If the current design of your kitchen is starting to feel a little outdated and boring, then it’s probably high time you start laying out the plans for that dream kitchen you’ve been pining after. This can be a fun opportunity to dust off your creative hat to come up with an aesthetic for your kitchen that fits your unique perspective and lifestyle.
There are a lot of design aspects of the space that you’ll need to consider— like what color scheme you’re leaning toward, what appliances and hardware match your ideal kitchen aesthetic, and how to maintain the highest level of functionality of the space itself.
What’s Your Function?
Speaking of functionality, you’re also going to want to consider what overall function your kitchen is going to serve in your home. This may seem like a silly consideration to put forth, but think about this— for many homes, kitchens are more than a mere room for cooking. The kitchen as a living area has evolved over time from being a clear-cut cooking room into a warm and even cozy space— where the kids can do homework and moms can unwind with a glass of cabernet while catching up on emails.
The more familiar you are with how you view your kitchen functioning in your home, the better able you’ll be equipped in deciding on whether or not to include key features, such as a wide counter space with barstools or whether you’d like to add a TV somewhere in the mix.
Here are a few questions you may want to answer for yourself when coming to a conclusion in this particular area:
- How does your kitchen fit into your home regarding everyday use?
- Will it be a place where everyone congregates casually on a day-to-day basis? Or is it the type of kitchen you’d like to keep tucked away for cooking and dishwashing purposes only?
- Are there any other daily activities aside from cooking you like to do in the kitchen?
- Is there a counter space where you like helping the kids do their homework? Where you do your own reading? Where you like to have your morning cup of coffee?
- Are you “the hostess with the mostest?”
- Do you find yourself often inviting friends over for some wine and charcuterie? Are you hosting game nights often? Do your kids bring their friends over after school?
The Work Triangle
The design world likes to talk about something called the work triangle— i.e. the flow of your workspace. This is going to be the distance between your sink, stove, and refrigerator.
A good work triangle will allow you to easily move between those three points, whereas a not-so-good triangle will have you running all over the kitchen while trying to complete the simplest of tasks.
Save Some Space for Storage
You don’t need to have the biggest kitchen in order to have sufficient storage space. Any kitchen can maximize storage through the utilization of smart storage solutions.
If you find yourself using small appliances consistently, strategize placing them in spaces where they’re easily accessible. Consider building a large pantry with pull-out drawers, or even an appliance garage with retractable doors.
Other solutions can include walk-in pantries, pull-out shelves, and drawers specifically built for your pots and pans.
Light it Up
Lighting is so important when it comes to your kitchen. It’s the difference between a dark, depressing space to cook and clean in and a light, bright room to sip coffee while absorbing the sun’s rays near the window.
The best way to light up the entire space is through the installation of recessed pot lights. This’ll evenly disperse the emanating light throughout the room— and you can even add dimmer switches so that you have full control over the type of atmosphere you’d like to set at night.
It’s also helpful to add lights in areas that’ll help you perform tasks in the kitchen long after the sun’s gone down. A couple of useful areas to add this “task lighting” is underneath the cabinet or over the sink.
Last but not least, don’t forget about incorporating accent lighting into your new dream kitchen! This is the part where you get to make your kitchen as pretty as you’d like— highlighting the beautiful designs you’ve built into the space. You can add lighting to your glass cabinets, or even add accent lights to your countertops and upper cabinets that function beyond task lighting.
Contact Kol Marble and Granite in Cherry Hill, NJ for a complimentary consultation for your custom countertop design. The experts at Kol Marble and Granite work with professional kitchen designers as well as novices. We are competitive and competent.