There are many different decisions to make when designing a kitchen, and if you’re planning to remodel yours, you may already be pondering what size it should be, where everything will go and how you’ll decorate it.
To help you decide how best to make your remodeled kitchen fashionable, functional and stylish, here are 6 pro tips:
- Choose the right storage
For a functional kitchen, it must have ample storage solutions, yet they shouldn’t overbear the space and make it feel cramped or oppressive. If you’re working with a professional remodeling company, they’ll have their designer carry out an inventory of your pots, pans and utensils. Then, they’ll suggest some cabinet designs that will match the style of your kitchen, while keeping certain things out of sight, but easy for you to access when needed. Pull-outs, roll-outs and swing-outs are great space saving storage solutions, and they can be made stylish, too.
2. Give the sink the attention it deserves
The sink might not be the most glamorous element of a kitchen, but it’s often one of the most hardworking, therefore its design and position should be chosen only after careful consideration. Modern kitchens often feature designs known as workstations, in which additional features such as cutting boards, strainers and prep bowls can fashionably, but usefully, be integrated.
3. Consider layered lighting
While soft lighting might be called for in a kitchen during the evening when you’re sitting enjoying a glass of wine, it won’t be bright enough to illuminate the countertops and stove when prepping food and cooking. With this in mind, opt for layers of lighting and multiple fixtures to provide a suitable degree of light for every area. Where possible, have a large source of natural light, too, with a skylight or French doors, for example.
4. Add an island
The island has become a classic feature of all modern kitchens, and the extra countertop space, storage and even seating that they provide, has become difficult for many homeowners to consider living without. Aside from the functionality they provide, they’re an attractive addition from an aesthetic standpoint, too.
5. Don’t scrimp on cooking appliances
Even if you’re not a fan of cooking, or love it but are terrible at it, there’s no escaping the fact that kitchens are designed for cooking in, and as such, it pays to buy quality cooking appliances if your budget allows for it. When planning where appliances will go, think about how you (or your personal chef) interact with each one, and where they should be positioned for ease of use and functionality.
6. Opt for a custom vent hood
An important visual element in any kitchen, the vent hood is an eye catcher whether you want it to be or not, so it pays to have one designed that will draw the eye for all the right reasons, while still performing its job; a custom vent hood will do exactly that.
It can take a while to come up with the perfect kitchen design, but by working with an experienced general contractor, and a designer who listens to your desires and offers appropriate solutions, you can achieve the ideal, fashionable, functional, dream kitchen.