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Three Birds Renovations’ six top kitchen design rules

By Amy Collins-Walker โ€ข 2 Comments

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โ€œOf all the spaces you renovate, the kitchen can be the most challenging. Itโ€™s usually the heart of the home and whether youโ€™re a master chef or reluctant one, itโ€™s a major feature of your space, so you want it to look good,โ€ says Three Birds Renovationsโ€™ Bonnie Hindmarsh, who explains that designing a kitchen is a high-stakes enterprise.

โ€œThere are ways to renovate a kitchen on a budget, but it is still usually one of the most expensive rooms in a home, so you need to be happy with the end result. And if all that wasnโ€™t pressure enough, we know that kitchens sell houses, so this is a real reno moment where you can add some serious value,โ€ says Bonnie who, along with her business partners Erin Cayless and Lana Taylor, abides by six golden rules when it comes to designing a kitchen.

Three Birds kitchen
The green cabinetry, in Three Birds Renovations’ latest kitchen, is an inspired choice

Timeless design
โ€œThere are two places you can start โ€“ ย how it works or how it looks. Truth be told, it doesnโ€™t really matter which of the two options you start with because both intersect pretty quickly as you move through the design process. Youโ€™ll need to toggle between these two things constantly,โ€ says Bonnie who is a big proponent of using a vision board to formulate her ideas.

โ€œWe like to bring to life the overall vision for the home in the kitchen, referring back to our vision board for finishes, cabinetry style plus the colour, thickness and profiles of the bench top and splash back.โ€

Three Birds Renovations kitchens

Be selfish
โ€œDesign your kitchen for you, not others. How will you, as the owner, live in the space? How do you like to cook every day or entertain? Everyone is different so meet your needs,โ€ says Bonnie.

Quality appliances
โ€œA builder is only as good as their tools and the same can be said for the appliances in your kitchen. Choose appliances that look good, fit into your layout and offer the functions you need,โ€ says Bonnie who specified an Electrolux integrated dishwasher in this kitchen so as not to break up the lovely green cabinetry of the island bench.

The integrated dishwasher ensures a seamless finish
The integrated dishwasher ensures a seamless finish

The Three Birds Renovations team also selected an Electrolux induction cooktop, steam and pyrolytic oven, a built-in microwave oven and French door fridge for this kitchen.

Electrolux induction cooktop
This Electrolux induction cooktop fits seamlessly onto the kitchen bench top

Alfresco access
โ€œThe best kitchens will meet our outdoor connector test. All kitchens should be connected to, or very close to the outdoors, even if it’s only a courtyard,” says Bonnie who likes to be able to pass food from the kitchen to the outdoors with ease. “It doesnโ€™t matter if itโ€™s through a window or a door – you just need to have that access. Thatโ€™s the test. An indoor/outdoor servery is a great solution for this and suits our Australian lifestyle perfectly,โ€ says Bonnie.

Alfresco access
This kitchen has great outdoor access

Natural light
โ€œWe are skylight obsessed. Theyโ€™re great practical additions that bring in another layer of light and no room in the house benefits from this more than the kitchen, which requires both ambient and task lighting. We canโ€™t tell you how much a skylight changes the absolute look and feel of any room,โ€ says Bonnie.

Electrolux fridge

Beautiful styling
โ€œA place for everything and everything in its place is our rule. In other words, donโ€™t let your lovely new kitchen become a dumping ground for paperwork and overflowing fruit bowls, and fruit flies! A great kitchen has a place for everything โ€“ even your mail pile, bills included,โ€ says Bonnie

For more | Check out the Electrolux appliance line-up

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November 12, 2018

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How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: Itโ€™s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!โ€

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

#backyards #smallpools #smallpool #homesauna #pizzaovens #outdoorpizzaoven #landscapedesigner #mintdesign #holidayathome #resortstylehomes #landscapeartist #backyard #exteriorinspiration #exteriormakeover #exteriordesigns #pergoladesign #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno. L Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno.

Located inside a 1912 sandstone villa in Adelaideโ€™s Kensington, this bathroom makeover combines classic and contemporary elements that complement the homeโ€™s original, period features. 

Designed by the homeโ€™s owner @designby_Tahirih, who is a property stylist too, the renovation came sooner than expected after water ingress made the makeover of their only bathroom an urgent necessity!

The whole project cost an impressive $20k, project managed herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

#realrenovations #realhomes #realreno #heartyourhome #renoaddict #freestandingbath #classicbathroom #classiccontemporary #classiccontemporaryinteriors #theinteriorsaddict  #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #homestaging #laundrymakeover #bathroomrenovations #bathroomremodels
Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we find some of the most colourful interiors from my motherland, the UK!

This beautiful lilac kitchen is found in a renovated apartment by @llidesign in a grand mansion block in London's Bloomsbury. You can tour the rest of it on the blog now, via link in bio.

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#bloomsburylondon #luxuryapartment #westendlondon #lilackitchen #colourfulkitchen #londonhome #londonhomes #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsdaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #kitchenshelf #kitchenshelves #kitchenshelfie #openshelves #openshelvingkitchen
I remember the chair being such a key purchase whe I remember the chair being such a key purchase when I put together my first ever baby room for Seb. I spent many an evening relaxing on mine while pregnant as I tried to get my head around impending motherhood! Not only are glider recliners like the Chelsea fromย @iltuttoย the most comfortable chairs EVER for those many hours spent feeding and settling, why shouldn't they look this good too, am I right?!

Did you love your nursery chair? Did it look this good?!

See more on the Il Tutto Chelsea Glider Recliner Chair via link in bio now.

#feedingchair #nurserychair #nursingchair #reclinerchair #nurseryroomdecor #nursery #nurserygoals #nurserydesign #babyroomdecoration #babyrooms #babyroominspo #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #iltutto #newmumlife
Here's a sneak peek of the kitchen and powder room Here's a sneak peek of the kitchen and powder room to whet your appetite! 

Head on over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest of this gorgeous Sydney reno by @_studio_trio 

Pix by @mareehomer.photography and styling by Jackie Brown.

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There's a LOT of goodness in @sageandclare's lates There's a LOT of goodness in @sageandclare's latest collection Marguerite but the Aida rug has to be my personal fave.

Handcrafted from wool, it features a rustic check design with a rainbow of nostalgic colour. Embroidered edge stitching furthers its handcrafted feel. 

โ€œThis is pure colour joy bundled up in a hard-wearing and happy rug that will lift any room with ease," says creative director Phoebe Bell.

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see more, including Phoebe's 5 faves.

#sageandclare #rugshopping #rainbowrug #tartanrug #checkeredrug #flatweaverugs #statementrug #handcraftedhomedecor #handcraftedhomewares #funhome #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
A DIY dining nook bench seat with storage for $120 A DIY dining nook bench seat with storage for $1200!

After 4 years of saying โ€œa dining nook would be great thereโ€ฆโ€ South Australians @the_groves_abode finally got a quote from a local cabinet maker for a built-in bench seat with storage. When the $4,000 price tag was revealed, criminologist, chronic over-achiever and wannabe carpenter Andrew decided to have a crack at it instead.

And we're so impressed with the end result which cost just over a grand. Read what they did, what they used and how in the blog now, via link in bio.

#diningnook #benchseat #benchseating #builtinbench #upholsteredbench #diybench #diycouple #budgetdiy #bunningsdiy #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #realreno #diningroomideas #breakfastnook #breakfastnookdesign #homediyproject
Mess = stress! Today on the blog, @little_label_c Mess = stress!

Today on the blog, @little_label_co founder Natalie Manoushian is sharing her top tips for a more organised home. I'd love you to share your best tips in the comments too!

"Disorganisation puts barriers in the way. Imagine how much quicker you would get things done if your home or work space ran smoothly. Researchers have found that clutter can actually make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. From the frustration of not being able to find what we need, to the feeling of being constantly surrounded by chaos, a disorganised environment creates brain fog and can lead to procrastination and reduces productivity. It can also trigger feelings of stress and anxiety, making it difficult to switch off, relax and sleep well."

Read the full post via link in bio now 

#littlelabelco #labelling #labellingeverything #homeorganisation #homeorganizationtips #homeorganising #homeorganisation #organisationtips #tidyingtips #homehack #storagegoals #pantrymakeover #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #cupboardstorage
Swipe for before ๐Ÿ˜ฒ @adoremagazine's Loni Parke Swipe for before ๐Ÿ˜ฒ

@adoremagazine's Loni Parker and her partner are stuck into their second home reno and it's looking great! Today, we bring you the before and afters of the main bedroom, guest bedroom and ensuite (pictured). Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest and more info on what they did and used.

Enjoy!

#bathroomdesignideas #bathroomtrends2023 #adorehome #adorehomemagazine #1960shouse
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#ensuite #ensuitedesign #kitkattiles #doublevanity #theinteriorsdaddict
#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #curvedvanity #timbervanity

Pix by @coastpark.creative
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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Comments

  1. AvatarSuperior Renovations says

    November 14, 2018 at 9:48 am

    We’ve been following Three Birds Renovations blog for a while, I’m glad to see it mentioned here! great write up and loving the photos used!

    Reply
  2. AvatarSara says

    January 28, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    I love Threebirdrenovation, Bonnie has so many great ideas !

    Sara
    http://www.thefrenchcountryliving.com

    Reply

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