Kitchens come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some shapes work better than others. If you didn’t design your home with a fabulous kitchen and several other rooms, the kitchen could be problematic. As important as they are, kitchens are often a lower priority than bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms. So, after living in the space and using it for a few years, I realized that the stress of a poorly designed space is hard to explain to someone who does not get it. I.e., Kitchen, you mean where we keep the microwave? One prospect had a G-shaped kitchen that, once she was in, she felt trapped.

What Makes A Great Kitchen

L Shaped

Sadly, there is no one good answer. In remodeling, we are typically constrained to the space we are provided. Occasionally, we can break out of the envelope, but that happens less than you think. Taking a wall down between rooms or eliminating an obstructive fireplace or chimney is more common.  Sleeping on a stuck plan can break loose a fantastic solution.

How Do You Figure It Out

The discovery process is how we get the ball rolling. We ask leading questions about how the kitchen is used. Do you like to bake or hate to bake and only cook? Is it a one-person kitchen, or are several people simultaneously preparing meals? These things matter. Is anyone vertically challenged or seated? Do you have a clockwise kitchen or a counterclockwise kitchen? It is a subtle difference but makes a massive difference to the flow. I made a big mistake designing a commercial kitchen once and paid the price.

Kitchen design is an art unto itself. I always see opportunities to arrange the cabinetry or appliances. Often, kitchens are designed as walkways to one or several other spaces, and sightlines are frequently obscured. Once in our Design Process, the actual magic starts to happen. Nothing fills us with joy more than bringing the players together to design something that solves the problems.

What Principals or Rules Do You Follow In Design

L with a narrow empty island

First, let me take a moment to applaud the NKBA. They have created a set of guidelines that express what they have learned from thousands of kitchens, and my remodeling association, NARI, accepts them as the gospel. Code Shmode: These guidelines look at all aspects of kitchen design and have proven useful repeatedly. They cover space planning, height recommendations, and the area behind doors and chairs. You name it. The list goes on and on. We keep a copy and always consult it. Flow is one of the crucial things that we solve. I hate too many paths through the kitchen.

Who’s Advice Do You Take

I listen to my gut and consult my Brother Maurice, an Architect in the Bay Area. He and I have solved some great ones together. One client thought I had spoken to her mom because we had rearranged the plans to add a pantry. Mom said that was one of the things that had been missing all those years. I also trust my cabinet maker, Justin Robinson. He once came to my rescue with a confusing mess of a kitchen. I was prepared to omit the kitchen from the scope, but he showed up, and TA-DA created a masterpiece.

L with a pie-shaped island and prep sink.

A Few of My Favorite Kitchen Conversations

I was at a home show. The big reveal was happening, and the public was invited. One filterless lady walks right in and belts out. “Can you imagine coming home to this kitchen?” it had a pie-shaped island. She and her friend were breathless. In another similar situation on a different project, a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer came into the room and said, “Finally, a kitchen with the correct flow. Refrigerator-sink- stove”. I had never thought about that before. We accidentally did it right. I learned something that day.

If you are itching for a kitchen remodel, contact us to see what we can pull together for your renovation. All contractors are not alike. We are a design-build team and would love an opportunity to see if we are a good fit for your project.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, click here to email me directly, or call 208-947-7261

If you or someone you know is considering remodeling or just wants to speak to a trustworthy remodeling contractor, please contact me. You’ll be glad you did.