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BY CLARE RYAN
Your kitchen is more than a workspace, it’s a reflection of your lifestyle, where efficiency, style and technology come together to make everyday living seamless. Today’s design and appliance trends embrace smarter solutions, with everything from timeless finishes to modern technology shaping kitchens that are truly innovative. Awarded the 2024 Hart & Co Designer of The Year, Jess O’Shea of Jess O’Shea Designs, shares her expert tips on the latest trends that deserve your attention.
Dining Banquet
Banquets are having a design moment. Not only are they practical, but they also add comfort and character to the home, making them a modern-day must-have. A well-designed banquet can turn any corner into the best seat in the house, bringing connection, comfort and flow to the kitchen. Both timeless and elevated, they balance form and function to create a space that instantly feels more welcoming.
TIP #1: The Cosy Corner Solution
Dining banquets are becoming increasingly common, as they connect with our broader lifestyle shift towards more informal, flexible dining settings. Whether attached to an island or built in alongside cabinetry, they’re a great way to create a cosy, casual space, especially in renovations where there’s potentially limited room for a full dining table. By maximising seating and often incorporating built-in storage, banquets turn what can feel like a cramped area into a versatile hangout space that feels both comfortable and social.
“By maximising seating and often incorporating built-in storage, banquets turn what can feel like a cramped area into a versatile hangout space that feels both comfortable and social.” – JESS O'SHEA
Natural Stone
Natural stone offers a rare balance of durability and beauty, making it an investment that lasts in both function and style. Whether chosen for its dramatic veining or subtle earthy hues, natural stone has moved beyond pure function and is used to set the mood and make a statement. Used across benchtops, feature islands and splashbacks, it delivers timeless style and long-term value.
TIP #2: Invest In The Statement
More homeowners are committing to natural stone, not just as a finish but as the focal point of the kitchen. From striking greens and burgundies to pink marble or dramatic Calacatta Viola, bold choices are becoming the new norm. The key is doing it right, investing in quality stone that has the properties you’re able to live with and balancing it with complementary cabinetry. For those staying in their home long-term, natural stone delivers a sense of enduring luxury while offering something truly unique. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation of nature, and over time, it only becomes more characterful, grounding the home with beauty and individuality that lasts.
Lighting
Good lighting is everything. A layered mix takes it from practical to welcoming, setting the tone for cooking, entertaining and everyday life. Lighting is a key player in how a kitchen both looks and functions. It shapes the design, with the power to make a space feel bright and energised or soft and intimate. Achieving that flexibility comes down to layering different types of light to suit every occasion.
TIP #3: Layer For Impact
Layering different sources, such as wall lights, uplights, and integrated cabinetry lights, adds flexibility and ambience while reducing reliance on standard downlights. The fewer downlights, the better. For those looking to make a statement, an oversized pendant or sculptural piece transforms lighting into art, proving that the right fixture can anchor the entire design.
“Layering different sources such as walllights, uplights and integrated cabinetry lights adds flexibility and ambience while reducing reliance on standard downlights.” – JESS O'SHEA
Combi Steam Ovens
Investing in a combi steam oven means investing in wellness, versatility and a new way of cooking at home. Combi steam ovens do much more than the cooking basics. Today’s models handle everything from baking bread to cooking roasts, making them one of the most versatile additions to the kitchen.
TIP #4: Why A Combi Steam Oven Is Worth Considering
Combi steam ovens have outgrown their reputation as a specialist appliance for vegetables and fish. They are considered an investment, but one that delivers long-term benefits in both functionality and wellness. Cooking classes, like those offered at Hart & Co., are helping homeowners understand how much a combi steam oven can do. For those with the space, installing two full-size 600mm ovens provides maximum flexibility, but even one is a valuable addition. Ultimately, the decision comes down to lifestyle. Understanding how you cook and live in your space is the key to making the most of this appliance.
Multifunction Water Taps
Multifunction water taps deliver instant hot or cold water, blending convenience with everyday luxury. Quickly becoming one of the most desirable additions to the modern kitchen, they bring a touch of effortless living to everyday. With finishes to complement any cabinetry or hardware, they combine convenience with efficiency and streamline daily routines.
TIP #5: The Tap That Does It All
Brands like Zip and Billi are leading the way with all-in-one multifunction water taps that deliver filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water alongside regular mains. While they are a significant investment, their popularity continues to grow as more homeowners embrace the convenience. It’s important to allow for the under-bench unit, making space a key consideration. Beyond lifestyle benefits like instant tea and coffee, multifunction water taps also appeal for their environmental impact, reducing the need for bottled water or separate soda machines. They also filter out a lot of nasties we see in our local tapwater, particularly Zip with their unrivalled 0.2-micron certification.
Customising Pantries
A cleverly designed pantry that’s tailored to your lifestyle makes everyday easier and more organised. Today’s pantries are less about bulk storage and more about smart solutions. Oversized walk-in pantries are being rethought, as they can often take up valuable floor space, with owners now favouring designs that maximise efficiency. From shallow drawers and shelves to clever door fittings, pantries are increasingly customised to suit individual lifestyles. The focus is on creating a balance between traditional storage and modern functionality.
TIP #6: Smarter Storage Solutions
A lot of our clients are moving away from the idea of a “one-size-fits-all” pantry. Instead of defaulting to oversized walk-ins that often end up underutilised, many homeowners are now blending different pantry styles to suit how they live and cook. For example, some will combine a compact walk-in or butler’s pantry for appliances with tailored cabinetry solutions in the kitchen itself for everyday staples. Products like the Blum Space Tower have become increasingly popular because they offer flexibility without demanding extra floor space. With fully extendable internal drawers, these systems can be customised to store everything from tall bottles and bulky appliances to smaller dry goods, snacks, or even crockery. This not only makes items easier to access but also allows each household to configure their pantry to their own rhythms and routines. Ultimately, a well-designed pantry is less about sheer size and more about functionality, accessibility, and how seamlessly it supports daily life. By layering different storage solutions, clients can create a space that feels intentional, efficient, and perfectly tailored to their needs.
