Best Kitchen Designs

Best Kitchen Designs

Best kitchen designs. I get a lot of e-mails from homeowners asking me to identify the best kitchen design so that they can copy it. Issuing an opinion on the best kitchen designs out there is a dangerous game, because everybody's interests and needs are different. But I believe it is possible to cluster some common themes that we see in all successful kitchen designs. 1. Keep Workflow Priority Number OneA kitchen is a functional environment. In recent years, kitchens have become places where we do everything--homework, TV-watching, snack-eating, and sometimes, yes, we even do a little cooking. So, it is easy to forget that workflow is the number one priority. Prioritize your workflow by keeping the classic kitchen triangle in mind, keeping services as close together as possible, and giving yourself enough counter space to spread out and do your cooking-- but not so much that it makes it difficult to get from place to place.

2. Smaller is Better

Even though insanely large kitchens have become trendy in recent years, they do not work as well as smaller kitchens. Smaller kitchens are less expensive to build or remodel, and they are better for the cook. If you absolutely feel that you need a spacious entertainment kitchen, then by all means do so. But it’s a decision you need to ponder deeply, because the more space you take for the kitchen, the less space you have for other rooms in the house.

3. Plan Your Kitchen Island Wisely (Or Leave it Out Entirely)

Does your kitchen have enough room for placement of an island? If so, this will spread out your perimeter counters that much farther. In that case, you will need to max out your kitchen island and make it fully functional, perhaps by adding a cooktop or even a sink. I don’t think that a kitchen island is a necessity, even though most “shelter magazines” would tell you otherwise.

4. Have You Considered Lighting?

When considering the best kitchen design for your home, you need to incorporate lighting into your thought process. Unfortunately, most homeowners take care of lighting as the last step in the process; it becomes an afterthought. And there is no need to stick to the time-worn and mundane can (or recessed) lights that you see in every kitchen in the world! Try lights that focus more on the work areas, such as kitchen pendant lights.

5. Solid Surface Counters are the Best of Both Worlds

Lots of homeowners want granite counters but don’t like the idea of spending $60 or more (usually more) for granite. A cheaper granite alternative is to lay down granite tiles—but then you have the problem of seams. Laminate counters don’t cut it in most contemporary kitchens that aim for functionality! But solid surface countertops have a real strong fan base because they are solid (no particlewood core), minor scratches can be sanded out, and they even have the appearance of seamless stone materials. Here are a few solid surface brand names:

• Corian
• Silestone
• Avonite
• Shirestone
• Gibralter
• Earthstone
• Staron
• Mystera 

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