An ergonomic kitchen should adapt to its chef’s movements and be tailored specifically to them, taking their height and size into account for easier food preparation that is faster, simpler and more pleasurable.
An effective storage system makes a room feel larger and more organized, whether that means creating a pantry for essentials or designing a zone to store frequently-used items such as pans and pots.
Layout
Kitchen layout determines how you move through a space, creating an overall sense of harmony and equilibrium in the room. When planned carefully, its impact can create an inviting feel within an otherwise chaotic setting.
An L-shaped kitchen design layout is one of the most sought after layouts. This layout places cabinets and workspaces along two adjoining walls forming an “L,” providing for smooth cooking movements while leaving enough room in the center for dining areas or islands.
Kitchen cabinet layouts can be tailored to suit your individual needs and budget, such as replacing traditional hardware with handleless drawer and cabinet doors for a modern aesthetic.
To ensure a successful kitchen layout, software that makes visualizing and creating plans easy such as SmartDraw is essential. Templates to get you started as well as its extensive library of symbols, fixtures and textures will get your designing underway quickly. Its user-friendly interface and minimal learning curve will have you designing in no time at all!
Appliances
Kitchen appliances often set the style and mood of any space, so it is crucial that you understand which appliances would best complement your design plan before beginning to build one.
Specialty appliances like high-end ovens and refrigerators can be expensive investments that also take up considerable space in your home. Before making your decision to purchase any specialty appliance, it is wise to consider its expected usage and size in relation to how your space may change as a result of investing in such items.
Built-in appliances are one of the hottest trends, enabling homeowners to maintain a sleek kitchen aesthetic while taking full advantage of storage spaces. Alma Homes designers love using drawer and shelf dividers for spices as well as mixer risers to help with heavy stand mixers.
Design kitchens should be flexible enough to allow for upgrades or additions without disrupting the overall layout of the room, such as changing where a dishwasher sits or adding an island. Even minor adjustments such as these could have significant ramifications on electrical wiring systems in a room.
Storage
Dependent upon the number of residents living in a household and their storage needs, kitchen design will differ depending upon who lives there and the amount of storage space needed. By having adequate options available for storage purposes in this space, kitchens become functional, efficient, and simple for everyday use.
Each zone in a designer kitchen has unique needs; for instance, food preparation areas require specific storage features to hold knives, cutlery and cooking utensils safely during use; other areas may have unique storage needs for linens, cleaning products and paperwork.
An efficiently designed kitchen makes full use of available storage and shelving space, including those at eye level. A combination of open shelving and closed cabinets is an effective way to corral items without overtaking the room; for example, creating series of nooks for cookbooks or frequently-used items creates an elegant yet practical solution; layering different heights of shelving adds visual interest that elevates an otherwise basic kitchen.
Lighting
Lighting schemes often go overlooked in kitchen designs, yet their effect can make or break their overall atmosphere. Combine three basic ideas of kitchen lighting: task lighting for countertops, sink and hob; ambient/general light to give walls an inviting glow; and decorative lighting to accentuate focal points, collections or display areas.
Switch out traditional flush mount lights for modern kitchen lighting ideas with articulating or spotlight sconces for a fresh modern touch. These modern kitchen lighting ideas allow you to highlight artwork on walls or dishware on open shelving.
Bright task lighting makes food prep and reading recipes far simpler, but adding soft lighting under cabinets or along open shelves can also be useful when entertaining guests in a social atmosphere.