Kitchen Week is one of the biggest weeks on The Block. This year's kitchen and butler's pantry reveals demonstrate that skylights can do much more than bring daylight into a room.
When considered as part of the wider architecture and interior design, they can support ventilation, thermal control and the flow of natural light through connected spaces – helping make the heart of the home brighter, more comfortable and more considered.
From bringing daylight and fresh air into the kitchen to illuminating enclosed butler's pantries and helping natural light penetrate deeper into the home, this week's reveals demonstrate the many ways skylights can contribute to the design of the heart of the home.
We asked Steph Ottavio, winner of The Block 2023, to explore the kitchen reveals alongside Carl, our VELUX skylight expert. Together, they look at how the teams have approached daylight, ventilation and the placement of skylights throughout some of the most important spaces in the home.
Houses 2 & 3: When natural light needs to work harder.
For The Block kitchens, skylights play an important role in bringing daylight in. House 2, positioned between Houses 1 and 3, particularly demonstrates the importance of looking upwards for natural light when neighbouring homes and screening as part of planning requirements limit opportunities for windows.
As homes are designed closer together, bringing daylight into the centre of the home can become increasingly challenging. Steph highlighted just how important the skylights are to the overall experience of the kitchen.
“I couldn't imagine how dark this space would be if we didn't have the skylights because we only have one vertical window and it's got screens.” – Steph
The importance of daylight is further amplified when working with darker cabinetry and finishes, like in House 3. In these spaces, bringing natural light from above can help balance the overall feel of the room.
House 2: Chantel & Wyatt
House 3: Lisa & Rosco
House 1: More than one way to design with light.
The kitchen reveals also demonstrate that there is no single approach to skylight placement. The configuration needs to respond to the architecture, layout and design intent of the room.
Adam & Jolene, in House 1’s Winning Kitchen is a great example of how a considered approach to the overall floorplan is critical. In House 1, the Skylights are positioned centrally within the room, directly above the island bench.
Houses 4 & 5: Bringing daylight and fresh air into the kitchen.
A kitchen has different requirements to many other rooms in the home. In addition to daylight, ventilation can also be an important consideration.
All 5 kitchens revealed this week demonstrate how opening skylights can contribute to both. VELUX opening skylights provide natural light, while also offering the opportunity to ventilate the kitchen from cooking fumes and for overall comfort. By additionally incorporating blinds, The Block kitchens provide an option for thermal control during hot summer days.
These specifications demonstrate that skylights can be selected not just for the daylight they provide, but for how they can contribute to the overall comfort and functionality of the kitchen.
House 4: Courtney & Sev
House 5: Rick & Tayla
House 2: Don't forget the butler's pantry!
Fixed VELUX skylights have been specified in the butler's pantries. This is particularly important in spaces that are enclosed or have limited connections to external windows.
In House 2, the skylight plays an even more important role. With no connection to the hallway, the butler's pantry would naturally be a darker space. The skylight introduces daylight from above, helping to make this functional workspace feel more connected to the rest of the home.
The result is a reminder that daylight shouldn't stop at the main kitchen. Even highly functional spaces can benefit from thoughtful consideration of natural light.
VELUX products featured this week on The Block
House 1
3 × VELUX VCS 4646 Opening Skylights with blinds
1 × VELUX FCM 2246 Fixed Skylight – Butler's Pantry
House 4
2 × VELUX VCS 2246 Opening Skylights with blinds
1 × VELUX FCM 2270 Fixed Skylight – Butler's Pantry
House 5
3 × VELUX VCS 4646 Opening Skylights with blinds
Discover how VELUX skylights can help transform your space with natural light, ventilation and greater privacy.