Electrical - General
Powerpoints in the cupboards Gone are the days of storing your toaster and kettle on the kitchen bench. The trend these days is to hide your appliances away in a cupboard. To this end, you need to ensure you plan for electric sockets to be installed inside your cupboards, so your appliances can actually be plugged in. I would suggest installing more than one double socket, as we are using more and more appliances these days. The humble toaster and kettle don’t cut it anymore – we have coffee machines, mix-masters and food processors. So install two double sockets so you can have all your appliances on the go!
Television If you are wanting to mount your television on the wall, a good rule of thumb for the height of your powerpoint is 1.2 metres. Then, whatever height you decide to hang your TV, it will cover the powerpoint. Consider installing more than a double socket, as you may want to use a separate DVD player and separate speakers. TIP: Online streaming is the way of the future, so install an internet cable next to the powerpoint for your TV.
In the kitchen In this day and age, the kitchen is arguably the most power-hungry room in the house. Food-processors, toasters, kettles, coffee-machines, dishwashers and fridges are all power-hungry devices! Think about where you want to store each of these items. Some will inevitably live on your kitchen bench and remain plugged in day-in and day-out, so ensure you install sockets beside the bench for these items. If you are keeping some appliances hidden in the pantry or in a drawer, remember to install a socket on the back of the pantry wall, or in the appliance drawer – that way you don’t have to move the appliances onto the kitchen bench every time you want to use them. TIP: If you are building a new kitchen, remind your electrician to install sockets for your dishwasher and fridge.
On the outside deck Us Aussies love entertaining outside, so don’t let a lack of powerpoints stop you from throwing a great barbecue! Install some outside powerpoints for extra mood lighting, music or speakers. Outside powerpoints are also needed for those colourful Christmas lights! So remember to install a couple more in time for the festive season.
Beside the couch The living room (and outdoor entertainment room) requires powerpoints for various reasons: plugging in the vacuum cleaner, the floor lamp, the iPad, or even the computer on those days your couch becomes your office. By installing sockets behind the couch at either end, they will not only prove to be very convenient, they will also be hidden from view. Because let’s face it, powerpoints are not the most attractive addition to your home. TIP: Try to position your powerpoints in the middle of the room. This means you won’t have to drag wires across the floor, or keep unplugging the vacuum cleaner and moving it to a different socket!
Hallways are often forgotten in the powerpoint planning session, as they don’t count as a room on the floorplan. However, it is still very handy to have a powerpoint in the hallway, particularly long ones, as your vacuum cleaner cord is unlikely to reach the whole length of it. TIP: Long hallways are often dark, so powerpoints can also be utilised for free-standing floor lamps to brighten up the space.
Pop-up power point Having an island bench is great in any kitchen. It creates a central hub for people to gather around and it also creates a big empty work space for you. Pop-up power points are an excellent way to incorporate power in your island. They sit flush with your benchtop when you are not using them and easily pop up out of the bench when you want to plug something in. They are available with varying amounts of power points, and some are even available with USB points, so you can plug your iPad in to read your recipes when you are cooking. Incorporating power points into your island bench is a great way to optimise the functionality of your island. This will allow you to plug in items such as mixers and blenders at your island, making for a more practical workspace.
Q