Tag: kitchen design

Wall of integrated Smeg ovens in timber cabinetry with a marble splashback at the Smeg Sydney showroom

Smeg’s new Musa range, and what it means for your kitchen

Written by isoadmin on 18 August 2026. Posted in Custom Homes, News. No Comments on Smeg’s new Musa range, and what it means for your kitchen

Every custom home reaches a point where the conversation turns to the kitchen, and within about ten minutes of that, it turns to appliances. So when one of our supplier partners shows something genuinely new, it is worth paying attention.

Smeg has just unveiled a run of new products at Eurocucina in Milan, and the one we are watching most closely is Musa.

What Musa actually is

Musa is a new aesthetic collection for integrated appliances, developed with the Italian design studio BorromeodeSilva. It covers ovens, induction cooktops and rangehoods, which is to say the three appliances that do the most to set the tone of a kitchen.

The design language is built on rounded graphics, material geometry, and a deliberate contrast between glossy and matt finishes. Smeg has designed it to integrate into any kitchen style rather than committing you to one look, which is unusual for a range with this much personality.

That last point is the one that matters to us. A lot of appliance ranges quietly dictate the rest of the room. A collection that reads as considered without forcing a whole aesthetic is far easier to work into a home built around how a family actually lives.

The rest of what Smeg showed

Musa was not the only thing announced. Also unveiled:

Isola, an induction cooktop line developed with Stefano Boeri Interiors, which has already picked up a Design Intelligence Award and an iF Design Award.
Portofino rangehoods and freestanding cookers, now available in a matte finish.
FAB refrigerators in a new Moonlight colour.
An electric barbecue range for indoor and outdoor use.
A Porsche collaboration, in three colour collections including 917 Salzburg and Carrara White.

The electric barbecue is the sleeper of that list for Australian homes. Outdoor living is not a nice-to-have here, and an appliance designed to work both inside and out solves a problem we design around constantly.

Our whole network has had hands on it

This was not one person at a trade stand. We held our national meeting at Smeg’s new Sydney showroom, so builders from every location we operate in got to use the new ranges before they reach the market. Managing Director Matt Jackson took the Porsche collaboration for a spin while he was there, fridge included.

Managing Director Matt Jackson and Andrew Howard of David Reid Homes New England standing in front of a row of Smeg range cookers in green, white, red, blue and stainless with matching rangehoods — Managing Director Matt Jackson with Andrew Howard of David Reid Homes New England, at Smeg’s Sydney showroom.

Seeing appliances in a showroom is a different exercise to seeing them in a brochure. Finishes read differently under real light. Door weight, handle feel, how a drawer runs and how a seal closes are things you can only judge with your hands on them. It is the same reason we send clients to look and touch before they sign off a selection, rather than choosing from a spec sheet.

The practical upshot is that when you sit down with your local David Reid Homes builder to talk appliances, you are talking to someone who has used them, not someone reading you a brochure.

Why a builder cares about an appliance launch

Appliances are one of the earliest decisions with the longest tail. The oven you choose determines cabinetry dimensions. The cooktop determines benchtop cutouts and, if it is induction, your electrical load. The rangehood determines ducting, which determines ceiling and roof detailing above it. Get those settled early and the build runs smoothly. Leave them late and you are reworking joinery that was already made.

This is why we specify Smeg across our inclusions rather than leaving appliances as a loose end. Smeg is one of our national supplier partnerships, and their commercial team supports selections for individual builds, so the choice made at the design table is the one that arrives on site.

When can you get it

Honestly, we do not know yet. Smeg has not published Australian availability for Musa, and we are in conversation with them about release timing. We would rather tell you that than guess at a date you might plan a kitchen around.

What we can say is that when it does land, our builders will know about it, and it will be available to specify in a David Reid Homes build.

Planning a kitchen

If you are at the stage where appliances are becoming real decisions rather than mood board images, that is exactly the right time to talk to a builder. Have a look at how kitchens come together across our completed home gallery, or talk to your local David Reid Homes builder about what will work for the way you cook.

Timber in home design: where it works brilliantly, and where it costs you later

Written by isoadmin on 17 August 2026. Posted in Custom Homes, News. No Comments on Timber in home design: where it works brilliantly, and where it costs you later

Timber is back on almost every mood board in Australia. Oak floors, feature walls, natural cabinetry, ceilings, benchtops. It is warm, it photographs beautifully and it is one of the most sustainable materials available. The catch is that timber in home design is not a single decision. It is a series of them, room by room, and the difference between a home that still looks superb in fifteen years and one that becomes a maintenance headache usually comes down to where the timber went, not whether it was used at all. Matt Jackson, Managing Director of David Reid Homes Australia, said timber offers significant advantages when used correctly. “Timber has stood the test of time for a reason,” Jackson said. “It is sustainable, versatile, energy efficient and creates a warmth and character that many modern materials simply cannot replicate. “However, homeowners need to understand that not all timber applications are equal. Where you use it matters.”

Why timber is back in Australian homes

Jackson said many Australians are moving away from cold, sterile interiors and embracing more natural finishes. “People want homes that feel welcoming, comfortable and connected to nature. Timber delivers that in a way very few materials can,” Jackson said. Beyond how it looks, timber earns its place on performance. “It acts as a natural insulator, helping regulate temperatures throughout the home, and it stores carbon, making it one of the most environmentally responsible building materials available,” Jackson added. “It is also lightweight, highly adaptable and suitable for everything from structural framing through to luxury finishes.”

Timber benchtops: beautiful, and harder work than people expect

Timber is increasingly showing up in kitchens, and Jackson said homeowners should understand the maintenance commitment before signing off on it. “Timber benchtops are beautiful and create a premium look, but kitchens are one of the harshest environments in a home,” he said. “Heat, moisture, food preparation, cleaning products and constant daily use all take a toll.” Without proper sealing and ongoing maintenance, timber surfaces can stain, swell, crack or deteriorate. “Many people fall in love with what they see on social media but don’t always understand what those surfaces look like after years of daily use,” Jackson said.

Timber flooring is not indestructible

Timber flooring remains one of the most requested features in new homes. “It instantly adds value and creates a timeless aesthetic but homeowners also need to be realistic,” Jackson said. Pet claws, furniture movement, children’s toys and everyday wear all leave marks. “Timber floors develop character over time, but not everyone appreciates scratches and dents once they start appearing. I have seen quite a bit of damage done to wooden floors by dog paws and kids toys and the only way to fix it is to sand the whole lot back again which is costly,” Jackson said. He said households with large pets or young children should carefully assess whether traditional timber flooring is the best fit.

Moisture is timber’s biggest enemy

Bathrooms, laundries and wet areas are where homeowners most often run into trouble. “Wood and moisture have never been close friends,” he said. “If timber products are not properly selected, treated and maintained, moisture can cause swelling, warping and long-term damage.” The same applies to cabinetry and joinery located near sinks, dishwashers and wet zones. “People often focus on appearance but forget about functionality.”

Solid, engineered or manufactured: they are not the same product

Jackson said many buyers assume all timber products perform similarly. They do not. “There is a huge difference between solid timber, engineered timber and various manufactured products,” he said. “The right choice depends on how the space will be used and what level of maintenance the homeowner is prepared to undertake.”

When a timber alternative is the smarter call

As demand for the timber look grows, many homeowners are turning to alternatives that hold the aesthetic and improve durability. Hybrid flooring has become particularly popular. “It delivers the appearance of timber while being completely waterproof and highly resistant to wear and tear,” Jackson said. Laminate flooring also continues to improve. “Modern laminate products can look remarkably realistic and offer excellent durability at a lower price point,” he said. “Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is another increasingly common choice. It is waterproof, hardwearing and ideal for busy family homes where practicality is a priority.”

Design for year ten, not for handover day

Jackson believes the best homes balance design aspirations with real-world living. “We always encourage homeowners to think beyond what looks good on the day they move in,” he said. “You need to consider how the materials will perform five, ten and even twenty years down the track. Timber should not be avoided, far from it. It remains one of the best building materials available and we are seeing it becoming more popular. “The key is understanding where it will perform brilliantly and where an alternative product may be a smarter long-term choice.” His advice is simple. “Choose materials based on how your family actually lives, not just what is trending online,” he said. “When timber is used thoughtfully, it can create some of the most beautiful homes imaginable but when it is used in the wrong place, it can become one of the most expensive maintenance headaches a homeowner will face.”

Getting the material choices right

Material selection is one of the areas where building a custom home pays off, because every choice is made against your household rather than a standard inclusions list. See how finishes come together across our completed home gallery, or talk to your local David Reid Homes builder about what will still look right in ten years.

House Plans