Latest News & Announcements
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Recent Blog Posts
-
And the winner is....
Posted: 11:28:24 AM EST January 30, 2012 -
We are on the hunt for Brisbane's worst kitchen
Posted: 6:37:01 PM EST January 10, 2012 -
Brisbane's Worst Kitchen Competition
Posted: 6:36:23 PM EST January 10, 2012 -
Interiors By Darren James wins multiple HIA
Awards
Posted: 1:01:57 PM EST December 9, 2011 -
'BRISBANE'S WORST KITCHEN' COMPETITION
Posted: 8:26:52 PM EST October 27, 2011
Kitchen Design Trends: What's hot in 2011?
Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:29:45 PM EST by Website AdministratorDarren James shares what's hot in the world of kitchen design right now...
1. The 'Social' & 'Living Room' Kitchen + Technology. Following closely with our evolving social structure the open plan kitchen integrated with the living space continues as a trend and is growing even stronger as technology and other smart solutions transform the kitchen. Flat screen TV's, internet connections for laptops and cleverly concealed docking stations for portable music devices allow us to function and perform different activities in the space simultaneously. (watch out for is touch screen computer incorporated into the benchtop – allowing the chef/cook to email and even jump on oline
to view receipies whilst preparing dinner).
2. The Professional 'Gourmet' Kitchen – with the growth in popularity of shows such as Masterchef it is a no wonder that we are spending more time in the kitchen whether entertaining or nesting in the home. And home owners are demanding all the bells and whistles (similar to that of a chef). These days kitchens can hold everything that a chef could want.
3. Hidden work spaces / Reveal and conceal. The demand for hidden work spaces and clever concealment continues to grow and where space permits butlers pantries and scullery's are still sought after to hide the mess. Appliances these days can be beautiful elements in a living space, but we are seeing more and more appliances being concealed – refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers and even the hood (ranghood) are commonly being hidden behind cabinets, sliding doors and lifting panels. Eg. Work spaces such as cooking zones and appliances are hidden behind large sliding and retractable doors. Mechanical pop up mechanisms are being incorporated into becnhtops to conceal items such as down draft rangehoods and can even conceal the storage of specific cooking utensils which are revealed only required when cooking.
4. Integration & Automation. Automation is an important element of this look. Thanks to technology the kitchen can transfer from a stunning furniture piece to a fully functional working space with the simple press of a button. Manual drawers, doors, sliding mechanisms and lifts are all being automated with electronics. We are even finding ways of hiding the kitchen sink. An example is a benchtop surface covering the hob and
sink area which is motorized to slide out.
5. Changing shapes. The use of miters in the joinery give the illusion of thin cabinetry and benchtops , variable and in some cases adjustable benchtop heights for different work zones, irregular shapes in cabinetry and lots of cubes – different widths and different heights.
6. Light it up. LED lighting is seen everywhere for both ambient, feature and practical purposes particularly highlight design cabinetry features (underhsleves, hidden inside door fronts and drawers. Island bench featurelighting. Often forgotten in kitchens.
7. Eco and honest. The green movement looks set to continue in the kitchen. There is a growing trend with home owners taking responsibility for what they have their homes - beyond just buying energy saving appliances and water saving taps. The emphasis is on sustainability. Eco friendly products, recycled materials, materials that can be recycled without losing their properties and materials that can retain value for a long time.
Seasons Greetings from IDJ
Posted: Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 3:37:51 PM EST by Website AdministratorWell that wraps up another successful year for IDJ. I think it’s fair to say we have designed and produced some of our best projects yet. To all our clients, suppliers and friends who have helped make 2010 a big success, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. There is a new year to embrace and 2011 promises to be one with so many exciting things planned!
‘Living Through a Renovation’
Posted: Friday, December 17, 2010 at 10:26:32 AM EST by Website AdministratorThe New Year is just around the corner and for many of us it's a time to reflect on the changes we want to make not just personally but around the home.
A friend of mine who is about to start a major renovation in the new year approached me the other day with a really good question, a question no doubt any person undertaking or thinking of undertaking a renovation asks...
Should we live in our house whilst we undertake the renovations?
Ask this question to someone who has been there and done that, having lived in their house whilst renovating, and they will most likely tell you "Don't!" I guess this is great advice if money is not an issue and financially you can afford to live elsewhere during the remodeling.
Depending on the size of the project, staying in the house may not be an option, so if you do have to move out for some or all of the time, remember to factor this into your budget. It's also important to remember that staying in your house may not always save you as much money as you think. In some cases the project can take longer especially if by choosing to stay there the project then needs to be completed in stages to ensure you and your family continue to have some sort of facilities.
Time is money and if trades are forced to make several more trips to site its' fair to say the overall price of the project will increase. Not only that, but productivity can be effected by trades having to work around you. Picture the plumber turning off the water while you are getting the kids ready for school.
Again, it really comes down to the size of the project and your individual circumstances, but many of you will still decide to 'live through the renovation'. As with anything in life, knowing what to expect and how to handle it will not only softens the experience but allows you to make the necessary preparations. By no means will it prevent your life from being disrupted (there is no escaping this), but it will help you survive and get through it - After all, living through a renovation can test the strongest of people and their relationship.
Her are out tips:
1. Know the project timeline and scope. It's important to understand the scope of what is involved in the renovation project and the timeline – results in less surprises and makes the process easier to endure.
2. Accept the inevitable. There will be dust, noise and disruption. The sooner you accept that the sooner you can get over it! In saying that any good builder, tradesman and project manager should be able to ensure this is kept to a minimum.
3. Have a flexible approach. In order to survive the project, it's important to have a flexible approach and be aware that normal household flows will be disrupted. You may have to get up earlier in the morning – trades start early. There also may be times when there is no hot water.
4. Don't sweat the small stuff. Sometimes small things and unforeseen circumstances to occur which may even cause a delay i.e. bad weather – don't let it get the better of you!
5. Enjoy overseeing the project. If you are like me this is the fun part - watching it all come together. It really is fascinating and interesting seeing how it's all done. BUT my advice is to keep changes to a minimum – ripple effects are costly, not only in time (delays) but money (extra costs).
6. Communicate communicate communicate – It's important to communicate with your builder, trades or project manager. Don't be afraid to ask them questions, but keep in mind there may be good reasons why something is off spec or not quite completed. Always communicate changes in writing and keep paperwork for everything. It's important to communicate as a family also – if there is something happening that will affect everyone e.g. water is being turned off or there is going to be a delay in the project, keep everyone updated. That way there is no surprises.
7. Remember the vision. Focus on the vision ahead and what you are doing it for – the temporary mayhem won't last forever...
ANNOUNCEMENT: IDJ partners with Sampford IXL Appliances
Posted: Monday, December 13, 2010 at 9:35:39 PM EST by Website Administrator
Dedicated to offering products for the home which are not only technically and functionally excellent, but which raise the bar in terms of design aesthetics, Sampford IXL deliver appliances that not only make using them a pleasure, but which reflect individual style.
Aligned with our key desire to offer 'the best of the best' to our clients our mutual cooperation with Sampford IXL aims to satisfy IDJ's clients through both pre-sale and post sale stages.
We are excited about the new partnership and will be sure to feature some of our favorite appliances from the various ranges over the next couple of months.
In the meantime check out www.sampfordixl.com.au
Caesarstone Australia Congratulates IDJ
Posted: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 6:22:05 PM EST by Website AdministratorKitchen Pantry: Food Storage Solutions
Posted: Friday, October 8, 2010 at 12:10:19 PM EST by Website AdministratorWe recently had a comment from a client whom we have just finished a kitchen for. Her kitchen houses a fully functional butler’s pantry and she was looking for any suggestions we may have for organizing her pantry in terms of food storage i.e. containers and canisters.So here are our suggestions:
The first thing I would recommend you consider is 'how' you want to store your food? There are loads of different options out there....so a good place to start would be to read this article from Homelife on the pro's and con's of different types of storage containers i.e. glass / plastic / ceramic / metal etc.
When it comes to storage containers and canisters most would agree that plastic is the most practical solution for these simple reasons:
· clear base so you can see what's inside
· secure seals ensures food stays fresh
· modular abilities keeps pantry organized
· dishwashers / microwave and freezer safe
· 'one LID fits all' – eliminate having a million mix matched lids and containers.
Again when it comes to plastic canisters there are many options out there: Tupperware modular mate containers definitely tick all the boxes; however they are probably not your cheapest option. Decor is another great choice and easily accessible at Kmart, Big W and Bunnings. Another place worth checking out is Howards Storage World. They have a great selection of pantry organisational systems but be aware you will probably leave having purchased more than you set out to get – that place is organisation city). Whilst you are there – check out their OXYPOP range, a contemporary square design, made from BPA free plastic and has a pop button locking mechanism which keeps your food fresh and accessible.
Tupperware Modular Mates and OXYPOP Range from Howards Storage World
Glass jars create a great visual display feature in an open pantry
If you are more aesthetically inclined and want to make a display feature of your butler's pantry you may want to consider the glass and ceramic options. Obviously cost can be a factor and generally they are not as practical due to the inability to stack them and their tendency to break. Nevertheless they look great on display. It may even be worth considering having just a small quantity of them for display purposes. Colourful foods such as lentils and pastas can look really effective in glass jars as to can creating your own labeling system such as these DIY chalk board labels - a cute (yet practical) idea. Glass and ceramic jars are available from most home wares and/or kitchen specialty stores. If you are looking for a cost effective solution IKEA has some gorgeous jars which are also reasonably priced.
Lastly, one important note I want to touch on which is essential to ensuring your kitchen functions correctly is the need for specific activity zones. By this I mean items that are used in these areas should be stored there - eliminating excess traffic. For example, the cooking zone: all the items used for everyday cooking should be accessible and within easy reach (not stored in the pantry). These include: oils, sauces and spices. To read more on this topic check out Dynamic Space by BLUM .
