Kitchen Design Guide

What Do You Want in Your Kitchen?

People generally express satisfaction with their kitchens, even if they want improvements. People who had input into their kitchen designs, or have had an opportunity to remodel their kitchens, are more satisfied.

If people had a chance to improve their kitchens, they simply want MORE -- more space, more storage, more cabinets, and more counter space. Efficiency and organization are also considered desirable.

• Larger, more space, bigger
• New cupboards, better cupboards, better storage
• More woktop space, improve worktops
• New appliances, add appliances
• Improve layout, change arrangement
• Add eating area, enlarge eating area
• Improve accessibility
• Add an island
• New flooring
• Add pantry, larger pantry
• Better lighting
• Improve color or aesthetics

Summary of Design

Kitchen design should reflect how you really use your kitchen. The kitchen is a place for serious and frequent cooking as well as many other household activities. You keep many items in your kitchen and need a spacious, well-designed, efficient, and functional space.

Kitchens need to offer flexibility to adapt to different users. Different households use kitchen space differently and have differing needs for space, storage, and layout.

There is often more than one person in the kitchen. One person may be cooking while additional people socialize or engage in other activities. In many households, especially with children, larger preparation areas are needed.

The amount and arrangement of worktop space needs to be considered. Adequate worktop space adjacent to the sink and microwave oven is needed for food preparation. The number and variety of items stored on kitchen worktop needs to be considered when desiding the amount of worktop space.

The microwave oven is a major cooking appliance and it's placement needs careful consideration. In many households, it should be a point in the work triangle.

Placement and accessibility of the trash container needs to be deliberately planned as part of the workflow of food preparation. Near the sink appears the most efficient location.

Home improvements can cost a lot of money so how can you borrow? We examine a few of the options.