The kitchen is perhaps the most popular gathering spot in the home. The majority of entertaining is done right in this room, as family and friends gather to enjoy laughter, conversation, and delicious food. Even when not entertaining, the kitchen is where families spend a great deal of time. Days begin and days end in the kitchen. It can be argued that kitchens are where sweet memories are made and shared on a regular basis. With the importance of the kitchen in a families life, it stands to reason that much time and thought should be put into designing an effective and functional kitchen layout.
For many property owners at River Landing, enough time has been spent in various kitchens to know which areas need to be improved upon from past houses, which areas need to be enlarged, where appliances need to be placed, and where the majority of traffic flows. The kitchen in a custom home isn’t solely about beautiful finishes and fixtures. It is about the layout. Get it wrong and the kitchen won’t function the way you want it to. Take heed to the following points and have your custom kitchen looking and functioning beautifully!
Allow Your Floorplan To Flow
If you don’t allow enough circulation space in the kitchen floorplan the kitchen can feel cramped and the number of people who can comfortably use the space is minimized. If the kitchen doubles as a right-of-way, a lack of space can also make it difficult for appliances to be best utilized. Doors won’t open all the way and kitchen occupants will have to do an appliance shuffle just to access the dishwasher. Try to allow a minimum of 4 feet of space between kitchen countertops but strive for 6.
Light It Up
No one likes to prep, cook, and clean in the dark. Shadows can sometimes be even worse! Try to avoid the mistake of prioritizing form over function. Pendant lights can be stunning and chandeliers are often breath-taking. But if your chosen lights don’t shine enough light over your work surfaces, they won’t be practical at all. Position your lighting just in front of you rather than directly overhead or even behind you. Install downlights, pendant lights, and sconces on separate circuits, making it easier to control your lighting levels and atmosphere, according to the task and mood of the room. You can find inspiration for your kitchen lighting online.
Think Vertical
No matter the size of your kitchen, every bit of space counts, and your walls can offer valuable storage real estate for those items you don’t access regularly. Instead of using drawers to stuff your Thanksgiving turkey baster and Christmas cookie cutters in, think about cupboards that extend to the ceiling and will maximize your storage. You can even think about open shelving to use your whiteware and bakeware as decoration as well as baking dishes.
Transforming Space
Keeping small appliances behind closed doors reduces counter clutter. Incorporating appliance garages in a kitchen cabinet plan is a great way to keep items such as food processors, blenders, top-load toasters, and even coffee stations accessible yet out of sight. You’ll want to specify that the cabinet interiors of a garage be finished. Make sure to plan for multiple electrical outlets and have them installed prior to the cabinet installation.
How are you planning the kitchen layout in your custom home? Is there an element you haven’t given much thought to and are now reconsidering? Find out more about how you can build your custom home at River Landing. Email Andrew Odom, Custom Home Program Manager, or call 910-285-4171 ext. 2244.
Would you plan your kitchen layout differently next time around? Share your do’s and don’ts in the Comments.
