Design Ideas

Design Tips

Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s a central hub for daily living and entertaining and doing some pre-planning can aid in the design of a kitchen that will be enjoyed for years to come.

If you’re ready to start the design of your new kitchen but don’t know where to start, here are Express Kitchen planning and design tips to get you rolling. Even if you decide to use Express Kitchen’s free design services, these tips can help shape your ideas and ensure you get the kitchen you desire.

Planning Tips

Think about what you like and don’t like about your current kitchen. Do you have enough counter space? Enough seating? Do you like where the appliances are located? Take notes that you can refer back to.
Get ideas for your new kitchen. Take a look at friend’s and neighbor’s kitchens. What appeals to you? Are there “must have” items for your new kitchen? Research magazines, books, and the internet. You should have an idea of what you want before the design process gets started.
Figure out the style of cabinets you like and what your budget is for the job. This will help in selecting the options that are right for you. Do you like a natural wood look or painted or stained finishes? Modern or traditional? Will you need custom or standard sizes? You’ll want to select a style that you’ll love today AND tomorrow and one that ties the kitchen in with the rest of your home.
Don’t forget about your other kitchen elements! Look at your appliances. Are they staying or are you going to replace them? You’ll want the style and exact sizes nailed down before designing cabinets around them. What about counters? There are a multitude of options and budget ranges available and these need to be considered as part of your overall design. Make sure you know where your water lines, gas lines and electric are located.

Design Tips

Express Kitchens Design Tip #1: Clear Floor Area

Make sure there is sufficient room for everyone! Plan for 5 feet of open floor space between the different areas of the kitchen so there will be enough space for more than one cook and plenty of room for mobility. Islands can make your kitchen space tight, so check those dimensions carefully!

Express Kitchens Design Tip #2: Planned Work Centers

Think about food prep, cooking, clean up, and specialty work centers. Varied counter top heights can make working in the kitchen easier. Consider including a “table height” food preparation section with at least 36 inches of open knee space for use with a chair.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #3: Staging or Landing Areas

Create “staging” areas no more than 4 feet from all major appliances, that include at least 15 inches of counter top. These areas way you can set down groceries hot or heavy dishes easily.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #4: Single Lever Faucets

When your hands are dirty or you if have limited hand strength, a single lever faucet is easiest to use. Include a pull out sprayer to fill pots without having to lift them in or out of the sink.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #5: Cabinet Pulls

There are quite a variety of hardware styles available to add style to your cabinets and drawers. For ease-of-use, select hardware that is easy to grasp. When considering C-shaped or D-shaped handles make sure there is plenty of room to easily slip your slip fingers through.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #6: Roll Out Shelves

Stop digging around the back of your cabinets! A roll out shelf can reduce bending and make lifting easier. Roll out shelving can be incorporated into nearly any kitchen layout.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #7: Open or Visible Storage

On upper cabinets consider including glass doors. They can serve as a display case for your finest dishes or can simply let everyone see where things are stored, and find specific items more quickly. For tight budgets, replacing some cabinets with open shelving can provide an option for lowering costs

Express Kitchens Design Tip #8: Contrasting Colors

Have some fun with your color scheme. Using contrasting colors between flooring, counter top, backsplash, cabinetry, appliances, and walls can make some areas pop and others recede. Use of color allows your unique tastes and personal touch to shine through. A bright wall color can add light to the room and help call attention to decorative touches such as light switches and trim work.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #9: Natural Light

Nothing’s better than plenty of natural light to provide a warm and friendly environment. Work with your builder or contractor to add a window, windows, or skylight to the kitchen.

Express Kitchens Design Tip #10: Lighting

Your lighting choices can add considerable style and atmosphere to your new kitchen. Consider plenty of lighting options, including recessed lights, under-cabinet lights, pendants over islands and eating bars, ambient lighting above cabinetry, and even in-cabinet lights for glass door cabinets. For easy use and more lighting control, consider rocker and dimmer switches.

A little planning can make a BIG difference. Going into the design phase of your project with some specific ideas about what you want, what you need, and what you can afford can make the process easier and more enjoyable! Contact us today for information on our free kitchen design services!