Custom Kitchen Design: Things to Consider

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is one of the busiest places of the house where people tend to gather. So it makes sense that a lot of time and energy goes into the design of your dream kitchen. But how do you start? Kitchen design should be centered around 3 key principles:

• Comfort
• Organization
• Function

So here are some things to think about when designing your kitchen:

• Flooring: You will want something that is comfortable, hides stains and dirt well, and fits well into the design of the rest of your house.

• Storage: Unless you don't mind clutter, this is an important one. Storage comes in all shapes and sizes. Think cabinetry versus open shelving versus pantry. Consider what tools you use the most and whether you want to display them or hide them away when not in use.

• Lighting: Often the biggest mistake is not having a good enough mix of lighting sources. Choose a mix of lighting that includes an overhead blanket of light as well as lighting for individual work stations within the kitchen, like over the sink and over the oven.

• Countertops: Granite, stainless steel, ceramic tile, concrete... The options can seem endless. Countertops can set the tone for the whole kitchen. When looking at options, consider your budget, personal taste, durability, and maintenance.
  

• Electrical: Placement of electrical outlets can often make or break a kitchen. You definitely want an outlet by the oven, microwave, and refrigerator. But don't forget the kitchen island and coffee pot station. There are some really creative placement ideas such as on the floor, hidden away inside the counter top, or tucked in the pantry.

• Appliances: A well thought out kitchen plan must include appliances. Too often, I see a beautiful kitchen layout, but then the refrigerator is an inch wider than expected and does not fit well into its allocated space. Your appliance choices are very dependent on your budget and tastes. But also consider their placement within the layout of the kitchen. Do you want the microwave at eye-level or waist-level? Should the oven be closer to the sink or the refrigerator?

Thinking all of these things through will allow you to create a realistic budget and be happy with your end result.


To see some example of the kitchens that we have built, check out http://www.duarteconstruct.com/EXPLORE.html.