As the beating heart of your home, the kitchen must delight you – both visually and functionally. It’s a place where memories are made and where families come together to cook meals and enjoy each other’s company. Is cooking in your kitchen about more than just filling empty stomachs? Is it an emerging hobby or maybe even your passion? Learn ways to build, remodel or add to your kitchen to make it beautiful and functional!
A Layout Designed For Efficiency: According to homesandgardens.com, a double galley layout with a long, parallel island is ideal for a chef’s kitchen. Consider work zones or triangles between essential areas like the sink, range and refrigerator. All tools and ingredients should be easily accessible, and there should be open space on the counter and cooking surfaces. Make sure there is plenty of elbow room for prep work (chopping, dicing, washing) and cooking. A well-organized kitchen has a place for everything and everything in its place. Time spent rummaging through drawers or cabinets might result in a burnt roux.
Surfaces That Can Take A Beating: The process of creating your culinary masterpieces is full of chops, scrapes and stirs. Choose countertops that will resist stains, heat and scratches. Quartz generally wins the top durability rating. Hgtv.com writes, “Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn’t porous like granite, it’s easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free.”
A Sink Equipped For Enormous Pots: A standard sink is approximately 22 inches front-to-back and 30 inches long. Due to the size of most cabinets, the first measurement remains relatively close to 22, but professional sinks can be up to 57 or even 72 inches long! Choose a high-performance, thick stainless steel kitchen sink with premium accessories like a bamboo cutting board that can create a workspace directly over the sink. Also, consider a professional faucet with a high-arc gooseneck with a spout or hose that provides access to the entire sink.
Appliances That Can Cook For A Crowd: Top-tier appliances perform at a high level and can also be a centerpiece for the kitchen. Brands like Gaggenau, Thor, ZLINE, Thermador and Wolf are all as beautiful as they are functional. Most chefs will agree that they enjoy cooking over gas instead of electricity. Your well-equipped kitchen might include simmer burners, infrared broilers, a refrigerated beverage drawer, dual ranges or ovens, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, warming drawers, and more than one dishwasher.
Quality Over Quantity For Knives and Gadgets: A sharp knife is a chef’s best friend. Invest in a set of knives that maintain their edge and have a slip-free handle. Read the top picks of an independent kitchen knife study completed by foodandwine.com. Fun gadgets used by many professionals include a sous vide cooker, olive oil dispenser, spice/coffee grinder, kitchen scale, and a stand mixer with all the attachments.
Whether you’re dreaming of a space that can accommodate multiple chefs working simultaneously or one with all the bells and whistles for the discerning home cook, we can create the perfect kitchen for your needs. Our team has extensive experience designing kitchens that are both beautiful and functional. So put on your chef’s hat, dream up the perfect kitchen, and let NCC make it a reality!