A well thought out plan with loads of detail is a must for any renovation project especially a kitchen project. There are four basic kitchen functions to consider to create the ideal kitchen; storage, preparation how many cooks & of course clean up!
The following will assist you in planning your ideal kitchen
Typical kitchen layouts in the 1950's were the U-shaped, the L shaped or the Galley kitchen all of these layouts basically position the three major components (sink, stove & refrigerator) in a triangle pattern. This was most efficient as the woman stayed home during the day, worked alone in the kitchen and cooked most foods from scratch!
Keeping up with the demands of today showed that more often than not everyone works outside of the home, there is shared cooking responsibility, we prepare fewer foods from scratch and we require a vast amount of storage. That is where we are today the great demand for multiple work stations..
Your ideas compiled with our knowledge and input can create the ultimate dream kitchen that offers multiple work centers or work stations to allow for all hands on deck to work efficiently together without getting in anyone else's way. You can create a workstation anywhere there is counter space next to a major appliance. Adding an island can create storage and counter space for preparation of meals especially if there is a sink is added.
Finish Materials: another critical part of the kitchen renovation process is choosing the right finish materials.. Cabinets, Countertops, Flooring, Kitchen Sink and Appliances.
Cabinets: there are two basic cabinet styles European (frameless) and face framed cabinets. Each style has a variety of door, wood and finish options. Cabinets vary in degree of construction quality so looking for small details like roll out or tilt out drawers, Crown finishes and scrip molding are important.
Countertops: range from durable and affordable to expensive solid surfaces like granite and silestone to the less expensive but attractive selections of ceramic tile and laminates.
Flooring: sheet vinyl has been the predominant flooring choice for moderately priced kitchens and over the years the quality of sheet vinyl products has come a long way. Ceramic tile and Hardwood floors are gaining popularity in both moderate and high end kitchens.
Sinks: So many choices... Stainless Steel, Solid Surface, Cast Iron and Plastic. You can have an undermount or a top mount, it can be a double bowl, single bowl, it could be deep or shallow. Then of course you must finish it off with the right kind of faucet....
Appliances: Important in it's own right from the very beginning of the kitchen plan as it is most critical to have the appliance selection made prior to starting the project.. Again the choice of finishes and styles is so great that there is really unlimited possibilities.
