Farquhar Kitchen Magazine 01 by Farquhar Kitchens

farquhar issue 001

Kitchen Magazine

A $2 donation supports the WCHF

Experience Blum When investing in your new kitchen, make sure you benefit from our experience. Blum has been observing the way people use their kitchens all over the world for over 60 years. As a result, we have designed clever cabinet hardware solutions to help you create a kitchen that will provide years of satisfaction and enjoyment.

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Dedicated to the memory of Dudley Farquhar 4 November 1928 – 7 November 1998 | Aged 70

KITCHEN MAGAZINE

www.farquharkitchenmagazine.com.au ISSN PUBLISHER PROjECT MaNaGER PROdUCTION HOUSE Phone Web GENERaL MaNaGER

Farquhar Kitchens

Phone Web KITCHENS BY FaRQUHaR Phone Web

14 Farquhar history

Cindie Smart

Jason Hamer Naomi Giatas Erin Donoghue

ENQUIRIES

Ali Clarke’s new kitchen has become her favourite part of her new home, which she shares with husband Matt and kids Eloise and Samuel.

Free Run Press (08) 8362 3122 freerunpress.com.au

dESIGNERS

FaRQUHaR KITCHEN CENTRE

08 Ali’s dream kitchen

Darren Farquhar

Ashleigh Ebert

The latest information, trends and innovations.

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PHOTOGRaPHER

04 What’s new

Established in 1978, Farquhar Kitchens is a proud South Australian family company. Matriarch Shirley Farquhar tells us how it all started in a veterinary surgery.

18 The Connel kitchen The Connel family has turned their home and garden into one fluid space, with their kitchen as the centrepiece.

John Kruger Newstyle Printing 144 Magill Road Norwood SA 5067 (08) 8132 8000 farquharkitchencentre.com.au 482 Marion Road Plympton Park South Australia 5038 (08) 8292 7600 kitchensbyfarquhar.com.au

22 Farquhar at home

Darren Farquhar spends his days talking to people about kitchen design. So what’s his kitchen like?

24 Meet the Packers When Seb and Sarah Packer bought a 50 acre block in Mylor five years ago there wasn’t even an established tree. Now they’ve built a new home with a kitchen that keeps the whole tribe happy.

28 Kitchen storage

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FaRQUHaR KITCHEN CENTRE

How can you better utilise the space in your home? Here are some helpful ideas from the expert, Michael Farquhar.

30 Warwick style For Andrew and Stephanie Warwick, matching their new kitchen style with their older home was vital.

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32 Local and proud It’s the manufacturing arm behind the Farquhar brand. Mark Farquhar says their success is all about their people.

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34 Kitchen design The modern family spends more time in the kitchen than generations before, and kitchen designs have changed in response.

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46 Hot products COPYRIGHT

All material appearing in Farquhar Kitchen Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Farquhar Kitchen Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed and products displayed/mentioned are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.

Here are some fantastic products to help bring your kitchen to life.

48 Second drawer down What do you keep in your second drawer down, or junk drawer? We ask Adelaideans to reveal all...

The Farquhar family at The Lane Vineyard and Restaurant.

elcome to the first issue of Farquhar Kitchen Magazine. The idea to launch a beautiful magazine that celebrates the heart of the home – the kitchen – has been thrown around our boardroom table for quite some time. We’re thrilled to launch the first issue, packed full of tips for kitchen design, profiles of Adelaide homeowners who have recently completed their kitchens, storage ideas, great new products and insights into new kitchen trends. The magazine features the wonderful Farquhar Brand Ambassador Ali Clarke on the cover. Ali experienced Farquhar service firsthand last year when we designed and installed her unique new kitchen. You can read all about it on pages 8 to 11. We also introduce you to some of our other clients in the Kitchen Profiles that appear throughout the magazine. From retired couple

founding Partners

Partners

Andrew and Stephanie Warwick who wanted modern conveniences in a traditional kitchen to Lisa and Serge Bondarenko who wanted a family space that could cater for their new baby boy. You’ll meet Seb and Sarah Packer who needed a large, free-flowing space for their big family and Scott and Penny Connel who wanted a kitchen that linked them with the outdoors. We look at kitchen design from every angle. We also introduce you to Farquhar founders Dudley and Shirley who paved a path for the success of the Farquhar Kitchens brand. In fact, you can see the whole family in the photo above! We hope you enjoy the inaugural issue of Farquhar Kitchen Magazine.

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KITCHEN MAGAZINE

Kitchens have become the centre of the home – for families, entertainers and everyone in between.

Affordable luxury Trends taking cues from nature

he natural beauty of timber and stone continues to be a sought after trend in interior spaces. Laminex Australia offers renovators and home builders decorative surfaces that capture the raw beauty of nature to create luxurious and inspirational spaces. Laminex Impressions textured surfaces and the new Laminex essastone range take cues from Mother Nature to bring the beauty and elegance of natural materials to interiors. Offering the enduring appeal and durability of 95 percent natural quartz, the essastone collection has 24 decors from a true white to a variety of blending greys and a bold speckled black to create benchtops, splashbacks or covered alfresco areas. “While white is still a firm favourite, and always will be, we’re also seeing the rise of grey in interiors and our essastone range has an assortment of neutral greys to brownbased greys which can be mixed with woodgrains and other solid colours to create interiors others will envy,” says Mark Flaherty, SA sales manager of Laminex Australia. “At Laminex Australia, we continue to push the boundaries of inspirational decorative surface solutions and our Laminex Impressions and essastone ranges provide up-tothe-minute product solutions for homeowners and renovators.” The Laminex Impressions textured surfaces range evokes the tactile experience of natural materials and boasts a collection of decors and finishes such as Riven and Nuance, where texture enhances the grain and beauty of timber. “Our Laminex Impressions textured surfaces can be effortlessly integrated with the essastone collection to create sophisticated interiors that are inspired by the natural environment,” says Mark. Both the Laminex Impressions textured surfaces and essastone ranges have been designed for the most demanding areas. The essastone collection is resistant to starch, stains and chemicals and is backed by a 15 year limited warranty. Laminex Impressions is backed by a seven year limited warranty. To find out more visit www.essastone.com.au or www.laminex.com.au or contact a Farquhar Kitchen Showroom for information.

otivi Gloss Bench Tops are providing home owners with one-of-a-kind solutions. Made of 38mm MR particle board, the Motivi Gloss Laminate is treated with an Aluminium Oxide Overlay, protecting the laminate against surface wear, making it highly resistant to impact, heat, scratching, chipping and cracking. And in comparison with granite or engineered stone, Motivi Gloss Bench Tops are an affordable luxury. On display at Kitchens by Farquhar and Farquhar Kitchen Centre Showrooms.

Support the WCHF

simple $2 donation when you pick up this magazine will support the wonderful work of the Women’s & Children’s Hopsital Foundation (WCHF). The WCHF is the official charity of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital. It funds a range of initiatives including purchasing vital medical equipment for the Hospital, supporting world class research and improving patient facilities. Find out more at www.wchfoundation.org.au

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KITCHEN MAGAZINE

Ali Clarke: Farquhar brand ambassador

adio announcer and mother of two Ali Clarke (nee Carle) joined the team at Farquhar this year, taking on the voluntary role of Brand Ambassador across the Farquhar Group of companies. When making the announcement, Darren Farquhar said the company was thrilled to be working with one of SA’s most loved radio personalities. “Ali is a perfect fit with Farquhar – she’s family focused and has down to earth, honest values. Nothing is too hard for Ali and that’s a characteristic we share,” Darren said. The breakfast announcer at Triple M and columnist for The Advertiser says she is proud to be associated with such an iconic South Australian company. “The team at Farquhar is committed to great design and products – and to good old fashioned customer service, which I love,” Ali says. Ali experienced Farquhar service firsthand in 2012 when she contracted the company to build a kitchen in her new home, which she shares with her husband, former Crows star Matthew Clarke, and their two children Eloise and Samuel. For a sneak peak of Ali’s home see pages 8 to 11. “This is the house we’ll live in for at least the next 20 years so we wanted to get it right and be assured of great quality design and fittings,” Ali says. “Our family and friends congregate around the kitchen so this will be the hub of our life and we knew Farquhar would help us create a beautiful and functional living space.” Ali says the team at Farquhar made the building process easy, from initial concepts and design, through to choice of fittings and fixtures and installation. “But perhaps the most surprising thing was the bill! Our dream was more affordable than I thought it would be. We love our new kitchen and the running joke is that it’s got magical powers that can turn anyone, even me, into a great cook. There is so much storage room and it’s so well designed that I even have empty drawers and cupboards.” Darren says many clients are surprised by the affordability of Farquhar kitchens. Farquhar is able to offer products and services for all budgets, from DIY (u-install-itkitchens.com.au and udesignkitchens.com.au) through to full kitchen design and installation (kitchensbyfarquhar.com.au and farquharkitchencentre.com.au).

Do you Buy SA?

hen you buy South Australian, chances are you’re buying from someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows you. You may have seen this tagline in the Buy SA ads, such as the one below. It’s important to the Farquhar family – they are a local manufacturer competing with huge multinationals and they rely on South Australian business to survive. The decisions South Australians make about where they buy and what they buy can help other South Australians with keeping a job or finding a job. So if you’re looking for a new kitchen, start with Farquhar.

When you buy South Australian, chances are you’re buying from someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows Mark. The more you buy South Australian, the more South Australians you support. www.buysouthaustralian.com.au Mark Farquhar, KT3 5

Ali with daughter Eloise.

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ali Clarke’s kitChen

Ali with son Samuel.

Ali’s butler’s pantry.

farquhar KITCHEN MAGAZINE

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Ali Clarke’s new kitchen has become her favourite part of the interesting home she shares with her husband Matt and kids Eloise and Samuel.

li Clarke is best known for her witty radio banter. Her husband Matthew Clarke is best known for his footy nous. What’s not widely known about this pair is that they’re also pretty handy when it comes to home renovation. They spent much of 2012 renovating an old church school in North Adelaide, which they now call home. That included two weeks of plaster removal by Matt’s hand, to reveal the beautiful stonework beneath. “Originally he was just doing it with a tiny little chisel. One of his mates came around and said ‘you’re joking!” and gave him an electric one, which sped things up!” It also involved the installation of Ali’s favourite part of the house – her new Farquhar kitchen. It’s a beautiful open space that melds the old building with the new extension, and has provided inspiration for a surprising passion. “It’s ironic – out of all of my friends, I was the most clueless about cooking. So the running joke about this kitchen is that it’s got magical powers that can turn anyone, even me, into a great cook!” Ali says. “I’ve become one of those people who I used to look at and think ‘why don’t you want to go out – why do you want to be home all the time?’ but we love having friends over for dinner and we hardly ever go out anymore. Maybe it’s an age thing!” The new kitchen was installed just in time for Ali and Matt’s wedding in January. They hosted family and friends in their home for the ceremony and party afterwards, and Ali says it was an amazing day. “Although it was slightly stressful as we were still painting the place the night before the wedding!” Ali had been coveting the old church for five years. “It had been on and off the market and it finally came up again at a time when we were getting a bit sick of living in the city with two kids and no backyard. We put in an offer and as luck would have it, we got it.” When Ali and Matt bought it, the church was a shell. The renovation process took a speedy nine months – this was possible because internal design plans had already been completed and approved by council, thanks to the former owner. “The kitchen design plans were by Farquhar and I’d heard lots of good things about this company, but you never know how a

renovation is going to go. And to be honest, I’d never thought I’d be able to afford a Farquhar kitchen. But I was blown away by how easy they were to deal with and how adaptable they were to what we really wanted,” Ali says. “We could change things as we went – originally there was an inbuilt coffee machine and neither of us drink coffee, so we changed that, and there was a steam oven in the plans which we didn’t need, so we changed that. “And originally the kitchen bench was an extra metre and a half long, but you could play cricket on that and it’s huge as it is, so we cut it back a bit. We were in Farquhar one day pacing it all out with the designer, then we came and spray painted the shape onto the slab to check – it was all good fun!” Ali says it will take her several years to fill up the storage spaces that the kitchen offers. “It’s so well designed that I actually have empty drawers and cupboards,” she says. “I love the overhead cupboards that don’t even look like cupboards.” Ali also loves the extra high 940mm benchtops, which are perfect for a tall family like theirs. Ali and Matt also have a butler’s kitchen – a small hidden kitchen behind the main kitchen, which she says is ideal when friends come over and she wants to hide the dinner mess. Ali and Matt stuck to a natural colour scheme to match the stonework, wood and polished concrete floor. “But you should have seen Matt’s face when I came home with these yellow stools!” Ali laughs. “The way I see it, you can make the house as bright as you want with plates and fruit and friends and wine.” They’ve also made the most of the building’s heritage by restoring a wooden chest and display cabinet and mixing new décor with antiques, such as a collection of small glass inkwells that children attending school lessons at the church used many years ago. Ali, Matt and their kids Eloise and Samuel are also making the most of their new backyard. “The kids can muck around on their bikes out the back and we can watch from in here and know they’re safe,” Ali says. Three-year-old Eloise says her favourite thing to make in the new kitchen is chocolate cake. She also loves teaching her one-year-old brother Samuel important things like blowing kisses. It’s a busy, happy life for this family.

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farQuhar historY

This page: The Farquhar family at The Lane Vineyard and Restaurant. Left: Michael, Shirley and Peter Farquhar.

Established in 1978, Farquhar Kitchens is a proud South Australian family company. Matriarch Shirley Farquhar tells us how it all started in a veterinary surgery.

arquhar Kitchens founder Dudley Farquhar possessed two important things. “He had a toolkit and a good idea,” says wife Shirley of the man who paved a path for the success of the Farquhar Kitchens brand. Dudley gained experience as a patternmaker and woodwork instructor for the South Australian Education Department. In his spare time he built cabinets for locals in his hometown of Moonta, where he and Shirley lived with their four children Peter, Michael, Colin and Anne. “When I went back to Moonta for a celebration recently, someone came up to me and said they still used a cabinet which Dudley built more than 50 years ago,” laughs Shirley. While Dudley had the skills, Shirley possessed great entrepreneurial drive which saw the first Farquhar showroom open in 1978, in premises on Anzac Highway formerly owned by a veterinary surgeon.

“We had a little poodle who felt quite at home – he used to go down and sit behind Dud while he worked at his desk,” says Shirley. “Everyone wanted to buy him because they thought he was for sale.” Dudley’s first employee was a sales person, Eric Roberts. They traded as U-Install It Kitchens, offering planning and assistance to handymen. A year later they acquired a small furniture factory in Marleston and Shirley and Dudley’s sons Peter and Michael joined the business. Peter and his wife Cathy focused on producing the family’s brand of quality cabinetry at the new factory, while Michael worked alongside Dudley in design and sales at Glandore. They soon outgrew both premises and moved to a much larger factory and showroom in Hindmarsh. The growth of the business continued – in 1986 Peter built a new factory in Lonsdale, while Michael developed a showroom on South Road in St Marys.

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A year later Dudley and Shirley sold the business to their sons Peter and Michael, and the U-Install-It name was replaced with Kitchens by Farquhar. “With the strength of Peter and Cathy’s combination in the factory and Michael’s ability in sales, I had no doubt that it would blossom,” Shirley says. In 1991 an old service station on Marion Road at Plympton Park was purchased and transformed into a new showroom. This became home for the design and sales operations. But a tough financial climate saw the local manufacturing industry contract – this also took its toll on Kitchens By Farquhar, but the company survived. The family business lineage continued when Peter and Cathy’s son Mark joined the company in 1993, learning his craft at the Lonsdale factory, which in 2004 moved to a four acre plot to allow for the growth of another Farquhar business, KT3 – Kitchens to the Trade. Shirley recalls feeling astounded by how far the family business had come since those humble beginnings in Moonta. “I remember standing in the Lonsdale factory, looking around and thinking the growth was just amazing,” she says. But a sad time for the family was to follow. Dudley had a heart attack and passed away in November 1998, four days after his 70th birthday. By chance it occurred after a family gathering which saw his four kids together for the first time in seven years.

“I remember standing in the Lonsdale factory, looking around and thinking the growth was just amazing.”

Above: Dudley Farquhar. Below: Dudley and Shirley Farquhar.

But Dudley’s legacy continued and in 2006 Peter and Cathy’s youngest son Darren joined the company in a marketing and commercial role. In 2007 the decision was made to purchase a showroom on Magill Road to house Farquhar Kitchen Centre. The family also decided to bring back the original company name, and a DIY kitchen showroom called U-Install-It was opened on South Road in 2011. Two of Michael’s children have also joined the company: his eldest daughter Morgan started in 2011, while his eldest son Jed joined Farquhar’s showroom design group earlier this year. Shirley says it fills her heart with joy to see the company in the safe hands of the younger generations. “I’m extremely proud of what they’re all doing and how they’ve developed the business,” Shirley says. While Shirley has watched it all unfold with great pleasure, she has also pursued some important personal ambitions. She worked as a Tupperware demonstrator, beauty counsellor and then as Avon manager in South Australia, at one time recruiting 500 Avon representatives across metro and regional SA. Her latest venture is also unique. “I’ve put together a book which looks at stories from vision impaired people,” Shirley says. It’s titled Life Ain’t So Dim After All and follows Shirley’s first published story Ten Acres of Friendship. “It’s really an achievement for me,” she says. It seems ambition is written in the Farquhar DNA.

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Kitchen facts Key features: Bi-folding windows and doors linking the kitchen to outdoor living, gloss finish to doors, 40mm benchtops and push-to-open drawers throughout. Style: Open plan, free-flowing. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

Scott, Penny, Ella and Fraser Connel.

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kitChen Profile

The Connel family has turned their home and garden into one fluid space, with their kitchen as the centrepiece.

unday mornings in the Connel family home are no time for rest. Eleven-year-old Ella and nine-year-old Fraser, along with a bunch of their friends, can be found splashing around in the pool or running amok in the backyard. Their Mum and Dad, Penny and Scott, keep an eye on activities from their spacious new kitchen. “Being able to look outside and feel part of everything that’s happening is just great,” Penny says. Bi-folding windows and doors surrounding the renovated kidfriendly kitchen link the family’s outdoor living to the home’s interior. The smell of fluffy pancakes and freshly cut fruit flow from inside out to where kids are having fun just being kids. The smell of food attracts hungry mouths – often attached to dripping bodies from the pool – but it doesn’t matter. The design of the kitchen means they can eat comfortably outside and still be part of the conversation.

“We call the kids over for breakfast and they’ll perch up on the bench and stools while we pass out plates from the kitchen,” Penny says. It’s just one of many impromptu gatherings the Connels play host to and it’s something this family thrives on. “We love to entertain,” Scott says. “We wanted something that could open up and allow us to entertain outside while still being inside.” The kitchen used to be tucked away in the middle of the house. “It was functional, but not fun,” Penny says. So Scott and Penny agreed to make a change and move the kitchen to the back of the home, flowing out to their main entertaining area. The kitchen is now the hub of the home and a place to enjoy the best of both worlds. When the family is not outside enjoying the sunshine, they congregate at the huge island bench. It’s the indoor meeting place

kitChen Profile

for family and friends. “We’re here together for every meal as a family now,” Scott says. And as they sit around the impressive stone bench over breakfast, there’s an easy flow from the pantry to the food preparation areas and the ovens, sink and bins. Penny says the stainless steel appliances are easy to clean, but her favourite feature is the Blum Tip-On (push to open) electric drawers and cupboard doors that open with a single touch and close again effortlessly.

“It really flows now, and just being able to walk in and walk out is perfect for our lifestyle.” It suits this family’s sense of style, much like the classic colour scheme of black and white. “We went to a lot of display homes to seek inspiration and get a feel for what we liked,” Scott says. The result is a fun space for young and old – whether it’s kids for a swim or friends for a coffee or BBQ. Everyone’s welcome in the Connel kitchen. “It really flows now, and just being able to walk in and walk out is perfect for our lifestyle,” Penny says.

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Darren, Lisa, Siana, Dante and Alexia.

Kitchen facts Key features: Dark timber veneer push-catch cupboards, tiled splashback, integrated fridge, freezer and dishwasher, Servo-Drive electric drawers. Style: Modern eclectic. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

Darren Farquhar spends his days talking to people about kitchen design. So what’s his kitchen like?

arren Farquhar, generation three of his family company, spends his days talking to people about kitchens. So of course the natural questions is: what’s his kitchen like? Not surprisingly, the kitchen is the heart of Darren and Lisa Farquhar’s home and they wanted to make it feel that way. “Our kitchen needs to feel lived in – we’ve got children!” Darren says. “We wanted to create that warm and family friendly atmosphere.” The kitchen bursts to life each morning as Siana (12), Dante (11) and Alexia (two and a half) prepare for the day. “Our kitchen caters for our busy lifestyle, especially in the morning when the entire family is lined up along the bench,” Lisa laughs. “It’s all happening then.” Despite her small size, Alexia refuses to sit anywhere but on a stool alongside her older siblings Siana and Dante. “It’s great – we want to

promote that interaction between the family members,” Darren says. There’s a natural flow between the kitchen and living space and this house is anything but boring thanks to the quirky décor. “That’s Mum’s old cupboard painted blue and those dining chairs are from a secondhand store,” Darren laughs. The eclectic furnishings add an edge to the contemporary look. “Everything is mismatched in our home and kitchen,” Darren says. “I don’t like anything too sterile, I like colour and interest,” Lisa says, indicating the three dangling rope lights above the huge kitchen bench. “You can just tie them up however you want,” she says. Dark timber veneer push-catch cupboards and tiles create the classic but contemporary look that’s becoming popular in kitchen design. “I like the contrast of the dark cupboards, lighter floors and the marble in between, and the interest the tiled splash back adds,” Lisa says. An integrated fridge, freezer and dishwasher add to the flow of the kitchen design and user-friendly features such as Servo-Drive electric drawers – particularly in the deep pantry cupboard – makes the kitchen functional for the shortest of arms.

“And you can create more space by using drawers rather than shelves because you can fit more in them,” Darren explains. “And having bins at each end of the kitchen was another important feature for us because we have children and kids are messy.” A hidden feature of the kitchen, and one that Darren in particular loves, is a sink at the end of a bench near the back of the house. “It’s great because it links our kitchen with our outdoor area and makes it easy when we’re having a BBQ,” Darren says.

“I don’t like anything too sterile, I like colour and interest.” And a discrete large screen is close by. “There’s a growing trend in kitchens to integrate computers as part of the design,” Darren says. “It makes the kitchen a more interactive space. We can watch the news while the kids watch their programs or we can browse recipes while we cook.”

Kitchen facts Key features: Tip-On (push to open) drawers, mirrored splashback, soft-close cupboards and drawers, bulterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pantry. Style: Relaxed country. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

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KITCHEN MAGAZINE

When Seb and Sarah Packer bought a 50 acre block in Mylor five years ago there wasn’t a single established tree. Now they’ve built a new home with a kitchen that keeps the whole tribe happy.

t’s school holidays and Seb and Sarah Packer’s kitchen is chaotic. Homemade pizzas are on today’s lunch menu. “With four children you always end up having six or eight when you add in their friends,” Sarah laughs. And the Packer family also cares for more than your average number of animals on their 50 acre block at Mylor. “We have threxae dogs, three cats, four horses, four alpacas, 10 chickens, five geese, 30 cows and 35 sheep, so we’ve made sure this place is pretty much bomb proof,” Sarah says. They’ve created a kitchen to suit this rural lifestyle, and to make the most of their spectacular views. “We live a country life but we’re close to the city, so we’ve got the best of both worlds,” says Sarah. “I don’t like anything too modern, so I tried to keep a country but contemporary feel to the house.” The huge timber table, wicker details in the décor and the herbs and roses fresh from the garden help to create a relaxed country feel. “The kitchen is very simple and functional, it’s just in a stunning setting,” Sarah says. “It’s never going to date and it’s versatile, so we can style it differently all the time.” When Seb was planning the layout of the kitchen, functionality for his large family was the most important factor. “And I’m into functionality over aesthetics any day,” explains Sarah. Next to the sink are electric Servo-Drive bins for one touch opening, and the kitchen features soft-close cupboards and drawers. “I love the drawers because you don’t have the ‘back of the cupboard’ problem,” Sarah says. The double bank of appliances are proudly on display in the cooking zone – there are no integrated or hidden zones. “I like being able to see where my fridge is,” Sarah laughs. Unlike many modern kitchens which hide the sink away, the Packer sink sits in the six metre acrylic benchtop. “I was always taught that you should have your sink looking out of a window.”

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Sarah Packer with her children Winnie, Maisie, Felix and Tabitha.

And when you turn around you’re greeted by the mirrored splashback which bounces back the beautiful view across the property’s shimmering lake. Slide the mirrors across and you’ll see the smaller butler’s pantry behind the kitchen. This is a feature the family loves. “I love that you can slide the leftovers and mess through from the kitchen and it’s all hidden,” says Sarah.

“I like being able to see where my fridge is!” But for the Packer kids, Winnie, Maisie, Felix and Tabitha, the outdoor kitchen is the best feature of the house in summer. “We love coming in from the pool and cooking up yiros,” says Sarah. “But in the cooler weather, our indoor kitchen is the constant lifeblood of the house and it’s all about practicality and easy living.” Except when fights break out over the last piece of pizza.

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storage ideas

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Michael Farq

How can you better utilise the space in your home? Here are some helpful ideas from the expert, Michael Farquhar.

very home needs storage space. And the more people who share the home, the more space required. In the kitchen, laundry and study, storage is particularly important. In those areas, you want the things you use most in easy reach – and the clutter out of sight. But storage needs differ depending on the user. “Storage should be built around your lifestyle,” Michael Farquhar says. “So spend some time thinking about the storage spaces that you need the most.” There are now storage solutions available for just about every situation and individual. So what are some of the best storage options available? Butler’s pantry For those who have the space, a butler’s pantry is a godsend. This kitchen within a kitchen (the pantry is often behind the kitchen with sliding panels between the two spaces) includes bench space, sink and all of your food to allow you to take care of food prep and clean up away from your main kitchen. Michael says this is particularly good for people who entertain regularly. Pantry overhaul If you don’t have the space for a butler’s pantry, spend time getting the design of your pantry right to ensure you don’t suffer the problem of food hidden at the back and going off. Use large pull-out

inner drawers to bring the food to you. And don’t forget lighting to ensure you can see what you have in the pantry – sensor lights are particularly good for pantries, where you often have your hands full. drawers to the rescue Michael says cabinetry drawers containing everything from food to plates to pots and pans are now an important part of the modern kitchen. You can even get hands-free (electronic) drawer systems. He says pivoting drawers to replace awkward corner cupboard shelves are particularly helpful, such as Blum’s Space Corner product. “The furthest section of the deep corner cabinet arrives at your fingertips with this ingenious drawer system,” he says. “Another great idea is utilising the space under your sink with a pull out which fits around the bowl and waste pipes.” Laundries and studies Similar ideas can be used in laundries and studies to create storage space. Cupboards with foldout ironing boards and drawer systems to sort dirty clothes are all about making life easier. And a different drawer for each family member in the study can keep items organised and life peaceful. “You should tailor storage solutions around your life and your needs, and pay particular attention to the busy working areas of the home. If you do it right when you’re building or renovating you’ll thank yourself for years to come,” Michael says.

Image courtesy of Blum.

Kitchen facts Key features: Lazy susan corner cupboard, kitchen drawers, tiled splashback, 40mm benchtop. Style: Traditional. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

Andrew and Stephanie Warwick.

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Andrew and Stephanie Warwick have lived in this leafy Toorak Gardens home for 42 years. They recently updated their kitchen and matching style with their older home was vital.

ipping on a warm cup of tea at their old wooden table with a newspaper in hand is how retired couple Andrew and Stephanie Warwick like to spend each morning. The kettle boils, the cupboard door that hides away the appliances slides up and the hot water is poured. But it wasn’t always this simple. “For 40 years I would get the kettle out of the cupboard, put it on the bench, make my cup of tea and put it back in the cupboard. This was several times a day!” Andrew says. Since their new kitchen was installed by Farquhar Kitchen Centre a year ago, everything has become much more convenient. “Our kitchen works so well for us in terms of being user friendly,” Stephanie says. A lazy susan in the corner cupboard makes access to saucepans, woks and frying pans easy, while a touch light helps late at night. “I love this because now I can find my way to the fridge when I’m hungry at 2am,” Andrew laughs. And the established kitchen zones help with the flow of everyday life. “Everything we want and need is in it’s rightful place,” Stephanie says. For example, the microwave, oven and cutlery used for food preparation is all in the cooking zone. “This keeps things organised when I’m baking biscuits with the grandchildren,” she laughs. Glasses are located in a drawer near the fridge, crockery is next to the dishwasher and the tea and coffee making area is within easy reach. While the pair admire the mod cons of their renovation, they’ve made sure that the kitchen retains a classic and country feel. This was inspired by Stephanie’s Country Home Ideas subscription. Andrew and Stephanie couldn’t be happier. “We wanted a fresh and modern kitchen that kept in style with the old home and that’s exactly what we got,” Andrews says. A crisp white colour scheme, touches of stainless steel, tiled splashback and a Ceaserstone benchtop have added a modern edge. And the couple has added their own stamp. “I’ve collected china cutlery over time and I wasn’t sure how they’d fit into the new kitchen,” Stephanie says. “But I’m very happy with how they look in the glass fronted cabinets. And these personal things make it feel like a real home.”

Mark Farquhar at the KT3 factory.

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farQuhar faCtorY

It’s the manufacturing arm behind the Farquhar brand and production manager Mark Farquhar says at the factory, success is all about the people.

ince the first cabinets were made by Dudley Farquhar in 1978, the Farquhar family has been striving for excellence. And when they opened the doors to their new Lonsdale factory in 2004, a major manufacturing goal was achieved. The new factory, known as KT3 – Kitchens to the Trade, took the place of smaller operations in Marleston and Hindmarsh. This is the place where quality kitchens are made for the Farquhar group of companies: Kitchens By Farquhar, Farquhar Kitchen Centre and U-Install-It Kitchens. A down to earth Mark Farquhar is the man in charge of the Lonsdale factory. Mark’s the third generation of Farquhar kitchen craftsmen, and he says it’s the people in the factory who are behind the company’s success The new factory, set on 8,000 square metres, is responsible for quality cabinets, laminate benchtops, thermo and laminate doors – about 20 kitchens are built each day. There are 110 workers at the factory and some have been there for more than 20 years. Mark says that many of the employees are like family. “They’re a really great bunch of people,” Mark says. “One day I was in my office and I could hear eight of our workers laughing in the boardroon. They were learning sign language so that they could communicate better with two fellow workers who are hearing impaired. There’s a lot of extra effort, friendship and loyalty here.” This is proving to be the difference in a difficult manufacuring market which is being dominated by cheap foreign-made products. “We want to stay local and take them on,” Mark says. “That’s our

key point of difference – our quality local products, our people and our service.” Over the years the Farquhar family has invested in new software, technology and machinery to allow them to push the boundaries of kitchen design and manufacture, developing methods of production that are at the cutting edge of the industry. And a focus on innovation allowed them to re-launch their DIY kitchen brand U-Install-It Kitchens in 2009, 30 years after it all began, to tackle the cheap imports head on. “We launched U-Install-It to cater for the growing DIY kitchen market,” says Darren Farquhar, Mark’s brother and the marketing brains behind the Farquhar group. “We cater to the home handyperson and DIY renovator by providing a complete kitchen product range. People are getting Farquhar quality at a really competitive price, and it’s made right here in South Australia.” Brand South Australia CEO Karen Raffen says the Farquhar family should be proud of its long and successful history in South Australia. “We have world-class manufacturing capabilities in this State and when we buy something South Australian, we put money back into the State’s economy, helping create and retain jobs in this State now and for future generations,” she says. Darren says many clients are surprised by the affordability of Farquhar kitchens. “And many of our customers feel reassured by the fact that we’re local,” he says. “They know they can trust the quality, the service and the support. We have experienced and qualified staff using the latest technologies for manufacturing and design, right here in South Australia, and we’re really proud of that.”

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farquhar KITCHEN MAGAZINE

Join us for a sneak peek into a truly spectacular Adelaide kitchen. Radio announcer and Farquhar brand ambassador Ali Clarke takes us on a guided tour of this beachside home. See how the linear lines exaggerate height and space, while the mix of high-gloss and wood grain door and drawers and the cantilever (over-hanging) bench top shine in this stunning setting.

Scott, Michel and Jack, with their dog Scooter.

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ali Clarke Radio host and mum from North Adelaide

Lisa Bondarenko 38-year-old counsellor from warradale

Penny Connel 40-year-old administration professional from Forrestville

I wanted plenty of storage space and this kitchen is so well designed that I actually have empty drawers and cupboards. I love the overhead cupboards and the mini kitchen behind our kitchen that allows me to hide away mess when we have friends around.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow trends. Just like fashion, trends in kitchens come and go, especially colour trends such as bright splashbacks. So go with your gut and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be too influenced by what you see on shows like The Block!

Start off with a basic idea and then do some research online and in magazines to get some inspiration. We had an idea in our head but we did our research which helped us to get a feel for what we wanted in our kitchen. When looking at the features, you should think about what you already have, and accommodate those needs. Figure out ways to create space.

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Planning a kitchen? Here are some great tips from South Australians who have recently designed their new spaces...

Sarah Packer 40-year-old stay at home mum from Mylor

andrew Warwick 72-year-old retiree from Toorak Gardens

aletta van der Westhuizer 45-year-old from Fulham Gardens

andrew antony 45-year-old engineer from Hawthorn

Don’t take your husband shopping. Because the bottom line is they don’t do as much of the domestic work, so for them it’s all about appearance. It has to be functional and if I’m the one in here doing the cooking and cleaning, I want it to be easy.

Have a vision and goal of what you want to achieve and don’t forget it. To us, that was everything. After all, a good kitchen adds value and appeal to a home.

Make it an area where the family feels comfortable. The kitchen doesn’t just serve a purpose for cooking and cleaning. It’s where you’ll often entertain your family and friends, so you should take the time to plan and create a comfortable and relaxing environment.

Surf the net for inspiration. Do your research by looking through open houses online. Realestate. com.au is a good one because you’re able to see about 50 houses each week. You can look through different colour schemes and various styles of kitchens.

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Cathy Farquhar.

he modern family spends more time in the kitchen than generations before, and kitchen designs have changed in response. Hundreds of ideas are on display at the two Farquhar showrooms – Farquhar Kitchen Centre on Magill Road and Kitchens By Farquhar on Marion Road – from quirky storage solutions to stunning cabinetry and everything in between. Farquhar co-owner Cathy Farquhar says kitchen styles and trends have come a long way in the past 10 years, and so has the technology used to design each individual kitchen. “The showrooms feature a huge variety of designs and finishes that help people make choices about the type of kitchen that’s right for their lifestyle and style of home,” Cathy says. “We suggest spending a good amount of time wandering around the displays, pulling out drawers, opening cabinets and considering colours. Being

able to touch and feel the kitchens is so important. We constantly update our kitchens on display to represent developing kitchen trends, as well as showcasing the best new products.” Farquhar kitchen designers work with customers in a dedicated design area to bring their ideas to life, using large LCD TVs for 3D visualisation. “During your appointment, your designer will advise and guide you through the various options for room layout, materials and colour selections. Our designers are kept up to date with the latest products as they come onto the market – in fact, we’re often able to source a product before it becomes available anywhere else,” Cathy says. To find out more about kitchen design visit www.kitchensbyfarquhar.com.au and www.farquharkitchencentre.com.au

bring the best of european quality to your home • www.euroappliances.com.au • 1800 440 335

Kitchen facts Key features: Stone benchtop, corner drawers, dark splashback. Style: Contemporary. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

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The life of a modern family can be one huge chase. The Antony family is no different but their kitchen gives them a space to catch up.

Andrew, Jacki, Daniel (16), Madison (13) and Josh (10) with dog Tilly.

ndrew arrives home early from his job as an engineer just as Jacki puts the finishing touches on a fruit platter before getting the roast chicken dinner underway. “This is our one night a week where we’re actually all home to enjoy a meal together,” Jacki says. “In between the kids netball, soccer and piano and with Andrew’s work we’re a very busy family.” Their new Farquhar kitchen is practical for their lifestyle. “Having our large stone benchtop and stools is fantastic because people are coming and going all the time,” Jacki says. But today we catch them taking time out to enjoy some treats, on what Andrew considers the main feature of this Hawthorn villa. “This stone bench is very much a focal point of the house,” Andrew says. “It’s improved the entire room.” In this open plan living space, the look is contemporary. “We wanted a clean and fresh look,” Andrew says. “But Jacki struggles with colours, so Farquhar Kitchens were very supportive when it came to design and colour selection.” Jacki is quick to explain: “I’m more of a neutral person which is why we’ve gone for a crème brulee benchtop.” The couple wanted lighter colours with some variations, so this was the best option for them. The down lights focus on the slightly darker splashback of the kitchen. And in terms of dimensions, there’s plenty of of storage for a growing family and everything is in its right place. The coffee machine, an important inclusion for Andrew, is stored away next to the fridge and the sink looks out onto the old style window frames, exactly where Jacki envisaged. And the entire family is able to use the kitchen at the same time. “I love the fact that it has separate work areas so we’re not tripping over one another,” Jacki says. The family inherited a kitchen with the house they bought, but it wasn’t ideal. “We decided on a kitchen we wanted, so we could get the use out of it while the kids are still relatively young,” Jacki explans. And although they’re in and out and living their own busy lives, it suits this modern day family as they cherish the years they have with the kids at home. “It’s important for us to spend as much time as we can together,” Andrew says happily. “We can really catch up here and maintain a family unit in this kitchen.”

Kitchen facts Key features: Lowered extension table attached to island benchtop. Style: Classic. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

Lisa Bondarenko with her baby son Jack.

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Miracles do happen and Jack Bondarenko is living proof. After eight years of heartache, Lisa and Serge welcomed their son Jack. It’s led to big changes in their Warradale home.

“

t’s a dream come true for us and we never thought we’d get here,” Lisa Bondarenko says proudly, as she gazes down at her six month old son Jack. Lisa and her husband Serge battled fertility issues for eight years. “We were dealing with unbearable grief and a medical system that said to find another dream. It made our journey hard,” she says. But Lisa and Serge defied the odds and welcomed Jack into their lives this year. While Lisa prepares dinner, Jack bounces around in his Jolly Jumper, attached to the pantry door-frame. “It’s perfect because when I’m cooking he has a lovely jump,” Lisa laughs. And as Lisa and Serge eat, Jack sits with them in his bouncer on the kitchen’s distinct dining setting. “We wanted something a bit edgy, so when people walk in they go wow!” Lisa says. Their lowered extension table is attached to the main kitchen island, and the couple realised it was a bold statement to make. “I remember the day they were putting it in, I walked in with my eyes closed,” Lisa says. “But I absolutely love it now because it’s different.”

It suits the couple’s style of entertaining, which leans towards casual Spanish tapas around the island and table. “That’s how we entertain – we never do massive meals because we love experimenting with tapas,” Lisa says. The island bench is perfect for this – there’s no sink to avoid when passing plates down the table. Lisa also admits she doesn’t like mess, which is why everything is hidden in her kitchen. The fridge, kettle and bin are tucked away neatly in the pantry. This creates space and structure. The prep-zone is clear and the push-catch drawers and cupboards are impressively organised. Nestled among it all are two eye-catching features. “Our 900mm gas and oven cook-top and the integrated dishwasher distinguishes the working zones,” Lisa says. But it’s the richly-toned colour scheme that sets this kitchen apart. “It’s smart, classic and it’s never going to date,” Lisa says. After building four other houses, this is a more permanent resting place for the family, and they’re happy to settle. “We wanted it to be a functional kitchen, but also warm and inviting,”Lisa says. “This room is the pulse of our family.”

Kitchen facts Key features: Dark charcoal colours, tinted glass splashback, soft closing drawers, butlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pantry. Style: Classic. Kitchen design and installation by Farquhar.

Tertius and Aletta Westhuizen.

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Any time is a good time to entertain for the van der Westhuizens, who host visitors from around the globe in their modern kitchen.

he sea of crowds flowing through this kitchen is diverse. There are domestic visitors and guests from further abroad. Tertius and Aletta van der Westhuizen entertain with cheese, crackers and a glass of wine. “Any time is a good time for wine,” Tertius laughs. Tertius, Aletta and their children Andro and Janke moved to Australia from South Africa in 2001. “I came over as a technical advisor for the wine production,” Tertius says. “I drink it for enjoyment and for work.” He’s managing director of an international wine company and plays host to interstate and international colleagues and clients. And Aletta thoroughly enjoys the role of hostess. “We do get a range of visitors and it’s great,” smiles Aletta. Their brand new Fulham Gardens home was completed in January this year. “Because it’s a modern house we wanted a modern kitchen,”Aletta says, “so we went with some darker charcoal colours.” The tinted glass splashback on the back wall and under the bench shows off this fresh style. “It gives the room a lot of depth,” Tertius says. “But it shines everywhere, so for a camera-guy it’s a nightmare!” The stainless steel, soft closing drawers give the kitchen an industrial edge, and they are ideal for storage and convenience. “It’s a lot easier to get things out of drawers than shelves,” Aletta says. Aletta and Tertius went for push-catch drawers in their butler’s pantry, which is a mini-kitchen within the kitchen with its own sink, microwave and benchspace – perfect for people who enjoy entertaining. “Our house in South Africa had a separate pantry away from the kitchen and I’ve always liked that because I don’t like dishes hanging around,” Aletta explains. “When we’re entertaining international clients, it’s nice to be able to store things in there out of sight rather than leaving them in the open.” Tertius says this relatively new trend in Australia will grow. “It’s becoming popular in Australia now because you can prepare food in the pantry and it doesn’t create clutter on the stone benchtop,” he says. “That’s important for us because the kitchen is where we do most of our entertaining.” Visitors enjoy an international touch – an artwork on the kitchen wall that shows a colourful scene of a couple cycling along a food and wine route in Cape Town. “I love that canvas because food, wine and South Africa all feature,” Aletta smiles. “And there’s a hint of Table Mountain in the background, which is a lovely reminder.”

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Here are some fantastic products and ideas to bring your kitchen to life...

How beautiful is the Om air extractor from Elica? The Om comes in black or white glass with a three-speed electronic touch screen, a metal washable grease filter and many more features. Check out the range at www.elica.com.au

Sometimes all that divides the passionate amateur from the professional is the workspace. The Oliveri Professional Series hand fabricated sinks feature large capacity bowls for soaking a feast of baking dishes and oven trays. The 1.5mm brushed stainless steel provides a low profile edge and creates a streamlined look that integrates with modern kitchen appliances. www.oliverisinks.com

If you want the coolest in stools, check out the Tolix range, available online and from only the edgiest homeware and furniture retailers. You can also buy replica Tolix chairs and stools online. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be sure to get people talking.

If you want to add some character to your kitchen, pop into Gallimorgans in Unley and have a look at their range of unique furniture and decor, such as this fantastic antique gumball dispenser. Check out the range at www.facebook.com/Gallimorgans

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Eco Tile Factory is a market leader in the supply of bespoke, heritage, contemporary and tessellated tiles and stone products, and sources products that support the future of our planet. Ideal for adding a splash of colour and texture to commercial or residential projects, the Moroccan tiles shown come in patterned finishes and single shades. The tiles are designed by an artist and are made using traditional methods. They are yet another Eco Tile Factory exclusive. www.ecotilefactory.com.au

Drum roll… the very latest oven from Smeg has a never-before-seen full colour touch-me LED display and a groundbreaking cooking system that advises the best temperature, shelf height and cooking time for 50 recipe types. Head to Smeg’s Adelaide showroom to see the new Linear SFPA140 multifunction oven or visit www.smeg. com.au for details.

We love this Directors Table Lamp from Larder, a company established in 2012 by Nicole and Dru Reschke who were struggling to find elegant, lightweight durable homewares at affordable prices. Check them out at www.larder.com.au

The Evolution range is a collection of Polytec’s leading and most innovative products such as Createc. Evolution is designed to bring the latest colours and finishes to cabinetry. Its ultra-high gloss surface delivers sharp lines and a polished, sophisticated finish.

seCond drawer down

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hat do you keep in your second drawer down or, as we here at FKM like to call it, the ‘junk drawer’? We asked some Adelaide homeowers open up their second drawers and the results are in: sunnies are what most of us have no other home for…

Stephanie Warwick My drawer of shame has disappeared since installing our new kitchen. But we do have a drawer for our sticky tape, string, pins, blue tack and toothpicks.

Scott Connel It’s a ‘dump everything in there and then tidy it every few months’ type of storage spot! So there’s paperwork, rulers, spare envelopes, kids’ USBs, fluro pens, sunnies and tape-measures. I don’t like a dumping draw though!

Lisa Bondarenko It’s full those of things I don’t know what else to do with. Our tea towels, sticky tape, recipe books and some nuts and bolts.

ali Clarke Whenever we’re looking for something, we know it’ll probably be in our junk drawer. There are sunglasses, textas, keys, tissues, spare change, sticky tape, hair bands, stamps, batteries, a tape measure, screwdrivers, glitter, sequins and random plastic things! Sarah Packer Every house has to have a junk draw and mine’s very interesting. It has keys, sunscreen, sunglasses, secateurs, tap fittings, batteries, nail polish, a hair brush, phone covers, cards, footy guards and some ear drops.

jacki antony It’s our last minute tidy-up drawer. So there’s the stationary, pens, glue sticks, highlighters and USBs, documents, letters, nail files and hand cream. aletta van der Westhuizer I know the junk drawer! It’s where we keep all of the manuals and intructions, spare keys, handcreams, scissors and even a pair of gloves. Lynne Barrat it’s our utensil drawer. It’s where we keep our wooden spoons, ladles, tongs, whisks, can openers, a potato masher and a knife sharpener.