Kitchen Design Ideas (April 29, 2009)

Some people have the great advantage of being the first to design, build and use a kitchen.

Some people (if they know they will be selling the home in a few years) will design a kitchen that will add to the overall value of the home ¨C a kitchen others will like.

Some people, however, design a kitchen specifically for their needs. Before you begin to plan the look of your kitchen, decide if you will be designing a kitchen that will impress buyers, or one that will impress only you.

Where To Begin
Once you have your long-term goals addressed, you can start with the blueprint. First, ask what kind of person you (and other household "chefs") are. Do you need your kitchen to be functional before aesthetically pleasing, or vice-versa? Do you have young children or pets that could get at storage areas? Do you intend to have guests very often? You can preplan your plan by looking at yourself: your habits and your lifestyle.

So now let¡¯s begin. The most used appliances in your kitchen are your sink, the refrigerator and the countertop. Most homes are built with these items close to each other ¨C often in a triangle formation. You don¡¯t have to have these appliances right on top of the other, but you don¡¯t want to be walking back and forth from one end of the room to another every time you cook.

Things To Remember
Keep in mind there are some "invisible" throughways entering and exiting the kitchen. Try keeping the path from your appliance triangle from intersecting with the kitchen¡¯s throughways. You will reduce the risk of collision in a place where heated objects are often carried.

Also, make sure you have enough drawer space. Maximize your space and remember that you don¡¯t always have to place appliances on top of something: you can easily place a microwave inside of a shelf. Islands are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they are highly functional. They can act as a counter top and storage area.

Whatever you plan, design you kitchen for safety first, functionality second, and aesthetics last. You never know, you might find out that some of the most functional parts of the kitchen are also the most ornamental. Be creative and be practical.

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