Kitchen Ideas – Extra Items To Consider In Kitchen Design

Whether remodeling an existing kitchen or starting from scratch, kitchen design requires homework and planning to get it right.  Nobody wants a poorly designed kitchen and often it isn’t until the room is finished the flaws begin to appear.  Here are 6 items people often forget about until it’s too late.

1. Measure your necessary countertop items.  At least one section of overhead wall cabinets must be high enough off the countertop (minimum 18 +”) to accommodate a stand mixer.  Even if you don’t cook someone may and lugging around a KitchenAid is not an option. 
2. Drawer pulls and handles need to be easy to clean and not debris collectors.  The stainless drawer handles below looked cool in the showroom, but daily the flat surface constantly collects airborne flour, spills and other kitchen particles, therefore endless cleaning is required.
   

   Requires at least twice daily attention.

3. For those who cook, really cook a non-porous countertop is a must.  Locate fancy marble or tile countertops away from food preparation areas.  Huh?  Even when sealed some stone materials are porous.  Oils can stain or migrate through resulting in a moldy mess underneath.  Unhealthy bacteria can also hang-out in grout.  Select countertops based on how you work in your kitchen.
4. Position kitchen cabinets to allow locating the dishwasher near the main sink.  Pick the right or left side whichever is the best for you.  Below is an example of bad kitchen design.
   

   Poorly thought out: DW on one side sink on another.

5. Forget the desk and create a command center (this may require training the household inhabitants) for mail, keys, phones, etc.  Kitchens inherently become drop zones.  Rather than fight it, create bins or drawers for daily items.
6. Create a path of least resistance.  Locate the kitchen close to the door where one enters the house daily, never at the opposing end of the house.  Walking across a living room with bags of groceries is not a good idea.

These six items are worth being aware of before making a costly mistake.  Feel free to post any additional ones you have in the comments section.

Finally, my soap box moment:  There is one thing I have to add because Cupboards Kitchen & Bath had such a provoking blog post on granite tile countertops.  Don’t do it.  I’m not going to mince words or be PC – granite tile is not okay as a countertop.  It does not enhance the value of a home.  Just like one shouldn’t buy a fake handbag or put a Rolls Royce grille on a VW, the same responsibility applies to countertops.  There is no half-way or short cut.  There is fabulous looking laminate which looks like granite and this is fine because it’s not pretending to be what it isn’t.  Granite tile does not have the same integrity as a solid stone countertop.  I’m sorry but someone has to say it.