CGC1513212
Kitchens
Many of my clients are considering a new kitchen. It is the Number 1 most requested project. Most people think their kitchen is outdated from the looks of their worn cabinets, dated appliances and old faded countertops.
Kitchens are really the centerpiece of the home. Whether you are a single resident, a loving couple young or elder, or a bursting family with kids in every corner, your life revolves around your kitchen. Why not make the space as unique as you and your family?
Kitchens are no longer the hidden room in the house. Years ago, homes were designed with kitchens tucked away. The cooking was done before the guests arrived. The cleaning was done after the guests left. But today that is all different. Today we have Living Kitchens! We entertain in the kitchen. We invite guests to bring a dish... but cook it here! We enjoy a glass of wine while tasting the chef's creations. The party revolves around the kitchen. So why not make your kitchen something to party about?
The kitchen can easily be called the most important room in the house. It is likely that during waking hours, someone in your home is almost always in the kitchen... some even during sleeping hours! It is not just the place where food is simply prepared. It has evolved into a multi-functional space that serves as the heart and soul of your home. You do not have to have the biggest kitchen on the block or even the most expensive kitchen to make the best kitchen for you and your family. It simply needs to reflect your lifestyle and accommodate your unique needs. You will have specific ideas about what type of cooking is best for you; what type of work space you will require; will you have places to sit inside the kitchen, just outside the kitchen looking in, or both. What type of storage needs do you have, for pots and pans, accessories, small appliances, food? Do you need a separate walk-in pantry? Many factors play into your kitchen design.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) offers the following tips to help you evaluate the current condition of your kitchen and decide if you should remodel.
Tip #1. Adequate space: Are you satisfied with the amount of counter space, cabinet space and floor space in your kitchen? The position of your refrigerator or shape of your counter may be taking away useful workspace. You need to have enough counter space to accommodate all basic uses, including landing area, preparation/work area and storage. Most of our clients want MORE counter space. older kitchens were designed with trapped corners, low levels of work light, limited space adjacent to the sink, and all but NO space adjacent to the cooking surface. Let us help you design your home with enough space to work efficiently.
Deciding to Remodel your Kitchen is a major undertaking. There are a significant number of decisions that must be made before you can even begin, and even more choices during the construction. Having a Design Builder to help you along in the process is invaluable. One of the most difficult ideas to grasp is the fact that you do not have to be married to your existing layout. We can change anything about the existing footprint including window and door locations, overall size, wall openings, appliance placement, plumbing, electric, gas locations, cabinet heights and colors and styles, or even the overall shape of the room. We can help you prioritize the theme or style of your next kitchen. Will you focus on gourmet kitchen design specifically for the foodie in you? Or would you be better served with a kitchen designed specifically to be family friendly? How about an entertaining kitchen with spaces design specifically for point of use appliances? Whatever your lifestyle, we can help you design a kitchen space as unique as you and your family.
Tip #2. Traffic flow: If there is more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main workspace. If you enjoy entertaining, you may want an open plan kitchen that allows for more social interaction between the kitchen and other rooms. A family with lots of children may want to add space for Christmas baking, or why not start a new tradition of cooking together once a week? Let us help you design your kitchen and get the flow of traffic under control in your home!
Tip #3. Location: Thinking about adding a deck to the side or back of your house? Incorporating a door into the layout of your kitchen would be a great convenience for outdoor entertaining. You also may want to rearrange the position of windows to allow sunlight or to watch your children play in the yard.
Tip #4. Children: Depending on whether you have children, and their ages, your kitchen may need to be remodeled. Dated appliances and the design of your kitchen can be hazardous for young kids. If you are in the process of extending your family, you may want more room for cooking larger meals and lower cabinets for easier access to children's food.
Tip #5. Efficiency: If your appliances are dated, they may be costing you more money than you expect. New technological advances with dishwashers, disposals and refrigerators could save you a considerable amount of money and may be well worth the investment.
Tip #6. Universal Design: Is your kitchen accessible to individuals with disabilities? Will you be able to use your kitchen safely as you get older? Considering these issues is vital in a kitchen remodel. Employing Universal Design techniques in the remodel will help assure that the space is as accessible to or useable by all people, regardless of age, size or physical ability without the need for adaptation or specialized design later.