Author: Ikon Marketing

Top Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sink

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SInks are a hotbed of activity in any kitchen. Consider both the height and depth of the sink to give optimal accessibility and functionality.

Ikon has a wide range of configurations, combinations and materials when it comes to choosing a new sink. Here are some points to consider:

Size of your kitchen

If you have a small or extremely large kitchen, make sure your kitchen sink matches. If you have a large sink in a small space, the human eye will head directly to the sink instead of seeing the kitchen as a whole. Or if you have a large kitchen and you place a small sink in that space you will achieve the same result.

Design of your kitchen

From a country theme kitchen or a modern kitchen the sink can influence the overall look of the kitchen. Colours also play an important factor in the overall cohesive design you are wanting to achieve. Going with a black and white theme, and by using a black or white sink reinforces the look. If you have a lot of stainless steel appliances that are forefront and make a statement in your kitchen a stainless sink is more appropriate.

Benchtop material

Solid Surface
Solid surface benchtops are the most versatile option for mounting your sink and is the preferred option for under mounting (where the sink is fixed under the benchtop).

Laminate
If you have chosen a laminate benchtop and wish to under mount we recommend asking your fabricator for an Ikon sink collar as most fabricators will now refuse to under mount sinks into laminate (as laminate is extremely thin) and if they do, they don’t tend of offer a warranty. These collars enable the sink to be mounted below the laminate surface, providing a smooth transition between sink and benchtop. The resulting finish adds a streamlined, contemporary appearance to your work surfaces.

Stainless Steel
If you have chosen a stainless steel benchtop then we recommend any handmade sink as they are 1.2mm thick (stainless fabricators prefer thicker material). This gives the appearance of your sink and benchtop as one complete unit, although most of our range (except Dakota) can be welded.

Dimensions of Your Cabinet

If you only have a 60cm cabinet under your sink then you are limited to a single bowl or single bowl and drainer. It is very difficult to put a double sink into that space. It is important you discuss this with your kitchen designer to make sure that once designed this does not affect your choice of sink, especially if you are looking at two bowls in your sink.

How You Currently Use Your Sink

Changing the layout of your existing sink will require a behaviour change while you work in the kitchen. If you are used to a double bowl and you then go to a single bowl, without a waste disposal then it could be slightly frustrating for you, so make sure that extra thought is given if reducing in size or quantity.

Spend some time with your kitchen designer to discuss the kitchen sink. People spend thousands of dollars and hours researching their benchtop but spend very little time discussing and researching the kitchen sink yet we spend just as much time, if not more, at our sink than we do working on our benchtop.

The team of designers and engineers at Ikon are guided by four key concepts: Reliability, Performance, Function and Style. Our sinks are built to last a lifetime. All our products undergo rigorous stress and safety testing in working kitchens before they are added to our range. No product leaves our premises before passing our strict quality control, including not only checks on finish quality but equally important on functionality. We believe in superior after sales support. Should anything go wrong with your product, be assured that our nationwide network of fully trained service technicians are there to help.

Some of our best sellers:

TESTIMONIAL: Kleenmaid & Ikon blend seamlessly

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Lady Judi Gallagher’s Whangamata property

Customer Testimonial: Hamilton’s best kept secret

When Huntly Joinery sent Lady Judi Gallagher to have a look at our sink range for her latest project, a new kitchen for her Whangamata beach house, she had never heard of Ikon before, let alone of the Kleenmaid appliance brand.

Lady Judi Gallagher, an architectural designer herself, has an eye for detail and knows exactly what she wants. Having been the architect of her private residence, a French-style chateau by the Hamilton lake, for which Lady Judi sourced the best products from around the world, down to the monkey tail window catches from England, is living proof of this. “I plan where every knife and fork goes, everything needs to meet my requirements,” Lady Judi says.

At the time when first visiting our showroom in Hamilton, she had been seriously looking at other appliance brands. “I was researching and comparing every brand on the market but the moment I walked into your showroom, there was no competition for the others. You are truly Hamilton’s best kept secret,” Lady Judi says.

On Lady Judi’s shopping list were; two built-in ovens, a generously sized steam oven, a compact induction cooktop and a silent rangehood. Some of her key considerations were quality, functionality, size and a streamlined, integrated look to complement her minimalist Italian kitchen design.

A few visits later, she walked out, purchasing not only two Sink Stations but also a range of Kleenmaid and Ikon appliances: a Power Pack rangehood, an Induction Cooktop, K-Touch Hydrolytic Convection & Steam Oven, 90cm built-in Multifunction Oven and a built-in Vacuum Cassette.

When asking her six months later which her favourite appliance is, she is quick to point out the Kleenmaid steam oven. “I love the hydrolytic steam oven – it is bigger than the average steam oven on the market which is important when you’re entertaining 20 – 30 guests at a time. Veggies, but also meat, come out beautifully tender and the hydrolytic self-cleaning function makes it so easy to clean. But most importantly, I find the Kleemaid appliances to be easy to use, well made and good looking,” she says.

She also finds the vacuum cassette, that is built-into the toe kick, very useful and handy and she points out that the concealed Power Pack rangehood is very quiet and allows for plenty of storage space around it which was an important consideration for Lady Judi when choosing products for her kitchen.

“Ikon staff has been wonderful and welcoming throughout the whole process, a huge eyeopener. I couldn’t recommend them more,” Lady Judi praises.

  • Sink station
  • Sink Station
  • Power pack
  • Kleenmaid ovens

PRODUCTS SHOWCASED IN THIS ARTICLE:

Discover more about the Kleenmaid range

CASE STUDY: Living Design & Flow-In. Townhouse on Cleveland

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Flawless integration of the induction hob and hood with Flow-In

Clean lines and maximising space are two kitchen design requirements that interior designer, Annett Todt, from Living Design is often briefed with.

“The owners were asking for style and functionality for the upgrade of the kitchen in their townhouse rental property. The overall approach was for clean lines, functionality and maximising space.”

Annett chose Acrymatte fronts featuring a super smooth surface with advanced scratch resistance for higher durability, combined with the Art Oak veneer to add a sense of refined luxury to the design.

The use of integrated appliances allows for a seamless fit and customised finish and the flush mounted Flow-In 2-in-1 cooktop with integrated downdraft system enabled her to design without the need for a bulky rangehood and created space for additional storage instead.

“We love working with the Flow-In because it gives us the freedom to design kitchens to the new open plan living requirements of modern homes but also works well for small kitchens. With the advantage of the downdraft, the cooking can easily be done on the island facing towards the living room, where the family meets, and friends are entertained. This is what makes the kitchen the heart of a home,” Annett says.

The Flow-In solves the challenge of extraction on kitchen islands where it is impossible to use traditional or even built-in rangehoods and works well for kitchenettes and smaller kitchen spaces as the 520mm cooktop is perfectly adaptable to the standard depth of a 600mm countertop. The compact unit provides more space in the cabinet underneath the cooktop to maximise storage.

The hood extractor cover is easy to remove and provides direct access to the stainless-steel filter. It can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

The Flow-In is equipped with an innovative motor base which is energy-efficient as well as having an external motor option to minimise noise.

  • From ‘Townhouse on Cleveland’ project
  • Flow-in (stock photo)
  • Flow in (stock photo)
  • Living Design & Flow-in.
  • Living Design, Flow-in & Ikon sink

FLOW-IN’S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE