Kitchen Renovations

As the place where the household inevitably gathers, a kitchen needs to be as warm and welcoming as it is functional. In no other room in the home is it so important to create an environment that feels like home. The desire to make a kitchen more than just a place too cook is one of the primary reasons that kitchen renovations are so popular. Those who love to cook want their kitchen renovation to offer them function and convenience, too, with products, materials and appliances that enable them to pursue their culinary passions.

The Best Kitchen Layout

Kitchens are busy places, full of movement. When designing a new kitchen, it’s imperative to keep traffic patterns in mind. Professional designers approach kitchen layouts with one of two strategies. The traditional “triangle” approach keeps the stove, refrigerator and sink within easy reach of each other. In shared kitchens, however, a zoning approach can be more effective. When children are doing homework in one area of the kitchen, parents may not want them to have to pass hot stoves and ovens to reach the refrigerator.

The kitchen’s existing floor plan can affect the layout of kitchen renovations as well. Moving existing electrical outlets or plumbing lines can significantly add to the expense of a kitchen renovation. An experienced contractor can usually handle a small move for a sink or a stove without installing new plumbing or wiring, but unless the homeowner is determined to start from scratch, keeping existing utility lines in place is usually a good idea.

All Systems Go

Designing a kitchen requires a safe coordination of systems to accommodate a variety of appliances. An elaborate, large stove places more demands on the ventilation system than a smaller model, particularly when the renovation includes a kitchen island stove. An abundance of new kitchen cabinets means the kitchen will likely require additional lighting. The electrical system needs to be able to handle all the new appliances that the homeowner wants as well.

An Island in the Storm

A work station that can be accessed from all sides is what make kitchen islands so ideal for kitchen renovations. Many kitchen islands today have a “working” side and a “guest” side. The cook rules the working side of the island, and islands that provide the storage and appliances needed for the task at hand work best. Whether it’s a butcher block surface for food preparation or a marble countertop for baking, the materials used in a kitchen island should be chosen for function as much as they are for style. On the guest’s side, leaving room for bar stools or chairs invites family and friends to congregate comfortably.

Even in the early planning stages for a dream kitchen, getting advice from a professional designer or architect can help ensure those dreams are realized. These professionals make their living by staying up to date on all the technologies, products and materials that can turn an ordinary kitchen into something extraordinary.

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