When re-designing your kitchen, there are five must-haves to create a room that will endure for the remainder of the decade. They incorporate personalization, technology and energy consciousness.
1. Incorporate the elements of universal design: Whether you plan to age in your current home and don't want accessibility to stand out, or plan to sell down the road and want to appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers, you will gain more than you spend to address these issues. Consider the heights of counter-tops, appliances, sinks, access to cabinetry (high and low), and the style of faucets and cabinet and appliance pulls. Remember to add good lighting design with the proper light color and temperature, and spread of light from fixtures. Think about the widths of walkways and doorways and the distance from counters to appliances.
2. Think high tech. As we all rely more on internet access, laptops, smart phones, I-Pods, I-Pads and I-Phones, leave room for using and charging these devices. Adding an IPod dock, a cable or ethernet connection, a lighting control system, and even audio-visual components, can help with tasks associated with your kitchen, save energy, and create a more useful space. Lighting controls help with energy consumption and can enable your task lighting to serve as mood lighting when cooking is finished. New lamping (a.k.a. bulbs) will give longer life, better light and cost less to operate. How about a great LED faucet?
3. Plan for cooking. Don't let your new kitchen be just a showplace for new cabinets and finishes. Make sure you add function as you need it. Carve out a space for a prep sink, add a second dishwasher using a drawer appliance, move those appliances so they function best for your use. Try a small refrigerator drawer near the sink! Keep in mind that an island is not always an ideal unit for a kitchen. They can provide a perfect prep zone but if they block the cook from getting from the sink to the fridge quickly, they are a bad idea. Fit the island to the space; offset then from the counters to allow room for multiple cooks and clear paths to appliances so there is no hindrance to using multiple appliances at once.
4. Create a multi-use space. It has often been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is a space to cook and eat, but to also plan meals, do homework, and entertain. Despite our lifestyle becoming more casual, your kitchen is often an extension of a family or great room and needs to look fabulous and serve its many functions. Add a craft area, a drop spot for knapsacks, briefcases, and electronics. Keep the space clutter-free with effective storage components and consider hiding appliances with cabinet fronts. If you entertain, create a social center where guests can be involved but not underfoot. Easy and practical additions are wine captains and coffee bars.
5. Design stylish and efficient storage. Open cabinets are popular in modern and country kitchens but many people appreciate private storage, plus a little extra for items and dinnerware collected over the years. Mixed materials - changing the wood type or color - is a good way to personalize and differentiate cabinets. Internal fittings should be added so everything from the old kitchen fits better in the new one; add a bake center, a fold-out pantry, flatware and knife storage and the popular spice pull-outs.