Blending design and functionality is crucial if you at to create a working, family-friendly kitchen that can serve both as a cooking station as well as a place to gather.
Working from home has proven a blessing in disguise for many people. Less time lost commuting, more time spent with family, and more time invested in a healthier diet. Since most of us have started spending more time in the kitchen, it is only natural to consider giving the space an upgrade.
Designing your dream kitchen is a complicated but rewarding task. Your kitchen says a lot about you, so whether you are aiming for a rustic, cozy feel, or stainless steel post-modernity, follow your aesthetic desires and get cracking!
Here are 6 tips to keep in mind when building your dream kitchen
#1 – Style vs. functionality
Style versus functionality is the one key aspect when planning your new kitchen – what will it do besides being a place to cook and prepare meals? Will you be reading your emails over breakfast? Sipping a nice cold wine with your partner after work? Helping the children with their homework while preparing dinner?
Here’s a few questions to narrow down your answers:
How do you plan to use your kitchen? Whether your kitchen is the nerve center of the house or just the place to brew some coffee and warm up some pizza, understanding the room’s key usage will help you decide how to better distribute your space between seating, cooking surfaces, number of appliances and storage.
How does it relate to your lifestyle? For example, if you’re hosting a lot of parties this will call for more dedicated storage space for all the provisions. Or, if you’re fond of preparing multi-course meals you may need an insular cooking station or an extra large oven.
How many seats should you have? Nowadays the kitchen has taken the role of dining space. Will you be using bar stools for a quick bite or will you encourage a more traditional sit-down on the corner couch?
#2 – Next, consider your appliances
Do you enjoy baking and feel it’s time to invest in a double oven? How about an oversized fridge? Prioritise the appliances you’ll be needing most.
The kitchen sink is the heart and soul of any kitchen, so take a moment to check if yours is up to snuff. Opt for one that’s deep enough to avoid a backsplash. Or perhaps you should replace it with a double sink with an incorporated shredder. Scout the market for the latest upgrades in technology and your domestic well-being will be dramatically improved.
#3 – Storage, storage, storage!
Don’t shy away from hiring a storage designer when it comes to storage space. You will need it for food, larger and smaller appliances, baking paper, silverware, tupperware, and so on.
There are several tricks to better organise your storage space: for example you can replace your old door cabinets with deeper pull-out drawers to ensure everything you need is closer to your range of access. Basically, any small area can become a discreet and useful container.
#4 – Implement the Three Lighting Types
A good lighting plan makes use of all three types of lighting: General, Task and Accent. General lighting provides the overall glow for your kitchen – the classic fixtures on the wall or ceiling.
Task lighting is smaller and more area focused – for example an undercabinet neon to illuminate the cutting counter.
Accent lighting has a stronger aesthetic value as it guides the viewer towards an architectural element. Think light columns for a brick wall, or down lights to accentuate the glass-bottomed spice cabinets.
#5 – Getting the Proper Materials
Rearranging your kitchen (or any room for that matter) is a costly investment, so you’ll want durability. Consider what type of materials you want for the cabinets and furniture – will you settle for coated plywood or invest in maple or oak? Choosing high quality building materials, like that from ArchiPro, is a great way to ensure you get the right look and longevity for your space.
And don’t forget the countertop. You can choose between traditional granite and marble, or you can give a composite material or quartz a chance. For instance, quartz is harder and less likely to chip or scratch, not to mention you won’t have to seal or polish it every year, as is the case with other types of stone. Like everything, research is critical – compare several offers before you decide.
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