Examining the Live-in Kitchen (April 17, 2008)

Posted on April 17, 2008 - Filed Under Kitchen Island, Live-in Kitchen, Cabinetry, Kitchen, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Appliances, Kitchen Design | Leave a Comment

The kitchen of today is no longer seen by most people as a place to just prepare and cook food. The kitchen has become a place that can be truly used for living and for entertaining friends and family.

The kitchen today is often the family gathering place for the home. In addition to being a place used for cooking and preparing meals it can even be a place for family members watching TV, as well as place for the children to do their homework. And all of this activity is going on in the same room ¨C the kitchen. Families are spending more time in the kitchen. The kitchen now functions as a place not only for cooking, but also for all forms of family activities.

Kitchen design trends now look to the kitchen to be the center point of the household, combining the many functional aspects of the kitchen with the ability provide relaxation for the family.

To create a live-in kitchen you must have a large enough kitchen space that can be used by the multi-tasking family of today. Naturally the larger your kitchen area the more likely it achieve this. A qualified and experienced kitchen planning specialist may be able to advise you in how to create more additional square footage by recommending removing a wall, opening a closet or raising the ceiling.

Homeowners today see the importance of using quality materials in their kitchens since this can help to create a kitchen that people will want to live in, as well as create a kitchen that can best meet the needs of the people using them.

There is some important design trends going on that are helping to create the perfect live-in kitchen.

Contrasts in Materials and Finishes

Adding contrast and variety to your kitchen design is important for creating the perfect live-in kitchen. Solid wood can contrast very well with a granite surface and help to soften its cold, hard appearance. For example if you have a kitchen island and the countertop is high-gloss granite, then choose a matte finish for the floor and backsplash tiles.

Kitchen Appliances

Stainless steel appliances are widely used in kitchen design. Another trend in kitchen design is kitchen appliances concealed with wood panels. This works well in kitchens that are open to formal living areas. Yet another kitchen design trend is to include two ovens and two dishwashers.

Countertops

Besides the ever-popular granite, many homeowners are also flocking to other natural materials. For instance, wood and butcher-block counter tops are enjoying a comeback. People tend to love the patina of mellow wood, and even the cuts, scratches and indentations that develop over time since these features give it a unique character. Other natural countertop materials include marble, glass, copper, limestone and soapstone. Man-made materials such as concrete and quartz composite is also becoming popular choices because they are natural looking materials.

Storage

You can help provide your kitchen area some critical space by carefully planning your cabinetry to include features that store the kinds of items you have. You can find many kinds of special cabinets or cabinet inserts that can satisfy just about any storage need.

Flooring

A hardwood floor is a good choice for a kitchen, especially one with an open floor plan, and many homeowners are selecting more exotic woods, including walnut, mahogany, hemlock, cork and bamboo.

Lighting

The types of lighting as well as how they are configured in your kitchen design should be influenced by your kitchens focal point, as in for instance a kitchen island.

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