Kitchen Design Considerations

It is certainly true that kitchens have come a long ways over the years in regards to their “prestige” in a house. It used to be that kitchens were only found in the rear of the house, tucked away out of sight out of mind more or less. Fortunately, this is not at all the case any longer. Once people realized that more often than not, when people casually gather together in a house, whether it be a formal holiday party or a casual get-together, the kitchen is often the focal point. Because of this kitchen design has evolved to include much larger spaces as well as spaces that transition seamlessly into family and dining areas.

If you are in the process of planning a new kitchen, there are a number of things you’ll want to consider when it comes to your design. For example, will your kitchen have an island? What kind of lighting do you plan to have? What kind of appliances? What about the overall feel; will it be rustic, modern or something completely unique that you come up with on your own? As you can see there are many things you’ll need to decide on in a creation of your own personal kitchen.

Because of this metamorphosis of the kitchen into a family room/great room, kitchen islands or, alternatively, “peninsulas”, are very useful. They allow the cook, chef, host/hostess or whomever is doing the work in the kitchen to have a surface to work on while still being able to easily engage in conversations and activities with everyone else. Without a kitchen island type setup like this, the person in the kitchen would constantly have their back turned to everyone else. This is certainly not an ideal situation for either side of the coin.

The color of your kitchen cabinets will go a long ways to setting the tone for the overall kitchen. Bright colors and create a fun, funky atmosphere while stateless steal or brushed steel will create a very modern but rather cold, and he septic feeling. If you were to go with natural wood, the lighter woods such as birch, beech or ash will contribute the lightness to the kitchen whereas the medium range would might be chestnut or cherry. For something darker, you can simply apply darker stains rather than necessarily spending a lot more money on harder, darker woods. The call is yours.

Kitchen lighting plays a huge role in the design of your kitchen, yet it is often overlooked or is the last thing to be considered. This shouldn’t be the case. Remember, a lot of time will be spent in the kitchen most likely. There’s no reason to be straining your eyes in dim light or in harsh light when there are so many options that can contribute a positive feeling to a space. For example, if you happen to have a smaller kitchen, the use of smaller spotlights can be used to make it look larger than it actually is.

Of course the countertop is a critical choice you’ll need to make for your kitchen. Many people opt for the natural stone materials such as marble, granite and limestone for the counters. Another option would be to go for ceramic tiles. With Randy tiles you will have a tremendous variety of sizes, colors and patterns to choose from. Besides ceramic tiles, you can also get solid acrylic surfaces with at least as many choices when it comes to colors, patterns etc.

My two personal favorite countertop materials are concrete and wood. I like concrete because it is durable and versatile and because I have installed numerous concrete countertops always with great success and very happy owners. Would… well, what is simply beautiful though it can get somewhat abused over time due to water and household chemicals. Finally, stainless steal is yet another option. A very clinical, modern look. Completely different from the wood countertop, but done correctly they can be at least as stunning, just in a different way. Just be aware that while they will not absorb stains (hence the “stainless” part of the name), they do tend to scratch fairly easily.

Speaking of scratching… this article has barely scratched the surface of options you may want to consider when planning out your new kitchen. But isn’t that the way of creating your home? Each and every room, and each every aspect of each row, has so many different facets to consider and that you can tweak to make your own. And that my friend, is the beauty of creating not just a house, but a home.

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Kitchen Design Planning – Start Here

Why is it so important to get things right when engaging in kitchen design planning for a new home, or a remodeling project for an existing kitchen? It is true now, more than ever, that our kitchens have become the hub of the home. Keep reading for some useful tips to help you make good decisions as you start to plan a new design for this all-important room.

In times past, kitchens were more likely to be considered a place for cooking and food storage, but not much else. Today many of us expect our kitchens to serve multiple purposes, from food preparation and storage, homework station to family meeting place, and a central gathering room to share great food and fun together. In fact, when guests enter a home, one of their first destinations is often the kitchen!

Triangle Design Principle
From a purely functional view point, the main role of the kitchen is for meal preparation. Most kitchen design planning experts recommend stationing the sink, stove, and refrigerator in a triangular shape, not too far apart from each other, in order to facilitate ease of movement between the three most frequently accessed areas. Having to go around a corner, or through a corridor, to get to the fridge while cooking is not going to make life easy for cook or family. It would just create unnecessary stress!

Sufficient Work top Space?
Another important aspect of design planning for meal preparation is providing sufficient available workspace. Most cooks want at least one relatively large, completely clear, area from which to prepare their meals. Some prefer to have two smaller areas. It’s also a good idea to include generous counter space next to the sink in order to make room for all those dishes that are sure to pile up. Although, having a dishwasher nearby should reduce the need for this counter top space.

More Than Just a Floor Plan…
In addition to food preparation, be sure to take into account food serving areas as well. Islands and “peninsulas” are popular choices for this purpose. Most islands or peninsula counter tops have a space for stools underneath one side, making for a convenient eat-in area. Some kids also like to do their homework in the kitchen after school, and these stools are also the perfect areas for this. Traditionally, some people would use a “butler’s pantry” to stage meals, or as a serving area. However, in contemporary homes most people prefer to bring this activity front and center in the kitchen.

Lifestyle Matters…
Outside of the basic functional requirements, during kitchen design planning you also need to take into consideration the size and lifestyle of the family the kitchen is being designed for. Obviously, a larger family, or a couple who likes to entertain frequently, are going to require more storage space than a couple or single person would.

We haven’t even started on style and decor considerations which of course are also essential elements to be included in your kitchen design planning phase.

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Design Your Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

Planning a remodeling always starts with good intentions: “Let’s update the cracked and peeling linoleum floor in the kitchen,” you say. But then, you think, while you’re at it, maybe the walls could use a new coat of paint.

Then you realize the cabinets don’t match the paint color…and the backsplash needs to be changed, too, to match the new cabinets…Suddenly, everything in your kitchen needs an update and you’re scouring for more kitchen remodeling design tips online and in magazines.

But wait, these kitchen remodeling design plans all come with a cost. And oh, how quickly they add up. Next thing you realize, your kitchen remodeling project has a budget of tens of thousands of dollars, and growing. How can you handle skyrocketing costs? Here are some budget-friendly kitchen remodeling tips and ideas:

Part of the fun of remodeling a kitchen is in searching for the kitchen remodeling design that will inspire you. There are lots of fun tips regarding kitchen remodeling online. Build a portfolio full of the designs you like the most. Then try to pinpoint what it is you like in each photo. Do you like the color scheme? Brilliant, you can solve that easily! Paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to remodel your kitchen. Paint the walls, and if possible, paint your old cabinets, too. Or if you need new cabinets, decide if you need to replace the entire cabinet or just the doors. If it is only the doors, try purchasing lower cost cabinet doors. The trade-off is you probably have to install them yourselves but the bonus is you can refinish or repaint them as you like.

If your kitchen is lacking some color, a simple and cost-effective kitchen remodeling design is to repaint the kitchen. You can also install a tile backsplash. Both projects are relatively simple to complete on your own. You can introduce a bold or subtle change to your kitchen by introducing new colors and patterns.

Most modern kitchens have an island. If your kitchen does not have one, consider building one into your kitchen remodeling design. Pre-fabricated models can be purchased for you to build and assemble using simple tools. Or invest some time and custom create an island. An island can be a butcher block top for food preparation, a small sink for clean up, or even a mini dining table for extra seating and storage. A relatively small investment of building an island can yield large resell value returns.

A low cost remodeling design can involve switching up the decor. Install curtains or blinds on kitchen windows, or swap out old curtains for bright colored linen ones. Hang a clock or framed photos or pictures on the kitchen walls. They will also reflect light to some extent. Add some houseplants for fresh air and color. Even some colorful plates or platters leaning against the wall of a shelf can be an effective, but low-cost way to remodel your kitchen.

Look for salvaged parts to use in your kitchen remodeling design. Wood planks or plywood may be obtained for less by asking a lumberyard if they can sell to you (or giveaway) odds and ends. These can be repainted into new shelves. Cracked pottery or tiles can be reshaped into a mosaic backsplash, or even embedded artistically to give cabinet fronts some pizazz.

Sometimes, a way to give your kitchen a new look is simply a matter of using what you already have. A kitchen remodeling design does not have to involve knocking down cabinets or walls. Change up the arrangement of items on the countertop and shelves. Old can be made to look new again with some paint. Color really helps make an old kitchen look new and fresh. Look for more budget friendly tips for kitchen remodeling online and have fun!

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