Dream Kitchen “Must-Haves”

kingstoncovestudio, , , , ,
Designing your kitchen if you love to cook, could be one of the most important things you do in your life.  Think about the time you spend in your kitchen and how everyone generally gathers around or near the kitchen.  In today’s culture, the open area kitchen has become so popular you want it to be as perfect as possible.  Here are some of my personal favs in the kitchen.
Contemporary Kitchen by Marble of the World
1. Quartz counters. Quartz has become the most popular and practical counter for the kitchen. It’s made using actual stone and echoes the natural appeal of granite or marble. It is processed and manufactured in ways that make it strong, nonporous and color-customizable to create many different looks with good color predictability (as opposed to a stone slab, which can contain more unexpected surprises and potential cracks).

The beauty and durability isn’t without a price: Generally, it is more expensive than stone or total synthetics, although the price will vary depending on composition and manufacturer.

While granite counters get overexposed on real estate reality shows, quartz is definitely the new must-have for most designers.

2. Custom cabinets. You don’t want to throw that beautiful counter on used and abused cabinets, so custom cabinets are the perfect way to go.

There is an advantage to using true custom cabinets versus stock cabinets. Custom cabinets can be fitted perfectly to your kitchen, filling the space precisely and making the best use of corners, spaces between windows and any height or length of a wall.

Custom cabinets can achieve looks that stock cabinets can’t, especially when integrated with other features such as a banquette seat or kitchen island. This is especially important when going for a sought-after transitional style, where cabinets are desired to be seamless but not ultraminimalist.

3. Counter-depth fridge. If you’ve gone to the trouble of getting sharply tailored cabinetry, it would be a shame to ruin the lines with a bulky fridge. Deeper refrigerators soon fill with unused items hidden in the back.

Counter-depth refrigerators word great a typical 24-inch-deep counter for a flush look. Buyer beware as some models sold as “counter depth”  stick out a bit past a typical counter when installed. Check the exact dimensions of a model you’re considering, and compare notes with your installer to make sure it really is 24 inches.

My personal preference is to get a refrigerator that you can install panels on the front so it disappears into to the cabinetry and does not call out: “Look at me, I’m the refrigerator!!”.
4. Deep sink. For people that actually cook and use their kitchens, a nice deep sink makes all the difference.  Filling a large pot easily in the sink, if you do not have a faucet right by the cooktop is ideal.
With the open kitchens of today, if you have a deep sink and have to leave something in it soaking, it is not as obvious.

A little extra depth is even helpful for smaller sinks, such as those at a bar, prep counter or butler’s pantry, as it helps avoid splash back when rinsing vegetables or pouring out a liquid.

It’s an easy and affordable upgrade that’s part of any home

5. Touch-activated faucets. With a sharp, deep sink, let’s make it even easier to use by adding a touch-activated faucet. These smart devices aren’t just for minimalist tech-head homes. They come in a range of styles to suit even more traditional or transitional kitchens.

Inside that stylish faucet is a sensor that activates the faucet just from a tap, so you can turn on water even with your hands occupied.

The next time you’re making dough (or just making a mess) and need to rinse off, you’ll be glad you can turn on the faucet with just a tap from your elbow. I am going to add one to my kitchen as I did not in my recent remodel and I always have something all over my hands and am constantly cleaning my faucet when I am done cooking.

6. Drawer dishwashers. Besides looking smart, a drawer dishwasher opens up new intelligent functions.

Running a full-sized dishwasher when only partially full is a waste of water, but a unit like this can wash each individual half, giving you more flexibility for the size of the load to be cleaned. Plus, you can be running one drawer while still filling another so you can clean your often-used items now while other pieces build up a bit over time.

7. Hidden range hood. Hoods should either jump out at you or be invisible.  I love my invisible hood that goes up and down with the touch of a button.  It is only up when I am cooking.  The alternative is an exquisitely beautiful hood that is a focal feature in your kitchen.
8. Steam-convection oven. Convection ovens increase the effectiveness of a typical oven by circulating the hot air inside to cook more evenly, making this a modern cooking essential. Newer technology takes that concept one step further with steam-convection combination ovens that some say result in better texture and nutrition.

Foods cooked in steam tend to retain more moisture and thus more vitamins than foods that are simply baked or boiled. That makes a steam-convection oven not just a part of a dream kitchen, but a step toward healthier eating.

9. Pro-style gas range. Steam-convection ovens may be high-tech, but when it comes to the range-top, nothing beats the look and power of chef’s kitchen style burners. I added a section of induction to my Wolf cooktop, as it boils water for pasta faster than anything else.
10. Deep drawers.  Trading out the usual lower cabinets for deep drawers (one or two per traditional cabinet box) gives you easy reach-in access to anything from a large pot to stacks of dinnerware.
To improve organization even further, drawer divider systems can break the interior into perfectly sized compartments so everything has its place. They can be adjusted later if needs change.

Deep drawers are an affordable upgrade as many companies provide deeper drawer units at the same cost as a more typical three-drawer model.

Dream Kitchen “Must-Haves”

Leave a Reply