hane Delia – chef, TV presenter and owner of the acclaimed Melbourne restaurants Maha, Maha East and Biggie Smalls – knows a thing or two about hardworking kitchens.
Not only has Delia been working in commercial kitchens since his teens, he is currently designing his own dream kitchen at home, and recently collaborated with Fender Katsalidis Architects and Sora Interior Architecture and Design to create the kitchens in a new Prahran apartment development by Bensons Property Group, Anchor and Cecil.
Find out what Delia considers to be the three most important factors of any good quality kitchen.
1. Layout
A functional layout is key to ensuring a home kitchen is an enjoyable and convenient room to inhabit.
Bench space is a critical part of this equation. Surfaces should be as continuous as possible in order to prepare meals in the one, uninterrupted place.
“I like a lot of bench space, but I like workable bench space,” Delia says. “I like to make sure that there’s not heaps of other stuff on the bench, and that you’ve thought about where you’re putting the sinks so this doesn’t just chop up the bench in front of you.”
Think about how your bench space will be used when cooking as well as in a social setting. For example, a deep island bench may not only be used for prepping ingredients, but also as a casual seating area with stools placed around it.
Consider details such as ventilation and lighting to enhance the entertaining experience. Delia suggests looking into a high-quality exhaust fan, for example, and making sure power outlets are in convenient places for appliances.
2. Storage
Storage is crucial for keeping spaces clutter-free and enabling occasional appliances to be safely stored.
Exposed shelving is currently on trend, but Delia advises keeping large items like cookware in concealed areas.
“You want to make sure you’ve got enough room for your pots and pans, and the drawers are deep enough,” Delia says.
“I think those soft shutting drawers are really important. I’ve got them in my home now, and I’ve never had them prior, but I’ll never go into another house that doesn’t have them.”
New Prahran development Anchor and Cecil features apartments with a back-of-house style kitchen designed by Delia to hide mess and offer additional storage space for the keenest of home entertainers.
“Whether you’re in a smaller apartment or a larger one, friends and family is what it’s all about,” he says.
3. Quality
The best way to safeguard a kitchen from dating is to invest in quality – from the standard of appliances, right down to the joinery. Delia advises installing scratch and stain-proof surfaces where possible to ensure minimal wear and tear.
“You can’t put a price on good quality finishes. Especially in a showpiece kitchen that’s in view all the time like most houses and apartments are built now,” he says.
The standard of materials is paramount and something Delia has taken pride in selecting for Anchor and Cecil. Terrazzo bench tops are a standout feature in one of the available interior schemes.
Apartments in the development will also include appliances from Smeg’s new Dolce Stil Novo range that Delia uses in his own home.
Located just off Chapel Street, residents will have easy access to some of Melbourne’s top restaurants alongside a quality home kitchen of their own.
“The reason why kitchens are so important, especially in something like a food precinct, is because people that are moving into that area are foodies,” Delia says.
“We know the people who will be in that area would like to entertain.”
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