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What kitchen doesn’t need a cabinet? Hooker Furniture Dining Room Sanctuary Dining Cabinet Hutch is great for eat-in kitchens.
As the old saying goes – the kitchen is the heart of every home. This is the place where birthday cakes are baked (or at least decorated), the turkey is carved, or Christmas dinner is served. This can also be the place where family secrets are spilt. What good can a kitchen do when no kitchen planning has been done, though?
Functional and Aesthetic Kitchen Planning
In every aspect of life, it pays if one has a pertinent plan. This concept is also applicable to building or renovating a kitchen. Kitchens should be practical so you have to plan for that initially. This can be reflected from the breakfast bar to the bin placement down to the practical things and where they are stored.
Kitchen islands that come with bar stools are essentials in all modern kitchens. Called breakfast bars, they are the best way to separate your kitchen from the rest of the living area.
Parents could cook dinner while watching over their kids who are doing their homework. Friends can also visit and enjoy a glass of wine as the host cooks at arm’s length. Adding a breakfast bar to your kitchen should also include an island overhang. This offers ample legroom for those who are seated on the bar stools. About 12 to 19 inches of overhang at the back side of the kitchen island should be comfortable enough.
Next, you need to plan for the placement of the sink and dishwasher. This is essential if you want to avoid dripping grease on your kitchen flooring. Be sure to place the dishwasher at about arm’s length from the sink. This is so when you rinse off excess food from the plates, you can just place them straight away into the dishwasher.
If both are misplaced, then you will have to travel all the way across to the other side of the kitchen. You will then be left with a dirty floor – and, of course, no one enjoys mopping dirty floors.
Properly install the kitchen bin where food scraps will go. It has to be at a place that is most accessible from any point in the kitchen. Place it at the end of the island or bench which is closest to the kitchen door. When placed this way, you can just throw something to the bin when you walk past the kitchen or when you are busy cooking something.
Maitland-Smith Kitchen Island 5130-649
These days, storing the kettle and the toaster on the kitchen bench isn’t the in thing to do anymore. The trend is to hide as many appliances as you can (especially the bulky ones). Cupboards should house your electrical sockets. Install more than one double socket since most homes are using a lot of appliances all at once every day. Just imagine the appliances that you use in the morning – the coffee machine, food processors, toaster, etc. – and you’d be overwhelmed at the number of sockets that you would need.
Lighting is also another important part if kitchen planning. Since this place is prone to accidents, then it is but fitting that it should have ample illumination. Just imagine all the things that could injure you there – from sharp knives, hot plates to the gas stove…
Combine ceiling lights with under cabinet lighting. Pendant lights should also be installed as should down lights. General lighting should be able to illuminate the whole space. All these lights should eliminate any dark shadows in corners.
Consider which part of the kitchen needs the most amount of light. Are you the type that stays up late to entertain guests? Or do you like to cook or bake alone? Whatever kind of kitchen user you are, planning is essential so make time for it.
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