Before meeting with a kitchen designer, take measurements of your current space – be sure to include all surfaces such as floors, windows and doorways in this.
Organise frequently used items so they are easily accessible. For instance, keep coffee brewing supplies near your coffee maker to prevent morning grogginess.
An organized workspace makes your tasks go faster, and working with a kitchen designer or architectural technologist to create a functional layout can speed the process considerably. They will carefully draw and scale out your floorplan plan in order to design an optimally functioning plan for you kitchen.
Kitchen Layout
Kitchen layout is at the core of all design elements. While there may be various effective kitchen floor plans that work for different spaces and lifestyles, choosing one that is tailored specifically to you depends on many different variables.
L-shaped kitchen layouts are by far the most popular choice, featuring cabinets/appliances along two perpendicular walls and often including an L-shaped island to serve as breakfast nook or bar seating. A straight or single-line layout may also work well if your goal is to optimize an open-plan area by placing all facilities along one wall but opening out into living area.
U-shape kitchen layouts are another popular option that works well in rooms of all sizes, enabling sink, refrigerator and cooktop to be placed within an efficient triangle that minimizes distances between them. Furthermore, peninsula or island extensions may be added for extra counter and storage space.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinets are one of the largest and most costly components in any kitchen, so it is vital that they be designed with your budget and future needs in mind.
Selecting your cabinet style is an important decision and should enhance the overall aesthetic of your home. There are countless cabinet designs to consider when making this selection; therefore, it’s key that it complements with your kitchen’s decor.
Cabinets come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from basic frames to more intricate European-style frameless designs. You have numerous features to consider for upgrading or installing new cabinets – such as soft-close doors and drawers, built-in refrigerator/freezer cabinets and soft closing mechanisms; soft opening mechanisms (push to open or finger ledge opening mechanisms); interior organizers that maximize space for dishes, pots and pans, pull out bins for waste/recycling collection or more stylish glass insert or slab doors are just some options among many more features and upgrades that are worth investigating for potential renovation projects.
Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances help you prepare meals, store food and clean up afterwards. They may run on gas or electricity and include smaller devices like blenders and coffee makers as well as larger models like refrigerators, dishwashers and ovens.
As you shop for appliances, be mindful of which look and features best suit your lifestyle. For instance, when searching for a range, compare options that offer customizable handles, knobs and touchscreens in order to find one that is appropriate for your home. Some high-end brands even provide built-in designs to complement their cabinets.
Consider purchasing all your kitchen appliances together as part of a package to save money and get consistent look throughout your room, potentially increasing resale value of your home. This approach is particularly helpful if you plan on installing smart refrigerators, microwaves and hoods into your smart kitchen setup.
Kitchen Lighting
Lighting is an integral element in kitchen design. The goal is to layer different kinds of illumination – ambient, task and accent lighting – so the room functions efficiently throughout the day and night.
Ambient lighting provides soft overhead illumination that brightens an entire room. It can be achieved using almost any fixture type – recessed lights, flush mount ceiling fixtures and chandeliers can all contribute. For maximum brightness and energy-efficiency consider selecting fixtures using LED bulbs as these produce even and energy-saving illumination.
Task lighting illuminates countertops and workspaces, eliminating shadows and making food preparation simpler. Installing under-cabinet lights is one easy way to incorporate task lighting; track lighting — composed of an adjustable linear track mounted to the ceiling — provides another method.
Add accent lighting for an added decorative touch by emphasizing certain features or display pieces. In this kitchen, a spherical pendant with warm-toned exposed glass bulbs adds character and personality to the space.