Kitchens can be some of the most complex spaces to plan in any home. Not only are they centered on specific tasks that hinge on functionality, equipment, and proximity between zones; kitchens are also the “heart” of the home. It’s a place where you can have a casual breakfast with the family over the nook instead of the formal dining room, where you can bond with the kids while baking cookies, or where every member of the home—the help, your parents, and sometimes even guests, can come together to make memories over meals.
Keep these handy tips in mind whether you’re redecorating your space, renovating your kitchen, or planning your first home—and always keep in mind that a great kitchen is one that works for you.
Know your non-negotiables.
The three major components of a fully functioning kitchen are based on equipment and the needs they target. Your refrigerator stands for the cool zone that keeps your food and beverages, your stove is the hot zone where cooking actually takes place, and your kitchen sink is the wet zone. You can assemble these zones in a triangle, with storage spaces and more flexible equipment floating in between (think microwave, mixer, blender, etc.), or you could go for an assembly line arrangement and have everything lined up against a wall. Figure out your personal cooking process and match that to the layout your space permits.Make room for storage.
You may be lucky enough to have a separate space for a full-on pantry, but storage in your actual kitchen is something that can benefit every home. Explore overhead cabinets for storing less used items like special dinnerware and cooking materials you hardly use, open shelves for easy to grab items that you use on a daily basis, and, if your budget permits, a customized system that allows you to partition your drawers to accommodate even the most specific of needs.Pick a look that resonates with your personality.
If you’re finicky about your kitchen, you may prefer a utilitarian themed kitchen with a sleek stainless freezer and refrigerator, slate countertops and beautifully designed cappuccino makers, bread bins and other useful accoutrements. Shabby chic aficionados will love vintage-inspired equipment (if you’re getting a bargain for an authentic antique, make sure to test that it’s fully functional!), paneled cabinets and bleached wood. Mod lovers will love the vast selection of brightly colored mixing bowls, plates and accessories widely available to fit any price range.Consider your flooring.
There is a lot of movement going on in the kitchen, and working with water, breakables and a lot of electric equipment can make it an extremely accident-prone zone. Selecting the right type of flooring can help you avoid slip-ups, clean-up disasters and other kitchen perils. Tiles are a no-brainer, allowing you to mop up any spills immediately, while an industrial, rubber-type floor can offer protection for kids and cushion for cooks who are on their feet all day long.***
Have any home and organizing questions for the author? Email her at chinggaylabrador@yahoo.com
Chinggay Labrador is a freelance writer and stylist, contributing articles on beauty, lifestyle and design to local magazines. Her background in architecture has her profiling trends and homes throughout the region. A travel junkie who likes to frequent Japan and Korea, Chinggay is the former editor-in-chief of Sparkling, a quarterly K-Pop publication and is also the author of “Popped and Popped, Too,” books based on the fun, frivolity and friendship centered on Korean Pop music.
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