Kitchens are the most important room in a house. Kitchens also demand a high level of functionality and performance. Truthfully, some homeowners find their eyes glazing over in the kitchen design planning stages because there is so much involved and the details multiply by the minute. Kitchens aren't simple but avoiding common mistakes with the following tips can give you a much happier result.
Glass Doors - use frosted or opaque glass not clear. You still get a great design statement but you aren't forced to keep your cabinets organized to military precision.
Upper Cabinets - these are useful for dishes and spices but not cookware or small appliances. Lower cabinets are more useful. By limiting the upper cabinets to only what's needed the kitchen feels more open and not so cavernous.
Countertop Clutter - plan appliance garages or pull out appliance lifts to avoid the ugly skyline of random countertop appliances. Place only what you use daily on the countertop. Kitchens counters are not a display area. Function comes first.
Tight Spaces - shave a few inches off to squeeze something in a kitchen is a bad idea resulting in later regret. Here are a few minimum space planning requirements you don't want to skimp on.
* If there is seating, center table or bar, allow 48" to pullout chairs and move around. I'm very serious on this. Time and time again I watch people stuff in a table and chairs only to learn later they aren't used because it isn't easy to get in and out. No shoving chairs against a wall. This is the flaw in the above floorplan showing a table and chairs by a window. It was moved around and became seating for four not six.
* Minimum island size = 48" long by 24" (standard base cabinet depth) wide. If one side is for counter stools make it 48" x 36".
* Appliances which open (oven, dishwasher or fridge) really need more than 36" of clearance between them and opposing cabinetry.
* Need at least 30-36" space between island and cabinets or wall with no appliances.
I like to tape everything out on the floor (or existing counters) or use big boxes to replicate floor cabinets and appliances. Play house and pretend. Get out your pots and pans and move about the space like you would normally. Figure for open drawers and doors too. Take measurements of how you actually move in a space. If you bump into something, move it. Put in the time working out your details and the dividends will be huge. Hey, this is a whole lot cheaper than deciding something doesn't work once the cabinets are installed.:)
What is your top kitchen design regret?
Lisa M. Smith is an interior designer and owner of Interior Design Factory, Ltd. and interior design blog DecorGirl.net. She specializes in creating beautiful and inviting interiors that are timeless and look collected, not like a showroom. Real design for real people on any budget.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_M_Smith
Glass Doors - use frosted or opaque glass not clear. You still get a great design statement but you aren't forced to keep your cabinets organized to military precision.
Upper Cabinets - these are useful for dishes and spices but not cookware or small appliances. Lower cabinets are more useful. By limiting the upper cabinets to only what's needed the kitchen feels more open and not so cavernous.
Countertop Clutter - plan appliance garages or pull out appliance lifts to avoid the ugly skyline of random countertop appliances. Place only what you use daily on the countertop. Kitchens counters are not a display area. Function comes first.
Tight Spaces - shave a few inches off to squeeze something in a kitchen is a bad idea resulting in later regret. Here are a few minimum space planning requirements you don't want to skimp on.
* If there is seating, center table or bar, allow 48" to pullout chairs and move around. I'm very serious on this. Time and time again I watch people stuff in a table and chairs only to learn later they aren't used because it isn't easy to get in and out. No shoving chairs against a wall. This is the flaw in the above floorplan showing a table and chairs by a window. It was moved around and became seating for four not six.
* Minimum island size = 48" long by 24" (standard base cabinet depth) wide. If one side is for counter stools make it 48" x 36".
* Appliances which open (oven, dishwasher or fridge) really need more than 36" of clearance between them and opposing cabinetry.
* Need at least 30-36" space between island and cabinets or wall with no appliances.
I like to tape everything out on the floor (or existing counters) or use big boxes to replicate floor cabinets and appliances. Play house and pretend. Get out your pots and pans and move about the space like you would normally. Figure for open drawers and doors too. Take measurements of how you actually move in a space. If you bump into something, move it. Put in the time working out your details and the dividends will be huge. Hey, this is a whole lot cheaper than deciding something doesn't work once the cabinets are installed.:)
What is your top kitchen design regret?
Lisa M. Smith is an interior designer and owner of Interior Design Factory, Ltd. and interior design blog DecorGirl.net. She specializes in creating beautiful and inviting interiors that are timeless and look collected, not like a showroom. Real design for real people on any budget.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_M_Smith