How to Create a Beautiful and Functional Kitchen

If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, you will want to read this post. It could save you a lot of money and frustration in the long run. As an interior designer, I've seen a lot of badly designed kitchens.



Kitchen design takes careful planning. Did you know there are recommended linear feet of shelving that depend on the size of your home and household?
Did you know there is a set of standards that professional designers use, when determining the size of landing area next to appliances and fixtures?



Have you ever tried to work in a kitchen where there is no place to set things next to the fridge or stove or sink? It's no fun. I once was a guest in a home where the kitchen sink was in an island and there was no landing area (counter space) next to the sink! I was trying to help the poor hostess with her dishes, and it broke my heart that the retirement home this woman had purchased had such a disfunctional kitchen.

Have you ever tried to cook on a stove that was right next to the wall or the fridge?  It's difficult to push handles out of the way, and there is no elbow room for lifting heavy pots. It's frustrating and unsafe.

Have you ever tried to work in a kitchen where every fixture and appliance was against one wall? This is the most inefficient of all the kitchen layouts. It's fine for a single person who rarely cooks, but very frustrating for a busy parent trying to get dinner on the table every night.

Have you ever tried to work in a kitchen that was so small you couldn't bend over to look in the lower cupboards, without bumping your bum? Have you ever tried to work in a kitchen that was too big to work between appliances and fixtures easily, but not big enough for an island?

Good Design =

Functionality

Safety

Beauty

There is so much at stake in doing a kitchen remodel. It's probably the most expensive home improvement project you will ever do. If you do your research, and hire a qualified interior designer (not a decorator), architect, or kitchen designer, you can have an amazing space that meets all the qualities of good design. Here are a few articles to get you started on your kitchen design process.

This article is an absolute must read for anyone planning a kitchen remodel.

This article shows how a little creative thinking can add function and usable storage to a kitchen, even if your budget is tight.

This article shows there are lots of creative ways to find storage in your kitchen!

You might also like this virtual makeover of a bad kitchen found in an MLS listing.

Here is another virtual makeover of a bad MLS kitchen.

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Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Amanda