Who needs a butler’s pantry? What is the use of another (very tiny) kitchen right next to a perfectly functional larger one? It seems that everyone desires a butler’s pantry these days. What is the appeal? Do they really perform a function that is impossible in the main kitchen? Clients with a variety of budgets […]

Contemporary kitchen and Modern kitchen are terms that are often used interchangeably. While this is not a problem in everyday speech, confusion can arise if you are talking to architects or interior designers. At Smith & Smith, we are aware that ‘modern’, for many, has come to mean contemporary. We use the terms interchangeably on […]

A renovation of a kitchen alone can make your home feel brand new as seen in our last post. What happens when the kitchen renovation includes the removal of several walls and a reconfiguration of the area? This family installed in a new kitchen and laundry and managed to fit a new dining/family area within […]

Industrial kitchen style is very now. ‘Industrial’ generally brings to mind a combination of the Brutalist raw concrete of 1960’s car parks and rusty mechanical parts. It certainly doesn’t sound warm and inviting. BUT it is possible to create a warm and inviting industrial kitchen. There are steps involved but it can be done and […]

The French Provincial kitchen style falls under the country or traditional kitchens heading. Similar to Hamptons style kitchens in some ways, French Provincial kitchens have their roots in the centuries-old chateaus of France. These kitchens are traditional, beautiful and highly detailed. They celebrate the skilled craftsmen who put them together for function as well as […]

Love Hamptons Style Kitchens but don't know how to make it work in your home? No matter what your style of home, a Hamptons style kitchen can work! We give you expert tips on how to make this popular style look perfect in your home.

More and more homeowners are choosing to incorporate eco-friendly features and materials into their modern kitchen designs as sustainability becomes an ever-growing priority for society. Considering the kitchen is where we consume a large percentage of our household power, from lighting to keeping food cold, to the myriad of cooking appliances we have at our […]

The modern kitchen is so much more than a place to cook and eat. It’s also a communal space for families to gather and talk, play games, finish school assignments and socialise. You will ultimately spend many hours in your kitchen, which is why it’s so important that the look and feel of the room […]

Benchtops are one of the most important aspects to consider when it comes to kitchen remodel projects. Benchtops in your kitchen are used daily and are often subject to wear. Benchtops play an important role when it comes to adding to the style and functionality of your kitchen. Picking a benchtop material is a process […]

Learn about the finer points of pulling a kitchen renovation together. From door profiles to lighting, we prepare you for all aspects of kitchen design.

Silica-free benchtop materials that keep stonemasons safer. There are already many wonderful alternatives to engineered stone on the market. With better knowledge about silica and how it affects the health of those who work with it, there has been a push to find more healthy alternatives to engineered stone. Engineered stone typically has a high silica content and can cause silicosis if proper safety precautions are not taken. Silicosis is a condition that affects those working with products that contain silica. While it can be mitigated with proper protective equipment, it is safer still to work with materials that are silica-free or are low in silica.

Classic style kitchens don’t have surprises – that is the point! …or is it? Before we get to the surprises, let’s look deeper into classic style kitchens to make sure we are on the same page. Classic kitchens are designed to never go out of style. Classic colours, profiles, decoration and materials are combined to […]

Splashbacks are aptly named. Even if you are the cleanest cook, your splashback will get grubby. Oil splashes, condensation and fatty residue that eludes your extractor fan will all end up on your kitchen walls. Making a careful splashback selection can reduce the evidence of this grime during cooking as well as make cleaning up […]

A mood board is a visual representation of your design ideas and inspiration for a particular project. It can be a helpful tool for organizing and refining your design concepts, and it’s particularly useful for kitchen renovations. Each one of us can appreciate many styles and finishes, the trick is to refine these into a […]

Walk into any home built over 30 years ago and chances are the laundry is a separate room with a single trough cabinet in one corner. These days, everything must work hard to earn its place in our home. People are spending more on laundries now than ever before. This does not always mean going […]

Domestic lighting, including kitchen lighting, can be the difference between a beautiful, healthful home and a house that feels more like an office than a place where people want to live. Light is practical as well as mood-altering – for better or worse. Getting lighting right requires research and planning. Don’t make the mistake of […]

This blog post is the first in a series which will cover the groundwork of planning a kitchen remodel. Topics include: • The big picture • How do I use a mood board to plan my kitchen renovation? • The finer details Renovating a kitchen can be a daunting task, but it can also be […]