Forget Cookie Cutter Kitchens: Remodel for What You Love!
Granite counters, islands, and stainless steel remain popular for kitchen remodels in the DC metro area. But at Winn Design and Remodeling, we think remodeling should give you more than what "other people" like. We believe the kitchen you'll love the most will be the one designed around the activities you love the most. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Baker's Kitchen
Marble countertops are ideal for kneading dough and rolling flaky pastry but they're easily stained by berries, vanilla and lemon juice. A solution is to create a marble work station that's lower in height than the other counters (thus perfect for working with dough) and then use engineered quartz (like Caesarstone) for the rest of the counters. The quartz offers the same cool-to-the-touch baking advantages but it's far easier to maintain than marble.
You may prefer island workstations with plenty of "elbow room" for rolling dough. A heavy duty slide-out shelf can lift a stand mixer out of a lower cabinet up to counter level and send it back when you're done with it. No heavy lifting is required and you've saved valuable counter space. Or, you may prefer a baking center where large mixers can stay out on the counter, but hidden by a pull-down tambour door when not in use. For storing flours, sugar and other ingredients, drawers offer easier access than cabinets. Still, it's good to include some deep cabinets for organizing large baking sheets, muffin tins and racks. A double oven lets you bake in large batches and at different temperatures, and new ovens with steam injection are perfect for crisp yet tender breads and pastry crusts.
Gourmet Kitchen
Gourmet recipes call for chopping, simmering, searing and more! That's why your dream kitchen needs multiple types of lighting, counter heights and work surfaces. Butcher block may not be right for all your countertops, but it makes a perfect inset for a chopping station that's also designed to keep knives handy. You may want to plan the kitchen so several cooks have room to work, but consider keeping the central prep area smaller so you can be most efficient when cooking alone.
  If you use lots of fresh ingredients, consider a bottom-freezer refrigerator that raises fresh food to eye level. New "french door" models solve the problem of side-by-side refrigerators that may be too narrow to accommodate large platters and trays, while keeping the convenience of two narrow doors instead of one large door. An extra water faucet at the stove makes filling heavy pasta and stock pots a breeze! And if you like to have blenders and food processors handy on the counter, there are ingenious new ways to make them "disappear" when not in use.
Comfort Kitchen
Dreaming of a luxurious but cozy kitchen? You're not alone! We're seeing a trend away from industrial-grade kitchens. Stainless steel continues to be popular for appliances, but new oiled-bronze finishes (like those from Jenn-Air) offer warmer choices for more traditional kitchen décor. To remodel the kitchen for a welcoming, "furnished" feel, leave room for comfortably upholstered armchairs around the table, consider a built-in refrigerator and dishwasher with cabinet-front insets and set the kitchen island off with different finishes than the cabinets. Plus you can use furniture flourishes like table legs or display shelves. To keep your kitchen comfortable – and accessible – for everyone, consider including a variety of counter heights and workstations sized for adults, kids and even friends and family with limited mobility or less-than-perfect eyesight.
What's Your Dream Kitchen?
An Entertaining Kitchen? A "Green" Kitchen? A Kid-Friendly Kitchen? Even if you're not ready to remodel right away, we'd be happy to share some ideas and new products to keep in mind as you begin to think about how to turn "what you love" into a kitchen you'll love for years to come. Just give us a call and we'll talk about turning your dream kitchen into reality!
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Maintenance Tip: Education and Safety Go
Hand in Hand
Take some time this month to familiarize family members with the location of your home's gas main valve, water main valve, and fuse box or circuit breakers so everyone can be prepared for an emergency. Make sure flashlights (fully charged or with fresh batteries) can be found easily should the power go out unexpectedly.
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See you next month!
Mike Winn |
