No matter where you start gathering ideas for your kitchen, be it by looking at appliances or collecting photos, all kitchen designs will benefit from investing in some key items. The tools and appliances that do the work for us are what makes a kitchen really fly, yet no one is going to enjoy showing off an extractor fan or well designed drawers are they? It's a good vibe from the look and feel of the kitchen that we're seeking as well. 

As such a focal point of the home, Donna emphasises that a well designed kitchen can  increase how much you enjoy your home and also the resale value of a property. For these reasons she suggests engaging a kitchen design specialist, even if you are doing some of the work yourself. 

Everything aside, Donna says there always seems to be an obvious starting point for designing a space, often drawing inspiration from other items in the room or house.

If you're in New Zealand, read Donna's full article to find out how she turns household items into kitchen design inspiration. 

United Kingdom residents may find Donna's ideas on kitchen design useful as a starting point for their renovations.

If you're in Australia you can also see more on Donna's process for designing a kitchen.