Top 5 Kitchen Design Tips
1415 Skyland Drive | Lake Oswego, Oregon
Are you looking to remodel your kitchen?
Are you looking to remodel your kitchen or are you building a new house and wondering how to address the kitchen? No pressure but it is one of the most important rooms in the house EVEN if you don’t cook because let’s face it….everyone EATS. Selling real estate, showing so many homes to buyers with different tastes and working on so many new builds or remodels, gives me a pretty unique perspective on what works and as much as I hate to admit it because it shows my age......after 30 years in the business, my top 5 kitchen design tips are ones that have proven to be timeless. Regardless of design choices, there a few standouts that I would definitely take into consideration if I were doing my own kitchen. So what are my best kitchen design considerations and why does a real estate agent's opinion matter anyway?
The kitchen really is the heart of most homes!
Whether you’re a gourmet chef, a budding host or anything in between, a functional, beautiful kitchen makes the creation of any cocktail, dessert or meal much better. The kitchen really is the heart of most homes, and good design is not only crucial but can be really inspirational as well. Who knows, maybe a well thought out, gorgeous new kitchen could make a cook out of the non-cook! Kitchens are where many of us entertain our friends and nurture our families. It is where we wake up with that first cup of coffee or where we stumble to in the middle of the night to get a bottle for the baby or maybe even where we say goodnight while grabbing that last glass of water. Kitchens are important!
What’s a decision-making room?
Kitchens are definitely decision-making rooms when it comes to purchasing and when selling, important to know that buyers place a fair amount of importance on the kitchen so if you are spending money in this room take the time to do it right even if you think you will never move! (Although a slightly different conversation but worth mentioning....if you are thinking about spending some money on your kitchen specifically because you are getting ready to sell, give us a call. There a number of suggestions that we can make for that scenario too.) Thoughtful layouts, unique infusions of style, wood, tile, countertop materials, and high-tech appliances are consistently on-trend and the options are endless. Today, we are focusing on standout, timeless features that I have found everyone wants.
Here are my Top 5 Kitchen Design Tips
# 1 Kitchen Storage
Ya gotta plan for good storage. This has always been important but there are so many new, larger kitchen gadgets these days.......think air fryers and insta-pots, bread makers, mixers, and ice cream makers. A good kitchen needs cabinets and/or a pantry to fit these things and trust me when I say that the extra deep cabinet over the refrigerator is NOT the spot. I about lost my front teeth wrestling to get our air fryer out of that cabinet last week. Side note- that cabinet should NEVER exist in my opinion. Inaccessible storage is of no value. Make it an open shelf instead.
# 2 Countertop Space in the Kitchen
The more the better! Whether you love to cook Thanksgiving dinner or order it ready-made from Zupans, ( for my out of town, never been to Portland peeps, Zupans is the nicest grocery store I have ever had the privilege of shopping in. I say that, people laugh, and then they go and laugh again because they now say the same thing)......back to Thanksgiving dinner. If you make it or order it, it is nice to have a place to spread it out. Keep the countertop space as clear as possible. Could you do a built-in microwave somewhere or have a floor-to-ceiling cabinet that houses the Keurig and the toaster so these do not take up space on the counters? This all leads me to the next favored kitchen feature.
# 4 Kitchen Islands
Kitchen Islands can serve as storage spaces, counter space and eating area.
Yes, of course, we all want a kitchen island the size of a small bedroom but obviously, not all homes can accommodate this. Islands can work in small spaces if they are scaled correctly. I love ones on wheels so you have some flexibility. All kitchens are not conducive for an island, but if you can make it work, you should. A good-sized island can replace a small eat-in area if it has seating, so this gives you counter space and eating space, making it a double-duty affair.
# 5 Appliance Placement
Putting appliances in the right place seems so basic but trust me, many people get this wrong. One of the biggest annoyances that I see are refrigerators that are not counter-depth when they really should be. Dishwashers need to be next to the sink and on the side that makes the most sense when unloading. Make sure the distance between main fixtures is comfortable and that the islands are not too close or too far. I like to place the sink first and then add the other appliances.
Not only do I love to cook, but I love kitchen design! Need a good designer….we have that! Need a great place for appliances….yep, we have that too! Cabinet makers and countertop manufacturers that we love? Yes, that too! Would love to hear about your project and help where we can!
Curious what you think of our Top 5 Kitchen Design Tips? One other tidbit:......looking for ideas for your kitchen. Visit some open houses in the area to see what other folks have done! Local open houses can be viewed here.