How to Design Kitchens
Have you waited your whole life for the kitchen of your dreams? The only way to be sure you get it is to design it yourself. Having control over the floor plan, and selection of counter tops, cabinets, floors and appliances, is key. Many factors must be considered when creating a new kitchen including: available space, budget, plumbing, wiring and lighting. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Go with the flow. The flow of a kitchen is critical. A cook must be able to seamlessly work between the fridge, stove, sink, and counter tops. The sink must be in close proximity to the dishwasher, which should, in turn be very close to the primary cabinet for plates and glasses. Think about how you work in your current kitchen; what's currently working and what's problematic?
-
2
Count up your cooks. How many people normally work in your kitchen? If you cook with another person think about available counter space. Can you work at the stove while your partner chops onions or washes dishes? Do you both need a workspace? What about your fan club? When you work in the kitchen does everyone crowd around and want to talk with you? Perhaps you should design a floor plan with some seating to accommodate them, and, get them out of your way.
-
-
3
Light it up. Lighting is critical in all areas of a kitchen. Every work area should be designed with strong lighting. You must be able to see clearly chopping, working on the stove, and doing cleanup. It makes work easier and improves the safety of those who work in the kitchen and eat its food. A fun addition to a kitchen is the new generation of skylights, which incorporate natural light during the day, but also have an electric light installed for evening.
-
4
Step on it. There are multiple flooring choices for a kitchen. The most important priority is to choose a surface that is non-porous and can be cleaned with an anti-bacterial cleaner or bleached. Tile, stone, concrete, laminate, linoleum and wood are all good choices in a kitchen. The one flooring choice that should be avoided is carpet. The best choices for a kitchen floor are often very hard on feet. A solution to this is to line your work area with feet-friendly ergonomic mats. These mats are designed to relieve pressure on legs, feet, and backs. They are very durable and can be cleaned appropriately.
-
5
Top it off. Kitchen counter tops should reflect your cooking and cleaning style. Counter tops that require the least maintenance are those surfaces that are continuous and seamless. Granite, Silestone, and Corian will last the lifetime of your kitchen and be impervious to most damage. A recent trend for counter tops is poured concrete. Poured concrete can be created in any shape and is very durable. Tile, laminates and Formica are less expensive and less durable choices for counter tops. Some chefs like their counter tops made entirely of butcher block. The wooden surface allows them to use any part of the counter to chop, or knead dough. Although cleanup can be more difficult, and the surface will show wear, butcher block can be sanded down and refinished periodically. It's inexpensive to install and inexpensive to resurface.
-
6
Select your appliances. The modern kitchen includes a dishwasher, refrigerator, stove and microwave. Budget and space may dictate your choice of appliances. Ideally one would select appliances that are quiet and energy-efficient. Most cooks prefer gas-powered stoves, but some tidy people enjoy electric stoves with easy to clean flat tops. Some kitchens also include extras like warming drawers, refrigerated wine storage, and extra stoves or dishwashers.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When buying stoves, make sure the controls are up front. Some stoves require you to reach across your burners to adjust them.
Estimates regarding costs and construction times are rarely accurate. Don't count on them.
