No matter what you have going on in your kitchen, it’s always the heart of the home.
Story by Carol McGarvey
Featured in January/February 2022
Whether you are building new or remodeling, the one room in the house that causes joy and/or frustration, to say nothing of cost, is the kitchen.
We’re sure we can safely say that each of you reading this would want different details in your kitchen. Do you want a pop-up stand mixer and a microwave under the counter as opposed to over the range? Do you want refrigerator drawers or a walk-in pantry? Would you benefit from open shelving or a coffee bar? An extra wall oven for holiday meals? How about all of the above?
Is your choice clean, simple, and neutral? Pick your palette and go from there. Decide if you want or have room for a kitchen island. Will there be room for seating on the backside of it or a way to incorporate storage in it? Will the kitchen sink fit into the island? How about a cooktop?
If you are building new, perhaps you have more space for options. You aren’t confined by existing electrical or gas lines and water pipes as you might be during a remodeling project.
Then there are myriad choices to make on cabinets and appliances. Would you opt for white (stark white or creamy) or go for the wood look, say cherry or maple? If you have a kitchen island, would it match or coordinate colorwise with the main bank of cabinets? Would quartz, solid or marble-veined, be your countertop choice?
Then there are appliances. Do you want professional-grade, ultramodern, or traditional? Do you want to hide your appliances with cabinet panels to make them blend in better with your cabinet choices for a more tailored and refined look? Anything is possible.
It’s important to pay attention to lighting. If you have an island, perhaps pendant lights would give a dramatic look. Enough styles are out there to give you the look you want. Perhaps some ceiling can lighting would enhance the rest of the room. The number of windows for natural light can help determine your lighting needs.
Flooring is also a main consideration. Take your pick from wood, tiling, and vinyl choices.
The kitchen is where meals are planned, homework is completed, projects take shape, and family gathers together. No matter what you have going on in your kitchen, it’s always the heart of the home. Always. •
