'Tis the season, although definitely not the season to begin tearing your kitchen apart to begin a renovation. However if you’re kitchen planning for the new year holidays can be a very helpful tool.
Think about it. We are probably using our kitchens the most from Thanksgiving through the new year. Guests are visiting and there’s a lot of cooking, entertaining and eating going on. Now is the time to pay attention. What’s working for you? What do you long for? Supplying this type of information to your design pro is invaluable. I always say the best projects are tight collaborations between client and designer. We’re good but we’re only as good as what you give us. This doesn’t mean you have to know the solutions, give us your problems and we can figure them out. As we roll through the holidays, here are some questions to ask yourself and things you may want to consider when kitchen planning.
- Are your counters a top priority?
- Do you have enough counter top space and is it located where you need it?
- If you need more, where do you need it? Are you short on space for food preparation or would you love a buffet top for serving? Do you have a place to put groceries down before you put them away?
- Is you counter top material working for you? Is it easy to clean?
2. Moving and grooving
- Can you move easily around your kitchen without tripping over someone or something?
- Do you have defined work centers, one for food preparation, cooking and cleanup? There could be additional work centers but these are the minimums.
3. Storage
- Granted you’ll be needing the most storage through the holidays. Do you have enough? If you can say yes right now you’re probably golden for the rest of the year too.
- Remember there is storage and then there is accessible storage. Shoot for both. You need certain items everyday but others only once a year. Is there a certain item you always have to hunt for? Is there a place for all your stuff and does your stuff go back there when not in use?
4. Make it Safe
- When kitchen planning this is important for everyone but especially children and physically handicapped people.
- Is your floor slippery? Do you have enough space on either side of the stove so that pot handles don’t stick out? Are knives located in a place that’s easy for you to access but hidden from little ones? A “touch on” faucet can reduce the risk of accidental scalding.
5. Let there be Light
- Can you see what you’re doing? Consider adequate overall light as well as task lighting which focuses on your work areas. Do you need to add more or better lighting underneath your upper cabinets to illuminate the counter? Does the room get enough natural light or do you need to bump it up with some recessed ceiling lights or pendants?
This is only the beginning! You can create a really helpful kitchen planning list from answering these questions. A kitchen is a big investment so it only makes sense to invest in planning carefully before you begin. I'd love to hear from you!