Dream Kitchens: 5 things on my “Wish List”
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Hamptons House Kitchen
* This post is sponsored by ASKO but all thoughts and opinions are my own
As you probably know we are moving interstate soon, we’ve bought the house, it’s lovely, a 1950’s Queenslander but needs a bit of a reno, especially the kitchen (it doesn’t look like the one above!) so I’ve been a dreaming…
We renovated our current house nearly 4 years ago now and the kitchen was the main thing that we did. It was well dodgy before and curiously built for very short people, not good when you have a 6″5 person in the house, okay for the kids though but they aren’t allowed near naked flames so something had to be done. I love what we did, it totally transformed the house and it’s where we spend most of our time, it’s simple, practical and works for us (with “pops” of yellow!!!).
I really like the mini utility cupboard with the pull out shelf for the kettle & toaster and when you are finished using it just close the doors and nobody needs to know about the mess within!
Given space limitations I couldn’t do all the things that would go into my dream kitchen and I’ve learnt quite a lot about what’s important and what isn’t, big bins are, steamer ovens not so much.
We don’t move until September and probably won’t renovate until the new year which is giving me lots of time to plan out the dream kitchen for the new house and research appliances. I’ve been having a great time on Pinterest pinning loads of photo’s.
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This would go well in North Queensland don’t you think, or perhaps it might get a bit hot with all that glass, hmm, it’s going to be quite a different lifestyle for us! This one below though has me written all over it.
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You like? Because we are talking dream kitchens today here are the 5 things on the top of my wish list..
1. A Butlers Pantry
Something like this would go down well.
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I love the thought of all the “bit’s being hidden away but easily accessible. How lovely to be so organised with glass jars no less! Containers one side, sink and appliances on the other.
2. A statement splash back
Currently we have a mirrored splash back, I love it, it’s surprisingly easy to clean I use water and one of those microfibre cloths and it really makes the room seem much bigger. GT hates it though as the girls just stare at themselves in the mirror all the time either admiring themselves or making facing rather than eating breakfast or doing their homework. In the new house we will have a gorgeous view so I’m thinking that a window splash back could be lovely. Something like this perhaps?
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3. Big Bins
As I mentioned I’ve learned that big bins are a must, I knew when we renovated that we were sacrificing bin space with where we placed ours but we are forever having to empty them which is a pain and generally the bag gets taken out put on the floor until someone trips over it and then takes it down the side to the wheely bin, this happens at least twice a day. First world problems I know but we are talking about dreams here. So in the dream kitchen I’d have bigger bins and then I saw this genius idea…
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Clever don’t you think? I’m adding it to the wish list!
4. Clutter free
Clutter drives me nuts so anything that can help declutter is a plus in my books, I think I’m on a losing battle unfortunately but these are clever ideas for hiding things away don’t you think?
Images sources: 1. Drawers, 2. Bins, 3. Broom Cupboard, 4. Spice Drawer, 5. Knife Drawer
5. A good dishwasher
When we moved into our current house it didn’t have a dishwasher, with a baby and another on the way I didn’t want to wait until we renovated to get a dishwasher (it was 3 years before we did the reno) so we got one that did the job but not all that well. When we renovated with all the expenses we decided that as the dishwasher was only 3 years old that we would keep it and replace when it gave up the ghost. Seven years later we still have it, still have to rinse the dishes before they go in and dry all the plastics when they come out. A good dishwasher is now high on my wish list. I’ve been hearing talk of the Scandinavian brand ASKO appliances and that their dishwashers require no pre-rinsing and have a “turbo” drying function, happy days! Click here for more information.
Images are from the ASKO website
So what’s on your dream kitchen “wish list”?
If i ever had the chance to redo the kitchen, I would love a butler’s kitchen! Have fun designing your new kitchen!
Isn’t the butlers pantry gorgeous?! I’m trying to work one into the space, fingers crossed!
Great post! We completely redid our kitchen and I adore it. I actually wrote a post about what I’d do the same (pretty much everything) and what I’d do differently (test the drawer depths and have the rangehood cover the entire stove top). But ours is all white, all covered, Caesarstone bench tops, oodles of bench space, oodles of storage, and this will sound weird, but the most BEAUTIFUL kitchen tap I’ve ever seen in my life!
Visiting from #teamIBOT
Taps are a design feature in themselves now aren’t they?! Oodles of storage is the key thing I think too. Thanks so much for stopping by. x
We moved house a year ago and our “new” kitchen has a tea and coffee making section. This area also stores toaster and has drawers where I keep lunch boxes, kids plastic etc… Could not leave without this space now. A double sink is also non negotiable in a family home these days. I cannot cope with draining racks on bench tops ! Soft close drawers are also a luxury x
The kids plastic things take up so much space don’t they! Yes to a double sink too. I’m going to be taking ideas from your gorgeous kitchen! x
Looks like we have similar tastes. I go gaa-gaa over on Pinterest for all the beautiful kitchens. It is my little guilty fantasy game I like to play.
Ha! I like that, fantasy game! I seem to be spending hours playing it at the moment!
Ooh I have kitchen envy after looking at those photos! I love your kitchen with the pops of yellow, so pretty. I’m very lucky to have a butlers kitchen and think it’s just the best thing ever as it hides just so much stuff. Even though our kitchen is only 5 years old, I’ve got a bit of a list of things I would do differently next time around.
Thank you. I didn’t think I was ready to another reno but now I’m getting quite excited about having a new kitchen and it will be so different to our current one too.
Oh you are a woman after my own heart with the pops of yellow. I would love a butlers kitchen. Like a proper one I can hide any mess or clutter in or I can hide myself in when I just want some time out. xx
Ha ha if I get one in the new house I know I will be using it to hide in (along with the mess!)
LOADS of bench space; LOADS of light; double ovens; higher benches; timber and stone / white and black; a big pantry (not sold on the whole butler’s thing, I think it would annoy me); lots of drawers… I could go on! x
I know once you start thinking about it, it’s hard to stop. GT is with you on higher benches!
Oh I could lose scrupulous amounts of time on Pinterest looking at kitchens. I’m a sucker for white, would love some industrial lights and some natural timber, and lots of cupboards and bucket loads of natural sunlight.
I have fallen down many a rabbit hole looking at kitchens on Pinterest!
OMG no way! We JUST bought an ASKO dishwasher a couple of weeks ago, and it was a big investment for us. We looked at different brands but ASKO was the only one that had decent metal components on the inside, and the quality was so much better than the others (the salesman did such a great job of selling the features too!) It washes amazingly well too, and we are super-happy with it. Would definitely recommend it to others.
That is so good to hear, definitely on my wish list!
How lovely to have a window splash back – that’s my favourite I think. I’d be happy doing the dishes looking out at a good view. I like white kitchens – but then I see black ones and I think how dramatic and modern they are. I wouldn’t be able to make my mid up to be perfectly honest!!
I know, I’m the same. I’ve loved having the white but am drawn to the black and wood at the moment – we are moving to a very tropical house though so whichever way there will be palm trees!!!
Your kitchen is gorgeous! It will be hard to leave it! But wow – how exciting to plan a new one from scratch! I would love a bit more space in my kitchen and a busters pantry would be top of my list for sure!!! Oh and maybe a HUGE oven!!! Haha just the little things, right!? Enjoy your planning!
Thank you. Yes a big oven is also on the list. The space in the new house isn’t all that big so I’m not sure how I’m going to fit all the “wish list” in but I will give it a red hot go!!!! It’s nice to dream anyway. x
I have to start paying attention to stuff like this as we will (eventually) knock our place down and rebuild. I love that chopping board/bin combination. I need that for my compost! Love the windows in the first pic too. I’m a bit of a mid century modern fan so a 1950s Queenslander sounds very cool.
Can’t wait to hear/see more! x
Isn’t the chopping board bin genius? I spend way too much time on this type of thing! x
September is such a great time up north. You will love it and then you will get really hot. 🙂
I love love love that kitchen with all the glass panels. My dream kitchen would include a special cupboard and inside that is Rosie from The Jetsons. Basically I want a maid.
Ha! I’m not looking forward to Dec/Jan, you will find me in an ice room! I would also like a maid, in fact I’m waiting for this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNy6fEuPWbc !!!!
We’re renovating our kitchen this year, I’m thinking we might have to book a holiday & just leave the tradies to it so I don’t have to witness it all!!! Pinterest is my new addiction……
That is a good idea. I’m thinking of doing the same of going back to Sydney in January when it’s so hot in Townsville anyway and getting it done then. How good is Pinterest!!!!
It all looks great, but in NQ you definitely need to factor in heat. I think as long as there is loads of rainforest around for shade, you’ll be right – and you are bringing the outside in. As for me, I’m trying to declutter so I’m not much use. Storage space is always a good investment.
Oh I’ve got so much to declutter before we move. The heat will be a new experience for me such a different style of living.
I would love a butlers pantry, large pull out bins and a window herb garden. I most likely couldn’t keep the herbs alive but I like to dream x
Oh window herb garden, good idea, I like that. Thanks so much for stopping by.x
Oh I love your pops of sunshine! And how exciting getting to plan a brand new one! How did we ever live without pinterest huh! I’d also love a butlers pantry and I now want a spice draw after seeing this! xx
I know, I’m just getting into Pinterest and loving it. I was looking at the new house on the weekend wondering how to fit all of this “wish list” in!
Big fan of ASKO as you know. The dishwasher is amazing!!! And the ovens too. We are wrapt with it! Great kitchen porn there. That chopping board/bin is genius! Great post Vicki x
Thank you Jo. The dishwasher sounds amazing. x
I love the kitchen you have now. never mind about the dream kitchen you are going to create. Our Brown Town kitchen totally needs a makeover and when it gets one, it’s going to have a great dishwasher, be white and bright and I’d love a statement splashback. Unfortunately, it’s way too small for a butler’s pantry but I’m hoping it would have some clever storage which would at least make the kitchen clutter free! I can’t wait to see what you create in your beautiful new home! x
Thank you. I don’t think that I will be able to do everything in the new kitchen but we can still dream can’t we?! x
Love all of it, a few of those are on my wish list as well – especially the butler’s pantry! I’m compiling a pinterest board as well.
Thank you. I’m really hoping for the butlers pantry.