Kitchen and bath renovations are the top requests for home remodels overall, and I love redefining what my clients need in these rooms. For the kitchen, I ask more questions before we start than I do for any other room in the house. That’s because I want the kitchen to function perfectly for my clients, and so much depends on how they use this room as a family. I find there are 4 types of kitchens that work best for most people - let’s take a look!

Chef’s Station

All of us are cooking far more than we have in the past, but for those of us with families, this is a way of life. So your kitchen needs to be designed to support your personal chef - or chefs. That includes a fabulous range, plenty of counter space for prepping, and great storage. In the kitchen above, I included pull-out doors on either side of the oven that can store spices, herbs, and other items that cooks reach for all the time. And the pot filler saves you from carrying heavy pots from the sink. With essential ingredients like those, your kitchen becomes the best support for your family meals.

Home Hub

Let’s face it, your kitchen is the central command station of your home. It can be where the kids do their homework, where your family eats most of its meals, where you host a Zoom call, and much more. If this is your family’s lifestyle, then you definitely need seating either at an island or in a nook. That bar, island, or peninsula is a huge help because meals can be prepped on one side while the kids are working on the other. Also consider other great ideas, like a drinks fridge for juice boxes and water, or a snack cabinet specifically designed to keep those raisin boxes and goldfish organized. With the right tools, you can be the family COO and keep the family fed.

Bakers’s Delight

I have one client who loves to bake and make jam as a stress reliever. The range was her most important splurge in the home, which makes perfect sense. If this is your type of kitchen, too, it’s also key to have small-appliance storage for stand mixers, blenders, food processors and more - that really helps keeps counters clear. Other specialty cabinets and drawers would be an added bonus in this type of kitchen, like those that store large baking sheets, flour and sugar canisters, mixing bowls, or knives. A well-organized kitchen is an efficient kitchen, which means less stress and more cookies!

Takeout Central

There are plenty of people who don’t like to cook at all, but their kitchen still needs to support them. Maybe they love takeout, so they might need a stool to sit on while they eat their favorite delivery dish at the island. Or they might want a bigger microwave for reheating or a larger fridge to store leftovers. The stove may not get as much use as in other homes, but with the right planning, this kitchen will be their favorite room in the house.

By asking all the right questions, I can better understand exactly what my clients need in their kitchens. And there are more bells and whistles we can add - wall ovens for people who don’t want to lift heavy pans from down low; built-in coffee stations that serve up the perfect latte; wine refrigerators that keep your vino at the appropriate temperature; and more. In fact, we can design a kitchen that you’ll really never want to leave!

All the best,

Kara