Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A kitchen is more than just a cooking area



    It is a place where your friends and family gather to enjoy conversation, stories and good food.  But this begins with a design that has style, function and comfort where everyone who enters feels welcome.    Whether you have the luxury of a large spacious kitchen or a small kitchen, there are always options.  With space saving products and ideas for functionality you can create a unique kitchen. 
The floor plan is the first place to start, whether you have a U-shaped, L-shaped or galley style kitchen a design specific to a style that you are looking for can begin to take shape.   There are many things to consider when planning a kitchen; you may want an island or a work space that is a focal point.  Storage is a very important feature to consider. Spending time planning out the space you require is key to make your kitchen function for maximum efficiency.  It is important to consider every square inch in a smaller kitchen to ensure that you are making the best use of the space that is available.  In a larger kitchen you could consider designing a space around your guests while entertaining them and incorporate more than one cooking area so your guests feel as though they are part of the experience.  The island is a great feature (if there’s room).  You could design the island out of a different style cabinet, color or material to make it stand out.  Incorporating an antique piece of furniture could really be stunning.
Lighting is very important and can be easily overlooked.  Take the time here to place the right lighting for function and mood.  I suggest taking your floor plan to a lighting supplier and working with a design specialist to help you find the best lighting the ambiance that you are looking to create.
A new kitchen can be an excellent investment in most homes, which is why it should be well designed or it could become a financial liability. Whether it is a remodel or a brand new kitchen it should be functional and aesthetically pleasing and within your budget.  A kitchen design can be highly specialized and complex, so I would recommend finding a professional kitchen designer to help you whether your doing it yourself or hiring a contractor to do the actual work.  A kitchen designer understands how a kitchen functions, and analyzes the family’s lifestyle, interests and need in both cooking and entertaining.  A designer can ask questions and discuss needs, tastes, wants and budget.  A designer can give you ideas you may not have thought of and also ideas to help keep the cost down considerably.
When considering a professional designer or contractor check for references, experience they have and request to see one of their projects.  Most people that have had a positive kitchen experience would love to show off the finished product.
 Always make sure to take out the proper permits required and always use licensed plumbers and electricians. Talk about the budget with them and consider all the costs to final completion prior to signing any contracts.  
Hiring an independent Kitchen designer is beneficial when choosing your cabinets.  Cabinet shops will have their own designers but they may not work with you as extensively as an independent Kitchen Designer would.  You also don’t have to option to shop around at other cabinets companies because the design you are working on with the specific shop will be based on you purchasing cabinets from them and they generally will not release any drawings until you are committed or have signed a contract to work with and purchase your cabinets from them.   An independent kitchen designer works for you and has your specific interests and dreams in mind.   You will pay for your custom design but you will own it and have the freedom to shop for the cabinet style and quality you want at a competitive price.  

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this information. I really need this because I want to have perfect design for my outdoor kitchen.

    Traditional Kitchens

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing this information. I really need this because I want to have perfect design for my outdoor kitchen.

    Traditional Kitchens

    ReplyDelete