Kitchens are often the main focal point of any home. They’re great for family dinners, entertaining guests, hosting gatherings and parties with friends. Whether you like to cook, or just have a large family, it is important to have a kitchen that meets your needs as well as your families. We’ve put together a list of a few things to consider while you prepare to design your custom kitchen.
- Consider your way of life. Do you often have sit down dinners with your family, or do you have a more on-the-go lifestyle? Make sure you come up with ideas that meet your needs and your lifestyle. Maybe state-of-the-art appliances are a must for you, maybe a formal dining room is a necessity for not only your family but also entertaining guests, and maybe a huge pantry for extra storage is an essential part of your kitchen.
- What is your budget? A key factor for many home buyers when it comes to custom designing your kitchen is budget, if you decide on a maximum, firm budget and pick out the crucial elements first (such as appliances, cabinets and countertops) before you select anything else, you may help yourself stay within your budget.
- Make room for storage. A practical kitchen design makes ample space for you to store food, cookware and small appliances. Some families would make do with the traditional basic cabinet and drawer layout above and below the countertop but some families may need much more space than this provides. Adding a walk in pantry can optimize space for not only storing dry foods but also small appliances and other kitchen utensils.
- Think about functionality. Your kitchen should have both a work space for meal preparation and a casual space for dining or even working. Design your kitchen to eliminate clutter, provide storage where needed, and take a functional approach when choosing where to put your appliances such as a dishwasher, oven, sink, and refrigerator. Also consider what types of cabinetry built-ins you might want to include: garbage can/ recycling roll out, wine cubby built-ins, pan dividers, soft close doors or drawers, etc. Small upgrades here can make a big difference in the functionality of your kitchen for years to come.
Here are some of our favorite recent kitchen designs and details:
