Whether you’re working on a new build or renovating an existing residence, the kitchen is a room that can truly make or break a home.

When designing a residential structure, there tends to be a lot of emphasis on form, materials, general aesthetic and (more recently) sustainability goals. But any good architect or designer will also place a heavy emphasis on the lifestyle of the home’s inhabitants (or potential inhabitants), designing a structure that is not only architecturally impressive but also functional. Because at the end of the day, most homes are built to be lived in, not just looked at, and kitchens play an important role in our everyday lives.

Image: ABI Interiors

Designers and occupants alike can have a hard time choosing kitchen fixtures and fittings, especially considering the wealth of options to choose from.

Tapware

Tapware is one of the most important fixtures in a kitchen, and it also happens to be one with some of the most options to choose from.

Firstly, let’s talk about progressive tapware. Essentially, this is a modern tapware option that allows you to control both water pressure and temperature from one tap. One good example of this is Nero Tapware’s Opal Progressive range, which allows you to control the water temperature and pressure with a simple rotating mechanism. The mixer handle also provides access to three separate zones – cold water only, a mix of hot and cold, and hot water only – for more efficient water usage.

Another good example of progressive tapware is Caroma’s Urbane and Liano kitchen collection. The collection includes tapware designs available in standard and pull out varieties, along with matching kitchen sink accessories including basket wastes, colanders and sink protectors. The tapware has a cool start progressive design, only adding hot water when needed, for maximum energy efficiency.

Image: Caroma’s Urbane / Supplied

Other beneficial features include the Liano II pull down sensor sink mixer with hands-free activation, which is a convenient and hygienic option for food preparation, cleaning and other common kitchen tasks. It also includes interchangeable pin or paddle handles, plus multiple lock rotation options to fit single or double bowl configurations, for added practicality and customisation.

According to the company, the Australian-designed collection has been engineered to local conditions, with an emphasis on flexible design layout and colour options, making it suitable for kitchens of all shapes and sizes.

As an added advantage, the outlet pipe and mixer have a “separatable design”, according to Nero, which means you are free to decide the position of the mixer based on the requirements of your space. This makes installation and use of the faucet easy – yet stylish – at the same time. And in terms of aesthetics, one of the key benefits is the product’s highly faceted surface, which eliminates fingerprints while helping the tapware maintain an artistic feel. Finishes include brushed gold, brushed nickel, brushed bronze and graphite.

Image: Nero / Supplied

On a different note, if you’re looking for something more traditional, one option is VOLA’s KV1 kitchen mixer, a Danish design classic that has been unchanged for more than 50 years. According to VOLA, it was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1971 to represent the perfect intersection of craft and technology and was selected for the permanent collection at the MoMA in New York in 1974.

The KV1 is a one-handle mixer that includes a 360-degree double-swivel spout and water-saving aerator. Based on a modular design system, it is available in 28 colours and finishes, making it highly customisable and allowing users to implement their own creative flair.

“Exceptional craftsmanship and materiality combine to create a tap of superior durability, while innovative technology and precise engineering ensure smooth operation and efficient water flow,” says Birthe Tifting, Sales and Marketing Director at VOLA.

“VOLA [also] takes great pride in environmental sustainability. By using only the purest of materials, 100 percent of waste produced is recovered and recycled.

“The role that VOLA plays with water is also significant. The water flow in all VOLA products is regulated and controlled to meet rigorous standards of efficiency.”

If mixed functionality is something you’re looking for, you may also want to consider Zip Water’s HydroTap Celsius Plus All-In-Out- Pull-Out, which according to the company, is the world’s first residential all-in-one tap. What this refers to is a tapware system that offers instant filtered boiling, chilled or sparkling water drinking water at the press of a button, as well as unfiltered hot and cold water for washing up.

The system also includes an integrated hose system, which features a snag-proof pull-out sprayer for added convenience when preparing food, cleaning dishes, or washing the sink. The sprayer releases unfiltered hot and cold water and can be switched effortlessly to spray mode through one press of a button.

A good example of this product in use is in Nat Wheeler’s Scandinavian-inspired Glen Iris home renovation. Wheeler installed two Zip HydroTaps; one in the butler’s pantry and one in the bar and cellar area.

“I must admit, running several businesses, renovating and with two kids, I will just buy bottles of water, but now I’ll use reusables and fill them at home – it’s just so easy. I love that it will reduce the number of plastic bottles that go into landfill,” says Wheeler in an interview with Vogue Australia.

“Our tap in the butler’s pantry is so minimal, and the sleek look of not having two taps is what sold it to me. It looks like a normal tap, but it has so much more functionality, including a pull-out, which is a game changer because we do so much entertaining.

“In the bar/cellar, it’s all about convenience. It’s located at the very front of the home, so if we have guests in the formal sitting room, we can serve them tea or chilled water without running back and forth to the kitchen. Another tick is that the Zip HydroTap command centre, which is the brains of the tap, is hidden under the sink and it’s quite small, so we’ve been able to keep the space looking very minimalist and still have storage space.”

Bringing commercial convenience into residential kitchens

When it comes to kitchens, everyone has different needs. While tapware is a necessity in every kitchen space, it’s also worth considering fixtures that provide enhanced functionality for people who value cooking or entertaining guests.

For instance, one thing you may not have considered is a pot filler. More commonly found in commercial kitchens, pot fillers provide an accessible water source for pots and pans, which can be a great time-saving measure when cooking. One good example is ABI Interiors’ Elysian Pot Filler, a convenient tool that is compact and easily foldable for smart storage.

According to ABI Interiors, the key benefit is that it reduces the number of trips required to fill up water at the sink, increasing kitchen safety by preventing any potential spills. The company notes that while it can be used in commercial kitchens it is also suitable for residential kitchens, and comes in six finishes: brushed brass, brushed gunmetal, brushed nickel, matte black, white and chrome.

Another interesting product from ABI Interiors is the Kenzo Magnetic Knife Rack. As the name suggests, the product is a wall-mounted magnetic knife rack. According to the company, it’s designed as a hygienic alternative to conventional wooden knife blocks, which can be a breeding ground for dust, germs, and household grime.

One of the key benefits is the ability to keep knives sharp and stable by preventing friction against the blade. The extra visibility of the knives also makes it easy to choose the correct knife without having to memorise its position, while at the same time freeing up kitchen bench space.

Finally, if you’re looking to add a luxurious touch to the kitchen, you may want to consider adding LED illumination to the drawers. While this is primarily an aesthetic feature, it can also improve a kitchen’s organisation, according to Hettich, which supplies a product called AvanTech YOU Illumination.

How the product functions is that it integrates LED lighting into Hettich’s drawer system, which illuminates the sides and contents when opened. It is automatically rechargeable, eliminating concerns about battery life and manual charging, as the LED self-charges when not in use.

According to the company, the LED drawer system is versatile and well-suited for residential kitchen applications, providing storage for items such as pots, pans and plates. It can also be seamlessly integrated into modern refrigerators with large drawers.

One of the main advantages is that the drawer system allows homeowners to customise their storage – whether that means easy access to spices or neatly arranged knife holdings with unique internal accessory options, for instance.

A good example of this product in use was during season 18 of The Block Australia, which aired in 2022. During the show, host Scotty Cam embarked on a mission to renovate a countryside-themed house, with the goal to preserve the original home’s heritage, inclusive of its brick flooring, natural wooden aesthetics, and white walls.

Image: Hettich / Supplied

Cam made a bold decision to introduce sleek black cabinets and shelves into the kitchen, creating a striking contrast with the home’s original features. According to Hettich, the AvanTech YOU Illumination drawers played an important role in the kitchen, enhancing the space’s modern and sleek design, while upon opening, illuminating the glass side panels and drawer contents with their signature LED lights. The result was a bespoke and aesthetically pleasing design, driven by self-expression and innovative technology.

Image: Freedom Kitchens

Suppliers

ABI Interiors: architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/abi-interiors

Caroma: architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/caroma

Hettich: architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/hettich-australia

Nero Tapware: architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/nero-tapware

Vola: en.vola.com/catalog/#

Zip Water: https://www.zipwater.com/

Stephanie Stefanovic

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