Every cooking geek has big dreams for their kitchen. They envision the meals they’ll prepare, the dishes they’ll serve, and the company they’ll entertain. Here are a few items you’ll want to keep in mind as you plan your dream kitchen renovation.
Counter Space
Your countertop is like your work bench, and you need to have space to do your job. Plan for plenty of accessible and useful counter space in your kitchen. Once you cook in a few different kitchens, you will discover which layouts best fit your cooking needs. Have a conversation with your designer/contractor about countertop layouts that will work for you.
Additionally, you’ll want to consider materials. For example, if you want to chop directly on your counters, you’ll need to do things like avoid granite or build in a cutting board. Here’s a guide that might help you.
Double Oven
For both the chef and the baker, a double oven is a game changer. This is especially true if you entertain large groups and need to produce large amounts of food at once.
Accessible Waste Bins
When you finish chopping peppers or cracking an egg, you don’t want to walk across the kitchen and maneuver the compost bin lid open. After all, time is often of the essence. You should consider building your trash and compost bins into your kitchen with accessibility in mind. This way, you can simply sweep leftover organics into a compost bin, and toss any packaging straight into the trash or recycling.
Utilitarian Storage
They key to a happy kitchen is simple organization that makes sense for the cook. There are so many options for your kitchen, and the only way to make sure you get it right is to do your research. Spend time exploring kitchens and perusing the internet. Every time you cook, write down the “I wish I had…” thoughts you have. Then, build those items into your dream kitchen! Houzz offers creative storage solutions.
Sink Space
Most cooks either require one large, deep sink or two separate ones. You can use the extra space to keep your dirty dishes separate from the vegetables you are rinsing. If you have not had this luxury in the past, you will be amazed at how much you were missing.
Space to Move
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to open one cupboard because another already is. Or when reaching for a utensil requires your cooking partner to shift awkwardly while chopping vegetables. Allow yourself the space to create great food!
Proper Lighting
If you plan to spend time in your kitchen, make it as bright and enlivened as possible. Especially if you cook in darker hours of the evening, you will appreciate big windows and quality overhead lighting.
