It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we sit and share food with our families each and every day. It’s where we entertain dinner guests, and they also provide a place for us to relax in on a lazy Sunday afternoon. They are the backdrop for so many of life’s most meaningful and important of occasions. Birthdays, Christmas and Thanksgiving are all typically spent sat around the kitchen table. So, it’s of little wonder that we want to make the very best of them in any way we can. With this in mind, if you’re someone who’s about to invest in a brand spanking new kitchen, we want to help make sure you do it right. So, we’ve compiled this ultimate guide, to help make sure you choose the kitchen of your dreams.
Function
The first thing you need to ask yourself when choosing a new kitchen is exactly what your priorities are. The fact is, it doesn’t matter how much money you have to spare; you’re inevitably going to have to make some sort of compromise. This is why it’s essential that you work out what’s most important to you at this early stage. So that when you do have to compromise on something, at least you won’t end up compromising on the wrong thing.
Style
So, when it comes to your kitchen, what’s most important to you? Do you like to throw a lot of dinner parties for example? Then it might be worth considering opting for an open-plan kitchen design so that you can still chat with guests whilst cooking up a storm. If family is more your focus, then a large farmhouse style kitchen would probably be a more practical choice. For young couples or single people, a galley style would be a good option. Admittedly, they’re not to everyone’s taste. But there’s no denying that what they may lack in style they sure as hell make up for in terms of function and practicality.
Remember, the larger the kitchen is, the more time it’ll take to clean! So, try not to let your heart run away with your head. Whilst it might be nice to have a large kitchen, if you’re not going to make good use of it, or be able to maintain it, it becomes something of a false economy. So, remember to be honest about what your needs are, and realistic when it comes to making your final decision.
Counters, Cupboards & Workspace
Once you’ve decided on the style, then you can start to think about the finer details. You need to think about how many cupboards, as well as how much workspace you’ll need. The key here is to go for counters and cupboards that will complement the style of your new kitchen. For example, it would be silly to opt for wooden countertops if you’ve decided to have a contemporary style of kitchen fitted. You also need to think about durability. If you spend a lot of your free time cooking, then you’re going to want to opt for a material that’s built to last. So if you’ve opted for a farmhouse style kitchen, oak would be a natural choice. But if cooking’s not really your thing, you can afford to opt for something a little less expensive, such as granite or tiles instead.
If you have a young family to consider, many cupboards and kitchen counters are now made using self-cleaning materials. So, if you’re forever cleaning up after messy children, then this is well worth your consideration.
Appliances
Once you’ve allotted workspace and chosen your materials, you can then move on to picking your appliances. An old-fashioned cast iron stove would be the most fitting choice for traditional country style kitchens. If you only have a small space to work with, it may be better to opt for high-spec contemporary appliances. This is simply because modern kitchen design is all about utilizing all the available space in the room, no matter how small that space may be. By opting for modern appliances, you get all the convenience they offer, as well as a bigger kitchen space to play with. So, if space is an issue, this is definitely the most prudent option to choose.
Call in the Experts
A professional kitchen designer will show you how you can best utilize the space, so that it’s purpose built for your specific needs. So, if you’re a wine enthusiast, incorporating a wine cooler or rack into the design would be prioritized. It’s definitely worth arranging a consultation, even if it’s only to help give you ideas and inspiration in the early stages.
Finishing Touches
It doesn’t matter which room you happen to be decorating, when it comes to interior design, adding those final finishing touches is always the most fun part. For your new kitchen to really feel like a part of your home, you need to personalize it. You could add a few scented candles, or hang bundles of herbs from the ceiling as was once a commonplace sight in almost every American kitchen. Hanging herbs from the ceiling and adding scented candles is also a great way of neutralizing those nasty cooking odors that can have a tendency to linger.
You can buy fresh herbs from the grocery store, or if you’re feeling particularly green-fingered, you could even grow your own. It’s such a simple tip, but it’s a really effective way of helping to ensure that your kitchen always smells fresh and fragrant.
Remember, such tiny details might seem trivial when you see your brand spanking new kitchen for the first time. But the fact is that if you want to make sure it retains its ‘wow!’ factor, then you can’t afford to become complacent.
As with any major financial investment, it’s essential that you are practical and realistic in the choices that you make. You must also be prepared to ask the right questions during the decision-making process. As long as you do this, you’ll soon discover that getting the kitchen that you’ve always dreamt of, isn’t as far out of your reach as you thought.
