A well-designed kitchen encourages you to cook more and makes entertaining a breeze. Start here with our guide.
Your HDB kitchen is more than just a place to cook—it’s the heart of your home, where loved ones are nourished, and culinary adventures (and the occasional misadventure) come to life. When it’s time to renovate, every decision deserves careful consideration. Get it right, and you’ll have a space that’s both functional and stylish, making cooking a joy rather than a chore. But dive in without a plan, and you might be setting yourself up for a disaster—just ask anyone who’s shared their renovation regrets online. Before you swing that sledgehammer, check out this list of do’s and don’ts to save yourself from years of “Why didn’t I think of that?” moments.
Image courtesy of CAESARSTONE
Do:
- Optimise your layout The golden triangle—your fridge, sink, and stove—isn’t just designer jargon; it’s the backbone of an efficient kitchen. By minimising the distance between these key zones, you create a seamless workflow, whether you’re grabbing ingredients, washing vegetables, or perfecting your wok hei. But it’s not just about convenience—a poorly planned layout can lead to cross-contamination if your sink, where raw food is handled, is too far from the stove or prep area. Keeping the golden triangle tight reduces the risk of spills and drips, ensuring a cleaner, safer workspace for meal prep.
Image courtesy of CAESARSTONE
For your peace of mind, Caesarstone’s non-porous surfaces host no bacteria, mould, or mildew, making them an ideal choice for keeping your worktop sanitary.
- Coordinate built-ins and appliances Most homeowners shop for appliances after the renovation, but here’s a tip: plan your built-ins around them from the start so everything fits—whether it’s a front-load washer that slides in effortlessly or a microwave perched perfectly at eye level. With water dispensers and robot vacuums becoming household must- haves, don’t forget to strategically place powerpoints and waterpoints too.
Image courtesy of V-ZUG
To achieve a cohesive look, consider V-ZUG’s minimalist appliances, which will blend seamlessly with your built-ins thanks to their understated design.
- Invest in durable materials Imagine the freedom of placing a sizzling hot pot directly onto your countertop without a coaster—pure bliss, right? That’s the advantage of choosing a resilient worktop that can handle heat without a hitch. But why stop there? Your worktop should be able to withstand more than just high temperatures.
EDL’s worktop solutions are not only heat-resistant; they also stand up to stains, moisture, impact, and scratches so you get a surface that’s built to handle the demands of everyday life. - Ensure proper ventilation We hate to break it to you, but a corner fan does little to cool down a kitchen that feels like a sauna. Sure, it might offer a quick breeze, but it can also disrupt your stove’s flames, making cooking more difficult and less safe. Plus, you risk scattering food particles—like those pesky garlic skins—across the room.
For a more effective solution, prioritise natural airflow with a high-quality rangehood from Fisher & Paykel. With downdraft, insert, and wall-mounted options, these range hoods can be fitted above a kitchen island or against a wall, keeping your workspace breezy and comfortable.
Don’t:
- Go overboard with dark colours Dark colours can make spaces feel more cramped, and they often come with practical drawbacks. That dark granite countertop might exude luxury, but it’s notorious for attracting water spots and streaks, requiring more effort to keep clean than you’d expect. And those matte black handles? They may look sleek, but soap scum and fingerprints tend to show up all too easily.
However, not all matte finishes are a hassle. Tecno’s Matte Series hobs, for example, deliver the dark, stylish look you love without the added maintenance. - Choose high-maintenance accessories When choosing a kitchen tap, opting for one that opens towards you will save you from those daily countertop wipe-downs. And while you’re at it, don’t forget about the sink’s material and mounting style. Porcelain, though attractive, can chip and stain and requires way more TLC than stainless steel, which is a dependable workhorse.
Looking for other hardy options? Franke’s range of sinks, which also comes in materials like Fragranite, Tectonite, and Fraceram, has your back. - Hack down all the walls Before diving headfirst into that open kitchen dream, consider the trade-offs. Without walls your living room and service yard become extensions of the kitchen, and might start carrying the aroma of last night’s curry. Sometimes, keeping a wall or two (or adding a glass partition) can spare you from constantly reaching for the fabric fresheners.
Besides, there are workarounds for an enclosed kitchen. Cosentino’s Silestone collection, for starters, offers seamless surfaces that create a continuous flow, making even small kitchens appear spacious. - Overload on open shelving Open shelving can lend your kitchen an airy, spacious feel, but it comes with a trade-off—it demands regular upkeep. Think of Monica’s kitchen in Friends—her open shelves were always impeccably organised, but unless you share her zeal for tidying and cleaning, your neatly arranged display can quickly turn into a cluttered mess.
If you’re determined to skip top-hung cabinets, here’s how to make open shelving truly stand out: Fill them with Smeg’s kitchen appliances. These statement pieces are meant to be seen and might just make the extra upkeep worthwhile.
