What’s the first thing you think of when I say the word kitchen? I’m guessing one of a few things come to mind: cooking, eating, gathering, homework, cleaning, organization, etc. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. We cook and entertain there. Kids do homework there. Families and friends eat casual meals there. And sometimes, we just hang out there. Because kitchens tend to be the gathering place, today’s kitchen needs to be designed with an open feel and have the versatility to handle everything you and your family will throw at it. Here are a few elements that you’ll want to pay close attention to while you think about and design the kitchen for your new custom home.
1.Space: Your kitchen doesn’t need to be huge, but it does need to be big enough to handle the things you do there on a regular basis. Before building, think about how you use your kitchen. Is the emphasis on cooking, entertaining, eating, or all three? How many people should you plan to be able to fit into the kitchen on a regular basis? Keep visual space in mind as well. Sometimes simply opening the kitchen to the family room or dining room provides the feel of a much larger space.
2. Organization: How your kitchen is laid out makes a big difference. Think about how you cook. Make sure that the arrangement of counter tops, sink, refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and general work area is practical. A large kitchen may seem like a great idea, but it’s not if you have to walk 20 feet from the sink to the dishwasher. Organize your kitchen to fit the way you work and live.
3. Storage: One of the biggest helps in creating a comfortable kitchen is making sure that you have plenty of storage. Talk to us about “finding” hidden spaces that might be unused. We love helping you find places to store large-but-seldom-used appliances. Getting rid of clutter makes a kitchen more pleasant to be in and also makes it feel larger.
4. Lighting: It’s easy to overlook your kitchen lighting, but proper lighting is critical. There are two things to consider, given the multi-purpose use most kitchens have. You’ll want task lighting for specific work you do (washing, chopping, etc.). But you’ll also want ambient lighting that sets the mood when you’re entertaining in the kitchen.
To view more ideas on how to design your future kitchen, visit our
Kitchens & Dining Gallery