Kitchen design guide

Stainless steel splashbacks give a kitchen a very sleek, contemporary feel, and are very durable and easy to clean. They are relatively expensive though, and mark and scratch quite easily.

Acrylic splashbacks are an affordable alternative to glass, offering a very similar look. Acrylic is stronger than glass, but may also scratch easily and typically needs to be kept well away from sources of heat.

There are certain restrictions that apply to splashbacks, most significantly determining where they should be installed and how big they need to be. Read more about splashback regulations.

Most splashbacks can be cleaned with a damp cloth and a bit of household cleaner, but different types of materials will require different levels of care.

Dishwashers get a heavy workout - and can suffer as much from rust and limescale as they can from grime and food stains. Thankfully cleaning them is fairly easy. Find out how to clean your dishwasher.

Kitchens are normally a hive of activity, and are filled with moving parts and all kinds of perishable food items.

There are a few different things you'll need to consider when choosing appliances - including what sorts of technologies they employ, and how and where they're going to be used.

Buying and fitting major kitchen appliances isn't always as easy as just putting them where they'll fit and plugging them in.

There's a huge, yawning gap between efficient and inefficient kitchen appliances these days. Find out what you should be considering when you choose appliances.

Most kitchen appliances see plenty of use, and are exposed to all sorts of perishable foodstuffs. For this reason - and because they're the sorts of things you don't want to have to replace too often - regular maintenance is a must.

When you're choosing a benchtop, there are a few things you'll need to take into account before rushing in and making any decisions.

Any number of different types of cabinet and drawer configurations can be used to arrange your pots, pans and crockery - and any number of different materials and mechanisms can be used to construct them.

Balancing and planning storage spaces in your kitchen can be an art, especially if you're a little restricted in your design choices.

The two main aspects that will define how well your kitchen works and looks are its layout and its style. The right choices in each of these departments will make for a timeless, fantastic kitchen.

Making your kitchen perform to its best is something of an art.

There are a surprising number of different choices these days when it comes to sinks and taps - find out more about the different styles and features, and how they might fit into your kitchen.

Porcelain? Stainless steel? Stone? Find out what sorts of materials are used to make kitchen sinks, and what their advantages and disadvantages are.

These days, there are are more choices than ever when it comes to kitchen taps. Find out more about mixer taps, pull-out taps, and other alternatives.

Don't underestimate the importance of getting the right type of sink for your home! Because the sink will be fitted directly into your bench, it's one of those choices you normally only get to make once.

There are several regulations in Australia that affect how you buy plumbing products, how they need to be positioned in relation to other parts of your kitchen, and how they need to be installed.