Chasing your dream kitchen? The experts tell us how.

Two days after building her new kitchen, Margaret Kocovski put her oven to the test, roasting pork perfectly on the rotisserie.

“It was exciting and I felt like the food was going to taste better than usual … because it (the kitchen) looked so good … and it did,” she says.

Margaret and husband Slobodan worked with MKN Kitchens and Laundries at Lawnton to turn their 20-year-old, horseshoe-shaped kitchen into an spacious, elegant, and comfortable place to cook and entertain.

“It is my dream kitchen. With a bit of imagination, careful planning and good product choices, it’s possible,” Margaret says.

The kitchen now has a 'floating' island marble benchtops, high-end timber veneer cupboards and drawers, motorised drawers that open when you tap them, hand-made polished brass handles, integrated refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher, induction cooktop and wok burner, teppanyaki hotplate, steam oven, commercial rangehood, tuck-away pocket doors, and an enormous sink.

Margaret says she spent the best part of a year researching products and attending demonstrations to ensure she selected the right appliances and finishes. And she says the end result was worth every cent of the $100,000 price tag. “There’s a lot of things I love about my kitchen,” she says. “I wanted something unique, glamorous, timeless, elegant with clean lines.”

Throughout the design and development phases MKN Kitchens and Laundries sales and design manager Stephen Corrish worked closely with the Kocovskis.

Stephen says the design works as it adds better appliances and finishes to the rest of the building.

He says people can spend up to five per cent of the value of their home without overcapitalising because a kitchen truly is the heart of the home.

“It (the kitchen) is the place where everyone gathers. It’s the most important room in the house,” Stephen says.

MKN’s owner Rob Ryan has been creating new kitchens for 20 years and agrees.

He says people use more lighting these days and the timber veneer and laminate quality is now exceptional.

Hamptons-style kitchens are popular because they have a timeless and inviting look that suits older and new homes. In fact, Rob has just built, one at his house.

Butler pantries are also common among homeowners with the room. Off the kitchen, they have a service area , usually with sink, appliances, and additional storage.

Most opt for laminated timber with matt finish, mostly in dark colours with lighter benches, for a more modern feel. Tiled splashbacks are coming back with vengeance with the aide of the subway tile.

What’s hot in kitchen design

Hamptons style: white cupboards and drawers with classic design, using glass and stone

Modern style: dark timber veneer, soft-closing cupboards and drawers with no handles, light stone benches, and ‘subway-style’ tile splashbacks

Storage solutions: make the best use of the space you have, especially in troublesome corner cupboards

Butler’s pantries: a service area off the kitchen usually with a sink, appliances and storage space

Fibreglass sinks: in black and white with matching taps. Ceramic sinks are also popular

Visit: modernkitchensnorthside.com.au