Guest Author - Donna Coogan

When doing home improvements, kitchens are the most important room in the house to consider. Hands down, they are still thought of as the “heart” of the home. They can also easily become the most expensive room to build. If you are building a new home or remodeling your current kitchen then you have an opportunity to create a kitchen that really tailors to your needs. Carefully consider how you want your kitchen to function and what features are most important to you. It’s best to start with your “dream kitchen wish list” and then whittle down from there what you can actually afford and accommodate in your design. Even if you plan to have your kitchen designed by a professional, it helps to have a good idea of what you really want first.

Below is a list of home improvement questions to ask yourself when designing your kitchen:

How many cooks will use the kitchen at one time?

How many people do you want the room to comfortably accommodate at one time?

Will your kitchen be used strictly for cooking or do you want it incorporated as an entertainment area, too?

Do you want your kitchen to have open access to other rooms?

What layout will your kitchen have? It is important that the three major workstations (refrigerator, stove and sink) are within easy reach of each other because they are accessed the most often. Their locations typically form what is known as the “work triangle.” How functional is your kitchen work triangle?

Would you like separate workstations set up in your kitchen? Based on your needs, consider a baking station, coffee station, snack station, chopping station, etc.

How much storage do you need for pots, pans, small appliances, boxed or canned food items? Do you need a large pantry or will the cabinets do?

Do you want a desk to hold cookbooks, mail and to act as a phone station?

Will children be using the kitchen for homework needs? Where will they sit and where will their homework be stored?

Do you have pets who eat in the kitchen? It’s important to consider a specific area for your dogs and cats to eat without being underfoot during food preparation or in the way of the work triangle.

Do you want to have a dining area in your kitchen? What kind of dining – counter seating or sit-down table seating? Is this in addition to a formal dining room, or is this your sole dining area?

What type of appliances do you need? If you have a large family or do a lot of entertaining, you might consider more than the standard appliances. For example, dual convection ovens, a large 6-burner range or a large oven/range combo unit makes cooking go a lot smoother. Having two microwaves and two dishwashers is convenient, too. You can use one microwave for cooking & heating and one for the snack station. Consider a full size freezer and full size refrigerator for food storage or platters. And, two dishwashers are invaluable for quick and easy clean up.

What about cabinetry? This is the most expensive feature of the kitchen and basically, the sky is the limit. Do you want stock cabinets or furniture style cabinets or custom cabinets? Do you want open cabinets or shelving? Do you want painted cabinetry or stained?

Your countertops and floors should be easy care and durable. Common considerations are wood, vinyl and tile. What style appeals to you the most and what price range can you afford?

Lighting: Every workstation should have adequate light for optimal functioning. Consider the location of windows for natural daytime light, too.

Decorative details: Do you want to showcase collectibles? Where do you want them displayed? On the wall? On top of cabinets? Inside glass cabinets? On open shelving? What colors will you paint your kitchen?

Kitchen style: Do you have a specific style in mind? Kitchens are most flattering when they complement the style of the rest of the house. If yours is an open floorplan, then the design elements you choose will be that much more important.

As you can see by the above questions, there is so much involved in designing a kitchen that it is definitely worth it to do your research first. Think about all the ways you plan to use your kitchen. Draw up a list of your “must haves” and your “wannabes.” Play around with ideas and take your time. Collect magazine photographs of kitchens that you like. Visit model homes and kitchen centers for ideas.

If you are going to have professionals build your kitchen, then by all means share all your thoughts and ideas with them. A true professional will already ask you dozens of questions to help carve out your needs, but it is always helpful to have already done your own homework. Building or remodeling a new kitchen is an exciting time and since this room is the “heart of the home” it is well worth planning.