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Looking good, practically speaking

Creating cooking spaces with functionality in mind is causing a shift away from large rooms.

Carli Ratcliff

Functional: bigger is not always better.
Functional: bigger is not always better.Supplied

A move away from industrial-looking and polished galley kitchens has given way to smaller, more considered spaces, says Cameron Krone of Smith & Carmody design studio.

Krone designs commercial and residential kitchens, including for Sydney cafes Excelsior Jones and Brickfields. ''Ultimately, if you've got everything around you and you can make one-step movements to the sink and the stove, your work flow is better,'' he says. ''The idea of a really long kitchen is not always efficient - bench space is great but knowing how you like to work in the space is the most important consideration. Think about the way you access the fridge and the oven, for example. Unfortunately people are often driven by look rather than practicality.''

Builder Brian Yasbic of Yasbic Constructions agrees. ''We've noticed a shift away from massive kitchens, with people wanting to better use their existing spaces and upgrade their appliances,'' he says. ''Work flow and usable fixtures and appliances are more important than reinventing the entire kitchen set-up.''

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Taps

A move away from large, commercial-kitchen-style taps with shower head sprays has given way to smaller, less showy taps that still have the power of a spray function. Rogerseller's Cafe series Kitchen Mixer from Fantini in chrome features a pull-out spray that is concealed in the nozzle of the tap when you are not using it. RRP $945, Rogerseller showrooms nationally, rogerseller.com.au.

Knobs and handles

One-minute cycle? The Hobart Ecomax502 dishwasher.
One-minute cycle? The Hobart Ecomax502 dishwasher.Supplied

Sibella Court imports these drawer pulls from India. Made from cast iron and rope, they have a timeless, rustic feel. RRP $15 a handle, the Society Inc., 18 Stewart Street, Paddington.

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Rangehood

Sleek, chimney-style rangehoods for island benchtops are a world away from bulky stainless-steel, wall-mounted versions. The Smeg SHI410X 37-centimetre-diameter island rangehood includes a charcoal filter and built-in halogen lighting. ''Lots of people install two as a design feature above an island bench,'' says Lois Brewitt of Smeg. RRP $2290, Smeg, 2 Baker Street, Banksmeadow, 8667 4888.

Dishwasher

A one-minute cycle? That is what the EcoMax 502 under-bench dishwasher from commercial manufacturers Hobart promises. With a long history as providers of dishwashers for restaurants, ships and aircraft, these dishwashers are increasingly appealing to home cooks that are keen to opt for the heat and speed of an industrial dishwasher. The EcoMax 502 uses only 2.9 litres of water a rinse. RRP $3450, Elite Food Service Equipment, 9816 1945.

Sinks

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Brass and copper are big news. Like stainless steel, both metals repel bacteria, are anti-microbial, hard wearing and durable. Copper and brass sinks, handmade in Perth, from $699, available online at the Stone Super Store, thestonesuper store.com.

Paint

Chalkboard paint is popular in family kitchens, creating a surface that can be used to make shopping lists, exhibit family routines or simply provide littlies with space to be creative. The Society Inc. stocks chalkboard paints that are low in volatile organic compounds and odour, and range in colours. RRP $35 for a one-litre tin, the Society Inc., 18 Stewart Street, Paddington.

Steam ovens

Miele's range of ovens include stand-alone and combination steam ovens. Mounted into the wall, some home cooks opt for two separate units side by side, while others select a combination oven that offers both traditional dry-heat cooking for baking and roasting, with the option of cooking with steam. The combination oven allows both functions to operate at once, for moist, succulent roasts. Stand-alone steam ovens from RRP $1999, combination steam ovens from RRP $5999. www.miele.com.au.

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Tips

Recycle and save

Lifestyle and travel specialist Jane Corbett-Jones has renovated the kitchen in her old wooden house at Hunters Hill, recycling where possible. ''We decided to recycle most of the existing kitchen because the craftsmanship of the original wooden cupboards was so solid and the mouldings and fittings unique,'' she says. Corbett-Jones painted the existing cupboards and spent the money she'd saved on upgrading kitchen appliances.

Size matters

When it comes to sinks, don't skimp on the breadth or depth, says interior decorator and stylist Simona Krom. ''Buy the biggest sink you can afford and when you are choosing it look at the distance between the tap and the basin - can you get your biggest pot in there, or the juicer?'' Krom advises an opposite line of thinking on selecting a fridge. ''Expensive, stainless, slimline, double-door fridges are all well and good until you need to accommodate a bunch of celery,'' she says. ''Think about how you shop and store food before you spend a lot of money on the best-looking fridge in town.''

* The photo of the Hobart Ecomax502 dishwasher has been corrected from an earlier version of this story.

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