone. You simply must.
Where to Spend vs Save
My recommendation is to SPLURGE on FUNCTION. This means asking yourself some questions and not just following a trend. Splurge on taking the time to figure this out. And actually you may save money when you question what you really need and how much space is adequate. Go for a smaller kitchen footprint with higher quality materials.
Spend on:
Function (the plan! the workflow!)
Stone surfaces (honestly, it’s worth it)
Tapware you’ll use 387 times a day
Good lighting (don’t forget to plan out strategic locations)
Tiles (the cost of labour is the same anyway)
Save on:
Cupboard fronts (laminate is lovely)
Cupboard knobs (make a feature out of the fridge and pantry handle)
Cabinets (keep to the standard size widths and height to save costs)
Unexpected kitchen costs:
pocket doors are a genius space saving solution but be prepared to spend thousands on the mechanisms required.
glass cupboard doors with steel frames.
non-standard rangehoods.
Zetr electrical outlets (divine, but not cheap)
cabinetry hardware, overall not the most expensive thing however the quantity can add up quickly.
access issues = extra tradie hours = extra dollars
you may need rewiring and a new safety switchboard to meet regulations.
Design your kitchen for you. Not for the Joneses, not for Instagram, not even for your builder (sorry, Dave). Ask questions. Be honest. Prioritise how you cook and live, not just how it’ll look in a photo shoot.
Because the best kitchen isn’t the fanciest—it’s the one you love to use.