COLOURS, CABINETRY

AND HANDLES
MODU L E FOU R: PDF T HRE E

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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COLOURS,
CABINETRY
AND HANDLES
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Hey, gang! How’s your dream kitchen coming

along? Are you filled to the brim with ideas yet?
I hope not, because I’m about to give you a
whole lot more!
In the last topic, we spent lots of time discussing
how your kitchen is going to function – or how
it’s going to WORK – which is very important. But

By Bonnie
now it’s time to put the spotlight on how your
kitchen is going to LOOK and feel! As you’ll
hear me say time and time again in this course,
there’s no point spending money on something
that’s really practical but doesn’t have the look
you want. It has to look good, people! THAT,
I hope, is something we can all agree on.
4 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 5

BACK TO YOUR INSPO BABY! Google search results

Since this topic is all about aesthetics, we need to take another good look at your vision board
– in particular your KITCHEN board. Does this board provide you with a clear direction for your
kitchen’s look? If the answer is no, let’s work on this together and find your kitchen mojo. There are
no shortcuts here I’m afraid – you simply need to spend some time online.
Let’s walk through a few steps together using ‘modern industrial’ as an example of the style we’re
hoping to achieve.

1. F IND YOUR KITCHEN STYLE:

Jump online and type in words that match the style of home you’re wanting to create and then add
the word ‘kitchen’. I’d suggest you do this in Pinterest, but Google images can work well too.
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In this case, I typed in ‘modern industrial kitchen’ and here’s what I found:

Pinterest search results

2. N OW CHOOSE THE IMAGES YOU LIKE:

Looking at all those images, identify ones you like the look of and ask yourself why you like them. It could just
be one element in the image – perhaps a cabinet door or the colour of the handle. Or it could be the overall
design you love. Capture any images you like and, if you’re using Pinterest, pin them to your KITCHEN board.
6 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 7

3. I DENTIFY SOME COMMON ELEMENTS: 5. MAKE A SHORTLIST:

Look through the images you’ve selected and try to pick out the elements that keep popping up. Write down the key things you liked the look of.
Perhaps they share the same style of cabinet door or use the same colour palette. Is there a benchtop
that dominates your pictures? CABINET STYLE AND COLOUR: E.g. Flat front, black wood grained

From the images I pulled up for ‘modern industrial’, I noted down the following common elements:
Lots of timber used as a benchtop, for stools, flooring or cabinetry.
Exposed brick as a feature wall. BENCHTOPS: E.g. Concrete

Concrete as a benchtop or for the flooring.

Lots of panelling on floors, tables, cabinets or ceilings.
High ceilings. SPLASHBACK: E.g. Exposed brick

4. D EEP DIVE ON THE ELEMENTS YOU LOVE:

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Now it’s time to do a more detailed search for the elements that you’re really interested in. For TAP AND SINK: E.g. Extendible stainless-steel tap
example, I refined my search by typing in ‘exposed brick walls modern industrial kitchen’ to see loads
more examples of how that exact concept could be applied. #somuchinspo

FLOORING: E.g. Timber – pale grey – concrete colour

APPLIANCE STYLE: E.g. Chunky, freestanding cooker, not integrated

LIGHTING: E.g. Track lights or metal pendants

OK, so now you should have a better idea of how you can pinpoint the look you’re after.

If you’d like some help, why not ask the Facebook group? I know we have loads of helpful people in
the Reno School community who would be only too willing to give some free advice.

That’s the beauty of the internet – type in a few words – and an abundance of inspo will appear. If
you’re using Pinterest or Instagram, pin your fave images straight to your boards or collections so
they are at your fingertips next time.
8 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 9

LET’S TALK
CABINET COLOUR
When I see articles talking up this year’s colour
trends for kitchens (of which there are many), I
read things like ‘This year is all about violet, so
we’ll be seeing more purple and maroon hues in
the kitchen.’ Or, ‘We’ve drifted away from white;
blue is back in vogue for 2019.’ Don’t get me
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wrong, I LOVE colour trends and realise they

play an important role in the worlds of fashion,
beauty, furniture and paint... but, I’m a bit cautious
about using bold colours in kitchens. Who
wants to invest thousands of dollars in kitchen
cabinetry that will be ‘on trend’ for perhaps only
12 months!?

Will your petrol green kitchen be out of date MINT GREEN

overnight? I say bring in pops of trendy colours
through accessories (like kettles and toasters
and pendant lights) or even larger appliances
(like fridges or ovens) but perhaps not with your
cabinetry UNLESS (and this is a big unless) you
love that colour and always have, regardless of
whether it is touted as trendy or not.
Having said all that, there are some colours that
I think can transcend trend charts and are worth
considering. Let’s look at them now.
Green (in any shade) is growing in popularity
and will continue to do so. It’s a nod to nature
and, when used in its palest form, feels fresh and
calming. Of all the renovations we’ve done so far,
Tip: KEEP THE GREEN MUTED TO
GIVE IT MORE LONGEVITY.
our green kitchen from House 5 is my second IF YOU’RE NOT GAME FOR
favourite, behind mine of course. And there are GREEN CABINETRY, BRING
IN THE COLOUR THROUGH
so many examples of this colour working well –
YOUR ACCESSORIES LIKE
in both a modern and retro setting. In our reno,
PENDANTS, BENCHTOP
we created a modern kitchen with a touch of
traditional. The ‘modern’ came through in the flat- APPLIANCES AND EVEN
fronted cabinetry, gold handles and integrated YOUR FRIDGE.
appliances. The ‘traditional’ came from the ‘legs’
on the island bench, which made it feel more
like a movable piece of furniture than an island.
10 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 11

Tip: IF YOU’RE NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT GOING ALL THE WAY WITH
A COLOUR, YOU CAN LIMIT IT THE ISLAND AND USE WHITE
EVERYWHERE ELSE. #TWOTONE
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NAVY BLUE

Navy blue is being heralded as the hottest colour trend for kitchens, and it’s becoming a popular
choice for people who want to use colour, without really using colour. Like a well-cut, double-breasted
blazer, navy adds a sophisticated look that will stand the test of time and suit lots of different styles
– although I like it best in homes with a Hamptons, coastal or modern country style. Navy is Ms
Versatile, so you can team her with any of the neutrals (beige, grey, white, timber) but I love the fresh,
crisp look when she’s contrasted with bright white benchtops. #classic For a warmer, more rustic
vibe, introduce touches of timber.
PALE GREY

Grey is the ‘new neutral’ as

it’s become widely accepted
as a mainstream colour for
exteriors and kitchens alike.
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Personally, I think grey is

a beautiful alternative to
white. If you don’t want white
(perhaps you think it’s too Tip:
boring), but still want to play
it safe, I recommend pale NAVY CABINETS
grey. And I can go one step MAKE HANDLE
further and tell you exactly SELECTION
which shade of grey to use EASY BECAUSE
with a Three Birds guarantee ALMOST EVERY
of #noregrets ... It’s Silkwort FINISH LOOKS
by Dulux. I say this with GOOD WITH
confidence because we NAVY: STAINLESS
used it in our kitchen in STEEL, NICKEL,
House 4 to stunning effect. PEWTER,
CHROME, GOLD
AND BRASS.

Tip: JUST LIKE WHITE, GREY OFFERS THE PERFECT NEUTRAL CANVAS
FOR BRINGING IN SPLASHES OF COLOUR AND WARMTH THROUGH
YOUR CHOICE OF ACCESSORIES AND STYLING.
SOURCE: HOMEPOLISH
14 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 15

TIMBER

Timber cabinetry can go one of two ways: old-fashioned or ultra-modern. Think of the difference
between the timber cabinets you might see in your Nana’s country kitchen compared with what you’d
see in an urban Scandi apartment. #samesamebutverydifferent If you want timber-look cabinetry, we
recommend timber veneer because it’s cheaper and not prone to warping or splitting. But if we’re
talking benchtops, then you can’t beat solid timber for a breakfast bar.

WHITE

OK, gang, here’s where things get personal: I have chosen to go with a white kitchen in my Dream
Home and here are the reasons: #canyouhearthepassioninmyvoice
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• It’s timeless – no matter what colour trends there are for kitchens, white will always be #1 on any
popularity chart in the world.

• White makes me feel wonderful – happy, relaxed, clean, fresh … like I’m on holidays by the beach.
And every time I walk into Lana’s white-on-white home, I gasp. It truly takes my breath away.

• It suits my home – my Pinterest board for a ‘modern coastal barn’ is awash with white so I chose a
colour that suited the style of my home. Remember, that’s so important when choosing your kitchen
colour.

• I have a blank canvas – there are no limitations on how I can style my kitchen. When working with
white, the world is my oyster.

‘If in doubt, white wins out’ Tip: WHICH WHITE? IF YOU’RE GOING FOR A CUSTOM KITCHEN YOU MAY WANT TO MATCH
THE CABINETRY TO THE WHITE ON YOUR WALLS.

LANS CHOSE DULUX LEXICON HALF AND I OPTED FOR DULUX WHITE-ON-WHITE. BOTH
ARE COOL WHITES, WHICH I LIKE BECAUSE THEY FEEL FRESH, CLEAN AND CRISP, AND
WORK IN WELL WITH OUR FAVE CAESARSTONE BENCHTOPS AND SPLASHBACKS.
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BLACK

THREE BIRDS’ TOP THREE:

1. White-on-White by Dulux
2. Silkwort by Dulux
3. Black by Dulux

WHAT ELSE?
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Your colour direction should come from

Is black the new white? If you believe what I
just wrote about white, then you can’t possibly
subscribe to this theory. I don’t think black is the
new white and neither, it seems, do most of you.
Just recently, we surveyed our community on
social media, asking them to vote on a white or
black kitchen and the white kitchen won out 5-1.
Having said that, black is still a popular choice
your Pinterest board, Insta or Google images.
Those images (and the notes you made) at the
beginning of this PDF should steer you down the
Once again, I refer you to your Pinterest boards.
right path. Revisiting my example from before,
The colour that’s right for you is the one that most
since I didn’t see any brightly coloured kitchens
suits the style of home you’re trying to create.
in the images for modern industrial kitchen, I
would narrow the colour palette to black, grey,
white and timber (as I saw lots of those tones in
Tip: IF YOU GO WITH BLACK, YOU
MIGHT WANT TO PLAN FOR
the pictures). Any of those would work.

CLEVER UNDER-CABINETRY

Tip:
among designers and DIYers alike. It might
TASK LIGHTING ON OVERHEAD TODAY’S COLOUR-MATCHING
sound counterintuitive, but black is actually an
CUPBOARDS TO GUARANTEE A TECHNOLOGY MEANS YOU
obvious alternative to white. White is beautiful
BRIGHT SPACE WHEN NEEDED. CAN QUITE LITERALLY MAKE
largely because of its simplicity and neutrality.
ANY COLOUR CABINET
The same can be said of black, it’s just at the
TO MATCH ANY PAINT
opposite end of the spectrum, though black is COLOUR YOU DESIRE. YOU
different (and better) when it comes to adding WATCH OUT: Dark cabinets need a bit more MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER
richness and depth. Done right, it oozes style, TLC than light ones because scratches, dings, USING THE SAME STYLE
sophistication and drama. A decision to be dust and fingerprints tend to show more easily. OF KITCHEN CABINETRY IN
made in parallel with this one is whether to go Consider a textured finish to address this; at YOUR BATHROOMS AND/
black-on-black – with black cabinetry and black The River Shack we stained the wood-grained OR LAUNDRY, BUT IN A
benchtops, like we did at The River Shack – or timber veneer black. DIFFERENT COLOUR.
to go for contrast via a white or timber benchtop.
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WHICH PROFILE TO CHOOSE? HELP! WHICH MATERIAL TO CHOOSE?
Let me cut to the chase, if you want a shaker-style cabinet or any profile other than a flat front, your
options are limited to either polyurethane (poly), vinyl or solid timber – and, to be honest, I think it will
Once you’ve got your shortlist of cabinet colours, start thinking about the door fronts that will suit your likely be a choice between the premium-priced poly (with its customised colours and shapes) and
style of kitchen. Yep, you need to look back at your inspo boards again to see if you can spot similar the more affordable vinyl (which offers less variety and is common in flat-pack kitchens). Now, let me
door profiles in your favourite kitchen images. take you through all the options in more detail.
Here are a few door profiles I love to get you started: Polyurethane (A.K.A. 2-Pac #nottherapper):
This is the bee’s-knees of custom cabinetry and
usually the most expensive option, but if this is
FLAT RATTAN your Forever Home, it may well be worth the
investment. Poly is also referred to as ‘2-pac’
or ‘2-pack’ because it requires 2 packets of
liquid to be mixed together as part of a highly-
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specialised manufacturing process requiring
a spray booth (like a car spray booth, not a
tanning spray booth!). The main reason you pay
a premium for poly is the variety of door profiles
and colours that can be customised to your exact
specifications. They look and feel luxurious and
are also durable and easy to clean. I chose poly
for my kitchen, as did Lana.
Tip:
SHAKER PANELLED
IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT
UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN WITH
A NEW COLOUR SCHEME DOWN
THE TRACK, POLY DOORS CAN
BE RE-SPRAYED WHEREAS
BEADING / MOULDING
MELAMINE AND LAMINATE
CANNOT. THIS COULD SAVE
YOU THOUSANDS.
TIMBER VENEER
STAINED BLACK
Solid timber: As was the case with flooring, solid
timber kitchen cabinetry is commonly found in
older houses but is not a preferred option for
new kitchens today. It can be expensive and is
less versatile than poly, melamine and timber
veneer.
COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 21
Timber veneer: I love this product and it’s growing
in popularity for all the right reasons. The veneer
is a thin slice of real timber stuck to an MDF or
particle board core. It’s more economical and
environmentally friendly than solid timber, with the
only real drawbacks being that it must go on a
flat-front cabinet and it can never be sanded and
refinished. But as far as drawbacks go, those aren’t
terrible ones; flat-fronts are hugely popular and
timeless, and the only cabinet material that can be
sanded and refinished is solid timber – which has a
host of its own drawbacks. At The River Shack we
used American Oak timber veneer stained in Black
by Dulux. You can also combine timber veneer
cabinetry (perhaps stained in a dark colour) with a
solid timber benchtop to great effect.
Melamine: Who remembers doing a colourful
drawing at school that was sent away and returned
to you in the form of an unbreakable microwavable
plate? Or perhaps you recently paid $25 to your
child’s school for one of these plates, designed by
your little angel (or devil)? Either way, for many of
us, the scribbled-on melamine plate is the extent
of our experience with this material. When it comes
to renovating a kitchen, melamine is also a popular
choice for cabinet doors thanks to its durability
(remember the unbreakable plate) and price point
(it’s usually cheaper than poly, unless you choose
a whizz-bang timber print, in which case there’s no
cost saving). However, it has some limitations, one of
them being that the door profile must be a flat-front
– no shaker styles here. Many flat-pack kitchens are
made from melamine.
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Laminate: These types of doors and drawers

Tip: IN THE RIVER SHACK KITCHEN

WE CHOSE TIMBER VENEER
are rarely used in kitchens these days, but you’ll
find loads of laminate benchtops, which we’ll THREE BIRDS’ TOP THREE:
cover off in the next topic.
(STAINED BLACK) FOR THE
CABINET FRONTS BUT USED
MELAMINE (AS A CHEAPER,
Plywood: No, that’s not a typo – there is
such thing as a plywood kitchen! An amazing
1. Polyurethane
2. Timber veneer
TOUGHER OPTION) FOR photographer we often use, Monique Easton
INSIDE THE CUPBOARDS put a plywood kitchen in her studio apartment in
AND DRAWERS. AVOID the Snowy Mountains of NSW and then stained it
POOR-QUALITY VERSIONS
OF MELAMINE BY USING
with an oil-based product called Osmo in Black.
Check out the kitchen here.
3. Vinyl (if the budget can’t stretch)
WELL-KNOWN, LOCALLY-
MANUFACTURED BRANDS Here are the steps to staining your plywood (you
LIKE LAMINEX OR POLYTEC can do this DIY) to stop water absorption and
MATT OR GLOSSY? INTEGRATION – YAY OR NAY?
(IN AUSTRALIA).
make it look ah-mazing!
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1.Use a microfibre mini-roller to roll the Osmo

Vinyl (aka thermoformed): A popular finish
for flat-pack kitchens, these doors are made
from MDF and then wrapped, glued and heat
vacuumed with a vinyl wrap. They’re durable,
low maintenance and have the key benefit of not
being restricted to flat-front profiles, so they can
have all different styles of channels and bevels
(like a shaker style) routered in to the MDF door
before they are wrapped in vinyl. I guess you
could say they’re a cheaper alternative to poly
but you will be limited to colours and finishes
as the wrap is mass-manufactured – they won’t
make a special piece of vinyl wrap just for you.
on the entire section of plywood you want to
cover.
2. 
Wait 10–20 minutes depending on the
coverage you want – the longer you wait, the
more intense the colour will be.
3. Then, rub it in with a rag and wipe off any
excess with the same rag.
Neither! We prefer a satin finish (which sits
somewhere in between). Gloss can get quite
reflective and shows imperfections, water drips,
scratches and fingerprints easily. At the other
end of the spectrum, matt cabinetry can feel a
bit flat and dull. It also shows fingerprints and can
be hard to clean. Then we have satin - which is
a low sheen finish, super smooth to touch, non-
reflective and doesn’t show fingerprints. It’s also
easy-peasy to wipe clean.
Tip: A TEXTURED FINISH
WITH LOW SHEEN LIKE
YOU WOULD FIND WITH
TIMBER VENEER WILL
HIDE IMPERFECTIONS
AND FINGERPRINTS BEST.
#TINYSTICKYFINGERS
By integration I mean blending your appliances
in with the look of your kitchen by using the
cabinetry to conceal them as much as possible.
This gets a massive ‘YAY’ from me! But there
are a few reasons why people might not want
to integrate their appliances. It can cost more,
but even flat-pack kitchens from Bunnings and
IKEA offer integration these days. Or perhaps
the specific model of appliance you want might
not be compatible with integration? Integration is
always top of my kitchen wish list. No matter what
style of kitchen you’re after, it seems obvious
to me that concealing a fridge and dishwasher
behind seamless cabinetry is ALWAYS going to
look better than the alternative – except perhaps
if you’ve bought a coloured fridge to make a
statement. So, my advice? If you can afford to
integrate, do it!

Tip: IF YOU HAVE A SMALL KITCHEN, INTEGRATION

IS A ‘MUST’ TO MAKE THE KITCHEN FEEL
LARGER AND LESS DISJOINTED.
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IS FLAT-PACK FOR ME?

We used flat-pack kitchens (IKEA and Bunnings) for our first two kitchen renos and the reviews were
positive. They were easy to put together (we had our carpenter do it) and they looked great when
we put the houses on the market. But having said that, we have to confess that we’ve never lived
with a flat-pack kitchen. Have you? Do they stand the test of time? Let us know what you think on our
Facebook group.

FOR PROPERTY FLIPPERS, FLAT-PACK IS A GREAT OPTION. UNLESS YOU’RE

FLIP
TIP FLIPPING MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PROPERTIES, A QUALITY FLAT-PACK
KITCHEN SHOULD ADD JUST AS MUCH VALUE AS A CUSTOM ONE – BUT AT
HALF THE PRICE. IN HOUSE 2, OUR KITCHEN RENOVATION WAS A HYBRID.
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THE PREVIOUS OWNERS HAD ALREADY ATTEMPTED A KITCHEN RENO USING

A BUNNINGS FLAT-PACK. SO WHEN WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, WE RE-
USED THE CABINETRY ALREADY THERE AND ADDED TO IT WITH THE SAME
BRAND FROM BUNNINGS. IT SAVED US A PRETTY PENNY AND HELPED TO
MAKE THAT FLIP ONE OF OUR MOST PROFITABLE!

Before After
Whether you’re putting a flat-pack kitchen in a flipped home or a forever home, we strongly
recommend you hire a carpenter to put it together. Yes, it’s an extra cost but overall, you’ll be saving
loads and your sanity will remain intact!
26 — THE RENO SCHOOL
GET A HANDLE ON YOUR HANDLE OPTIONS!
Can I tell you a story? It was a breeze designing
Lana’s kitchen with her. We agreed on all the
key elements and were on the same page
the whole time. That was until we had to
choose the handles for her kitchen cabinets.
#definitelynotonthesamepage She kept sending
me pictures of all these different styles, which
might have looked fine in other kitchens, but
not in Lana’s Santorini-inspired one. Herein lies
the power of the vision board, Pinterest boards
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and Insta collections! I told Lana to review those
boards and the images of her dream kitchen and
tell me what she could see: a seamless wash of
white. This reminded her that we could NOT
achieve the aesthetic and feel she wanted if we
used anything other than invisible handles like
push-touch or finger-pulls (both are explained
below). So, the moral of the story? Your handle
and knob selection should be guided by the
overall aesthetic you’re trying to achieve – and
once you commit, you need to stay true to it!
One of the first decisions you should try to make
is whether to go with handles on your cabinets,
or none.
GO NAKED! #HANDLELESS
Going naked seems to be all the rage these days
– just yesterday I ordered a naked broadband
connection while eating my naked burrito! So it’s
no wonder so many of us are opting to go naked in
the kitchen too … meaning ‘no handles’, of course.
If you want this streamlined look, what are your
options?
Shark-nose finger pulls
These discreet finger-pulls are a popular
choice that is hard not to like. We used them
in Lana’s kitchen and for The River Shack reno.
They look chic, clean and let the cabinetry
dominate the aesthetic. As per my opening
story, Lana was very skeptical about this handle
choice but she assures me today she has no
regrets. I’ve even had a text from her about it,
and I quote: ‘They’re so easy to open (even
the heavier drawers) and I love that there are
no protruding handles to catch my clothes on!’
These finger-pulls are easy to clean (no fiddly
handles to wipe around) but you will have to
clean them regularly as the rebated channel can
collect dust and food crumbs.
COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 27
WHAT ABOUT TALL CUPBOARDS?
You can have shark nose finger-
pulls just like on the drawers,
except they run vertically, up the
entire length of the cupboard. Lana
chose something slightly different
with our cabinet maker, Ronnie,
creating these custom cut-outs. It’s
a gorgeous seamless look which
makes the cabinetry the star of the
show.
Push Touch
These cupboards look amazing
because there are virtually no
gaps needed between cabinets.
To open them, you need to push the
cupboard to pop the door ajar and
then get your fingers behind the
door to pull it open. For some, this
is a classic case of double-handling
but I have no issues with it. Push-
touch drawers on the other hand
are a nightmare - don’t do it. If you’re
unsure about push-touch, perhaps
limit it to those cupboards that you
only open infrequently – perhaps the
cupboards up high that are home to
your tall vases. Lana has push-touch
cupboards above her fridge. They
are the perfect choice for that spot to
create the most seamless look with
the integrated fridge … and she only
uses those cupboards every now
and then. Push-touch can also lead
to a collage of fingerprints on your
cabinet fronts.
28 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 29

BUDGET BUY ALERT! THESE

MY EDIT OF HANDLES AND KNOBS TEENY-WEENY BLACK KNOBS
COST JUST $2.50 EACH FROM
Once you start looking, you will discover that there are literally thousands of different styles, shapes IKEA. I THINK THE KNOBS
and finishes to choose from and your handle choice can play a big role in bringing to life your style LOOK FANTASTIC AND ARE
vision for your kitchen. I’ve pulled together an edit of what we’ve used in our kitchen renos. GREAT FOR LIGHTWEIGHT
DRAWERS AND CUPBOARDS.
WE KEPT COSTS IN HINDSIGHT, THOSE KNOBS
DOWN ON OUR FIRST MIGHT BE A BIT TOO SMALL
RENO WITH THESE IF THOSE ISLAND DRAWERS
STAINLESS-STEEL ARE FILLED WITH HEAVY
KNOBS FROM IKEA PLATES.
FOR JUST $3 EACH.
THE KITCHEN IS
FROM IKEA TOO.
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IN HOUSE 2 WE
OPTED FOR MATT
BLACK HANDLES
AND KNOBS FROM
BUNNINGS TO GO
WITH OUR FLAT-
PACKED KABOODLE
KITCHEN.
OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH MATT BLACK CONTINUED
IN HOUSE 4 WITH SIMPLE BLACK KNOBS TO
MATCH THE TAPWARE AND COMPLEMENT THE
SOFT GREY CABINETRY. YOU’LL SEE WE CHOSE THIS IS MY SECOND FAVOURITE KITCHEN EVER,
ONLY KNOBS (NO HANDLES) FOR A CONSISTENT WITH MY FAVOURITE HANDLES AND KNOBS. I
LOOK. THESE WERE SUBSTANTIAL, CHUNKY LOVE THE COMBO OF MINT GREEN, GOLD AND
HANDLES SO THEY COULD PULL OUT A HEAVY THE WHITE TAP. AN OVERALL SERENE SCENE
DRAWER, IF NEEDED. BUT WITH THE GLAM OF GOLD ACCENTS. OUR
KITCHEN COMPANY SOURCED THESE HANDLES
FOR ME.
30 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 31

WHAT DO YOU LIKE?

Have you seen any ideas you think might work for you? Remember, with so many options available
you simply must use your inspo boards to help you narrow down the field. Pull them up now and let’s
take a closer look together.

Questions to ask yourself: What type of handles am I consistently seeing in the kitchen images
I’ve pinned? Knobs or handles, or a mixture of both? What shape are they? If there are handles, are
they long or short? What colour are they? What finish? Where are they positioned on the cabinet?
Write your answer down here.

AT MY BEACH SHACK I CHOSE THE SAME $2.50

IKEA KNOBS WE USED IN HOUSE 3. IT’S HARD
TO ARGUE WITH THEIR SIMPLICITY.
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‘Simplicity is the keynote

of all true elegance.’ LANA WENT ‘NAKED’ WITH SHARK NOSE
FINGER-PULLS. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW A few final tips on handles
– COCO CH ANE L DIFFERENT HER KITCHEN WOULD LOOK WITH
HANDLES? #NOTHANKS
Integrated appliances: Fridges and dishwashers are harder to open than normal cupboards because
WE WENT ‘NAKED’ AGAIN
of their weight and rubber seals, so make sure your choice of handle is suitable. Watch the video in
AT THE RIVER SHACK
the Bonus section where Lana puts her ‘naked’ fridge to the test!
AND, AS YOU CAN SEE
(OR NOT SEE), FINGER- Hedge your bets: If you’re hesitant about going fully ‘naked’ (i.e. no handles at all), it’s totally fine to
PULLS ARE PRACTICALLY go halfway and use handles on the under-bench cabinetry and go topless with no handles on the
INVISIBLE IN A BLACK upper cabinetry. That’s what we did in House 3.
KITCHEN BECAUSE THE
Try before you buy: Make sure any handle you choose feels comfortable in your hand.
SHADOW BEHIND THE
SHARK NOSE DOESN’T Small kitchen: Going ‘naked’ will help make your kitchen look less cluttered and larger.
CONTRAST WITH THE
CABINETRY. Watch out for the T-bar trap: These type of pull handles have
a nasty knack for catching on your clothes – especially pant pockets.

Quick and easy update: If you want to refresh your current kitchen cabinets, changing just the
handles and nothing else can go some of the way to a fresh new look.
32 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 33

FOR MY DREAM KITCHEN I WANTED THE

CABINETRY TO BE THE STAR OF THE SHOW
SO OPTED FOR DISCREET HANDLES THAT
ARE BASICALLY INVISIBLE. TO BRING SOME BLING TO MY BUTLER’S
PANTRY, I USED THESE DIVINE SOLID
BRASS LIP PULLS THAT REMIND ME OF
GOLD LEAVES.
MODULE FOUR - PDF THREE

THE COTTAGE KITCHEN SHOWCASED

ANOTHER DISCREET LIP PULL

IN HOUSE 9 WE COUPLED LARGE SOLID

BRASS KNOBS WITH TRADITIONAL, MOULDED
CABINETRY FOR AN AESTHETIC BLEND OF
OLD AND NEW.
34 — THE RENO SCHOOL COLOURS, CABINETRY AND HANDLES— 35

Let’s recap! What’s Next ?

Benchtops and splashbacks.
BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE... MODULE 4 - TOPIC 4

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 You can’t lock in your cabinetry without considering the benchtop and
TOPIC 1 splashback that will accompany it. In the next PDF we’ll help you decide on
MODULE FOUR - PDF THREE

those all-important items as we continue to build your dream kitchen.

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
Bonnie, Erin + Lana x
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 RO 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 R B E N C H TO P S
& 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
MODULE ONE PDF TWO

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