9 WAYS TO STYLE A

MAGAZINE-WORTHY KITCHEN
MODU L E FOU R: PDF E I GH T

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9 WAYS TO STYLE A
MAGAZINE-WORTHY KITCHEN
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If you are reading this and rolling your eyes while

thinking of the effort involved in creating a ‘magazine
look’ amid the chaos of everyday life, I’ve got you!

By Bonnie Believe me, I know how hard it can be to get organised

or find time to do everything, but please remember
your kitchen come styling time: Kitchens need love too!
Don’t fall into the trap of allowing your kitchen to
become a symptom of your busy life. If yours showcases
numerous small appliances fighting for bench space
– cords and crumbs wrestling each other; a fruit bowl
under siege from fruit flies; small pots of neglected
herbs dying in the corner … and the age-old classic:
a corner bench piled high with papers and unopened
mail, then it’s time to get serious about addressing this.
So, I’ll say it again: kitchens NEED love and they need
to be styled, and I’ve got 9 super-simple tips to get
you started.
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1. BAR STOOL BASICS 2.TOUCHES OF TIMBER

Most kitchens are designed to
accommodate a few people perched at the
island bench, so it’s inevitable that you’re
going to have to buy some stools. But don’t
buy any old stools; choose stools that will
suit the style of your kitchen and complete
the ‘look’ you’re going for. Go back to your
Pinterest board to see what types of stools
are used in those kitchens – are they metal
or timber? Do they have a back on them?
What colour are they? Do they have a
cushion seat or a hard seat?
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Now look at your finished kitchen. Are there

accent colours on your cabinetry handles
or tapware that you’d like to pick up in
your stools? In House 4, we chose black
and timber ‘tractor stools’ from Oz Design
Furniture because they complemented the
black knobs and tap. And don’t think your
stools can’t make a major impact because
we get more questions about those stools
than any other furniture item we’ve ever
used! In Lana’s kitchen, we didn’t want to
distract from the island and feature plant so
we opted for subtle white-washed stools
with timber tops for added warmth. At the
other end of the scale, we went with bright
gold stools at The River Shack for a luxe
contrast against the black kitchen.
By default, kitchens are typically hard and angular – they need softening. Adding timber does this
while also bringing warmth and texture. I like to lean a couple of timber chopping/cheese boards (in
Tip: SQUEEZING TOO MANY STOOLS UNDER AN ISLAND BENCH IS A NO-NO. IDEALLY,
ASSUME EACH STOOL NEEDS AROUND 50–60CM WIDTH TO BE COMFORTABLE.
different shapes and sizes) against the splashback so they are in reach and also on display. I put the
largest board at the back and then a couple of smaller ones in front. Round chopping boards are
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE AN ISLAND THAT IS 2.4M LONG, GO WITH 4 STOOLS.
always a good choice, their rounded edges further soften the space. If your kitchen already has a
IF YOUR ISLAND IS 1.8M, DON’T GO FOR MORE THAN 3 STOOLS. AND REMEMBER strong timber presence thanks to your benchtop or cabinetry, you won’t need many (if any) of these
TO AVOID STOOLS THAT ARE TALLER THAN 70CM IN HEIGHT, AS THIS CAN CREATE timber touches. I’m also loving the two-tone timber and marble cheeseboards you see in so many
A TIGHT SQUEEZE FOR SOMEONE’S THIGHS! AROUND 65CM TALL IS BEST. home stores now.
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3. SHELF SHOWCASE 4.GLORIOUS GREEN

I love open shelves but they
can crucify a kitchen if they
become a home for dusty
books, chipped, mismatched
crockery and colourful
plastic bowls. Seriously guys,
NOTHING ugly should be put
on open shelves – that’s what
your cupboards and drawers
are for. Open shelves are
reserved for pretty things –
but not just pretty, they can
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be practical too. Let’s call

it ‘pretty practical’. I like to
style shelves using a combo
of greenery, candles, books,
canisters, stacked plates and
bowls and even artwork.
Cluster items together in
groups and make sure
there are gaps between the
groups. Don’t overdo it with
too much stuff – less is more.
If you have multiple shelves,
avoid putting the crockery or
glassware on the top shelf as
it’s not protected from dust.

I can’t think of a kitchen that isn’t improved by a pop of greenery. Even a bright green kitchen looks
great with greenery. #seeforyourselfonpinterest! Plants look pretty on open shelves, especially
trailing plants that hang down. In Lana’s Forever Home we used plants as a key feature of her
kitchen. With her white-on-white aesthetic, we always planned to create contrast using rich green
plants hanging from the ceiling. In fact, they replaced the need for pendant lights, which is our
usual ‘go-to’ above an island bench. And remember, the greenery in your kitchen doesn’t always
have to be real … except for herbs!
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5. PRETTY PENDANTS HOW MANY PENDANT LIGHTS?

This depends on the size of your island and the size of the pendant lights. Both can vary greatly.
We’ve used pendant lights that are just 20cm wide and, at the other end of the scale, I installed
a light above my kitchen island that is 1.4m wide! Looking back at our kitchen renos, we’ve never
hung more than two pendants over our island benches. So, here’s my advice:

• For an island 1500–1800mm long go for two average sized pendant lights (under 40cm
diameter) centered over the island.

• For an island 1800–3000mm long two average sized pendant lights off-centered over the
island look great. So in this instance you would space them out as if there are going to be three
lights, but only install two. Can you see in the image below, taken at The Beach Shack, where the
third light would be, but we’ve left it empty? (Pretty much where Erin is sitting).

• For an island over 3000mm long you can definitely consider three average sized pendants, or
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upsize your pendants and just use two.

In case you’re wondering, we don’t put pendant lights in our kitchens for extra light. Remember
when we discussed ‘Your Lovely Lighting Plan’ (in Module 3 | Topic 5)? These babies fall into the
category I called ‘Just-Looks-Hot’ – where a light is installed because the fitting itself is so beautiful.
Pendants can help make a kitchen look and feel like a more special place, rather than just a
practical spot where you pack the kids’ lunches. Look for lights that complement the handles on
your cabinetry or tapware and tie in with your vision board.

Tip: REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE YOUR LIGHTING DECISIONS
EARLY IN YOUR RENO SO YOU CAN TELL YOUR BUILDER AND ELECTRICIAN
SO THEY CAN PREPARE THE CEILING CAVITY AND ROUGH-IN THE
ELECTRICALS. ONCE YOU GET TO THE STYLING PHASE, THE CORDS
FOR YOUR PENDANTS WILL BE HANGING OUT OF THE CEILING, READY
AND WAITING TO INSTALL THE LIGHT FITTING AT THE CORRECT HEIGHT.
WHILE THE HEIGHT OF YOUR PENDANTS CAN BE ADJUSTED AT THE
STYLING STAGE, THE LOCATION OF THEM CANNOT.
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HOW HIGH (OR LOW) SHOULD I HANG MY PENDANTS?

This is super important! There’s nothing
worse than pendants hung at the wrong
height (and by that, I mean they’re
usually too high). That’s why I leave this
important moment ‘til the styling phase
of our reno, after the island is installed.
That way I can use my eye to help get
the pendants at the right height. Most
electricians do not like doing it this way.
They’d prefer to install them during the
reno while they’re on site doing other
things and they can make lots of mess
without getting into trouble. But you then
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run the risk of the light being installed too

high or too low (usually too high) without
the visual reference of the island bench 700-850mm
to help out. So, if you can wait, do!

As a rule of thumb, I like to hang

our pendants somewhere between
700–850mm above the benchtop (that’s
to the base of the pendant). If you’re
a tall person, maybe go a bit higher. Invite a friend over and use them as a ‘stand-in’ when finalising your pendant height to make sure the
pendants aren’t going to cover their face (as that would get a bit annoying when you’re entertaining).
Take photos on your phone to provide another viewpoint. Remember that if a guest is seated at the
If your pendants are
island, their head height will be lower again.
glass, you might be
able to go lower, say Here’s Lana ‘standing-in’ for me while I nail our pendant height. P.S. Isn’t our electrician, Ryan, amazing?
around 650mm high, Look at him smiling while his arms are about to fall off. You can find Ryan’s details in our Little Black
because you can see Book of Tradies in the bonus section of Module 2: Finding Your Dream Team.
through them. We did
this in our grey kitchen.

Tip: PENDANTS DON’T NEED TO BE EXPENSIVE. IN FACT, YOU CAN PICK UP SOME
GORGEOUS ONES AT YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE FOR LESS THAN $100. ON
OUR FIRST FEW FLIPS, WE BOUGHT OURS FROM BUNNINGS AND THEY LOOKED
GREAT! MOST SHOPS WILL ALLOW YOU TO RETURN THE PENDANTS FOR A FULL
REFUND, SO IT’S WORTH TAKING HOME A FEW OPTIONS AND HOLDING THEM UP.
#TRYBEFOREYOUBUY
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6. BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS! 7.GROWN-UPS’ BAR CART

A bar cart or drinks trolley near
your kitchen not only gives you
extra storage, but it also looks
divine and brings a relaxed
holiday vibe to any home.
#yeswayrosé Stock it with some
good-looking glassware, a few
bottles of your best and some
fresh lemons and limes. It goes
without saying that a roaming
bar cart is NOT the best idea if
you also have roaming toddlers
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… like me! I can just imagine my

little blonde one thinking this is
a new ‘walker’ for him to test
out when mummy’s not looking.
#omg

We use books to style lounge rooms and they work equally well in the kitchen – if not better!
Big, chunky recipe books look great on open shelves or just on the benchtop and they have a
reason for being there – the recipes are within reach! Display more than one and you can use a
heavy canister or candle to make sure they don’t keep falling over.
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8. ART WORKS! 9. ISLAND LIFE

Try to keep your island bench completely clear – and I mean completely clear, with NOTHING on it
at all (except perhaps one luxe soap dispenser if you’re a big hand-washer like Lana #germaphobe).
Having zero tolerance for items on your island means you simply won’t accumulate stuff there. I’m
not talking about food prep and plates, which of course will cover your island daily. I mean don’t
‘style’ the island with things that sit there permanently, like books, bowls and other decorative items.
Your island is your daily work space, and it should be totally clear at the start of every day and totally
clear at the end. And while we’re on the topic of a clear benchtop, try to house your small appliances
in a utilities cupboard or butler’s pantry. Nothing spoils a kitchen vista more than seeing a host of
small appliances crammed together.
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Art in a kitchen works! Cooking can be quite the creative process so it makes sense to have an
inspiring, creative piece hanging nearby. Now the obvious constraint is where to find the space to
hang art in a kitchen amid all the tiles and cabinetry. I’ll admit hanging art won’t work for everyone,
but if there is a side wall or an open shelf you can lean a print on, it’s worth considering. We
intentionally designed the kitchen in The River Shack with no overhead cupboards in order to
make the small kitchen feel as open as possible. This allowed me to hang a statement piece of art
above the bench. This Simon Davidson print ties in with the overall theme of the Shack, which I’d
Tip: THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO THE CLEAR ISLAND’ RULE, AND THAT’S FOR MAGAZINE
SHOOTS. FOR PURE PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES, STYLING AN ISLAND IS SOMETIMES
describe as an eclectic combo of masculine and feminine energy topped off with a strong dose of REQUIRED. IT JUST HELPS WITH THE COMPOSITION AND COLOUR OF THE IMAGE, BUT
cabin fever. A car burn-out never looked so pretty. #grittypretty IT’S NOT HOW WE RECOMMEND YOU STYLE A KITCHEN TO LIVE WITH EVERY DAY.
#KEEPITCLEAN
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Have a practice run

If you’re reading this with one eye on your
current kitchen, thinking ‘Gee whizz, it’s like
she’s talking to me’, then go ahead and give
some of these steps a try – it’s good practice
for when your new kitchen comes along:

1. R emove everything from the kitchen

that isn’t stuck down (if something is
stuck down and it’s ugly, remove that
too). Put it all away in a cupboard or
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somewhere out of sight.

2. G ive your empty kitchen a quick

clean. Trust me, it will be much easier
now that the usual obstacle course of
appliances has been removed.

3. S tartputting items back into your

kitchen, keeping in mind the 9 steps
we just went through together.
Remember, less is more!

4. W rite down anything you feel is still

missing to complete your look. Don’t
go and buy items for this kitchen, save
your cash for your new one. Having
said that, if you’re not planning a
kitchen reno, this exercise is perfect
for helping you spruce up the kitchen
you have. #lovetheoneyourewith

Tip: KMART IS A GREAT PLACE TO FIND ON TREND KITCHEN HOMEWARES

FOR THE COST OF A COFFEE.
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Let’s recap!
BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE...
1.
A L I S T O F YO U R K I TC H E N P R I O R I T I E S F RO M
TOPIC 1
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2. S K E TC H E S O F YO U P OT E N T I A L K I TC H E N
L AY O U T F R O M T O P I C 2

3.
A B E T T E R U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F W H AT Y O U W A N T
YO U R K I TC H E N TO LO O K L I K E F R O M TO P I C 3

4.
C L A R I T Y O N H O W TO C H O O S E YO U C H O O S E YO U R
BENCHTOPS & SPLASHBACKS FROM TOPIC 4

5.
A N I D E A O F W H I C H S I N K A N D TA P W I L L S U I T Y O U
BEST FROM TOPIC 5

6. ALL OUR TIPS ON WHICH APPLIANCES TO

PICK FROM TOPIC 6

7.
A P RO C E S S YO U C A N FO L LOW TO M A N AG E
YO U R K I TC H E N R E N O F R O M TO P I C 7

8. C O N F I D E N C E TO S T Y L E YO U R OW N
MAGAZINE-WORTHY KITCHEN FROM TOPIC 8
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Congratulations! We hope this module has helped you to feel a little more comfortable with the prospect of creating
your dream kitchen. Don’t worry if it still feels a bit overwhelming, that’s totally normal – especially
if this is your first reno. If you can, look back over the course material again as that can really help
all those important details and tips sink in. If a few things are still a little unclear, jump on the Reno
School Facebook group to ask for clarification. Remember, those guys have all just read the same
thing you have so it’s a great place to share any burning questions. And don’t skip this week’s
bonus section because we’ve got lots more kitchen reno goodness waiting for you.

YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED MODULE 4, MASTERING KITCHENS! THAT WAS A

BIG ONE TO GET THROUGH SO TAKE A MINUTE TO GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK. Bonnie, Erin + Lana x
YOU ARE
HERE
START FINISH
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WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6

BUILDING YOUR FINDING YOUR AH-MAZING MASTERING MASTERING TRANSFORMING
MASTER PLAN DREAM TEAM INTERIORS KITCHENS BATHROOMS & THE EXTERIOR
LAUNDRIES

We’ll show you how to plan
your reno and prioritise what’s
important to you. We’ll also
be breaking out the calculator
to work out some ballpark
figures cos we all know you
can’t renovate without money,
honey! And last, but not least,
we’ll try and explain approvals
and council rules in a language
you can understand.
Who you work with on your
reno is probably the most
important decision you’re
going to make. We’ll guide
you through all the options
and give you some behind-
the-scenes knowledge and
tips on how to get the best
out of tradies, architects and
more. We’ll also work through
the budgeting process and
how to know you’re getting
the best quotes.
This module is where Bonnie
downloads everything in her
head and heart to do with
interiors. She’ll cover Interiors
101, along with lighting plans,
how to work with colour (yes,
we do more than white) and
focus on how to style lounge
rooms and bedrooms. We’ve
also got loads of great bonus
content to share, you’ll get
a sneaky peek at Bonnie’s
Pinterest board, find out where
we like to shop and learn how
you can save vs. splurge.
Because we know kitchens
are at the top of many people’s
reno wish list, this room gets
a whole week to itself! We’ll
show you how to design
the ideal layout, choose the
right benchtop, appliances,
cabinets and handles. We’ll
also dissect all the kitchens
we’ve done and point out
their best features so you can
incorporate them into your
own design.
Bathroom renos are a bit
different because it takes
special skills, products and
some special tradies to
make sure the end result
will stand the test of time.
From designing your room,
to choosing tiles, taps and
everything in between, we’ll
cover it off this week. Bon
will even show you how she
styles a bathroom and Erin
interviews our own legendary
plumber in Lana’s ensuite.
We wanted to go out with
a bang, so our final
week covers the mammoth
topic of how to transform
the outside of your home,
which will impact its street
appeal. We’ll spend lots of
time discussing how to
create the ultimate alfresco
area. Does your roof need
renovating? Have you thought
about landscaping and pools?
We’ll share all our learnings
and tips.
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