The kitchen is the hardest working room in the home. All of the other rooms are named by function, like bedroom, bathroom, family room, etc., but the room where people gather most often is simply called “the kitchen.”
Modern kitchens are a “living space” where we interact with family, entertain friends, do crafts, homework and office work, read the paper, surf the net, make life-changing decisions and, yes, store food, prepare meals and dine on a daily basis.
Before even talking to a designer, it’s a good idea to prepare by thinking through all the things that your new kitchen needs to do specifically for you. Now is the time to rethink how you could improve the use of space to ensure that you and your family will enjoy your new kitchen well into the future.
The following design tips and ideas were created to help you to consider all of your needs, explore options and prepare a wish list. If there is anything else you would like to know, we would be happy to share our experience with you. Don’t hesitate to drop us a line, give us a call or arrange a free design consultation.
We all use our kitchens in different ways so kitchen design is a personal process. Before engaging the aid of a kitchen designer, take time to list things you want the new kitchen to do that the current one doesn’t. Don’t worry…
6 things you should know about kitchen cabinets Planning to invest in stone countertops or other permanent elements? Make sure that the quality of your new cabinets, that will support these heavy counters, will stand the test of time. Wood doors expand and contract…
Having difficulty turning your dream of a new kitchen into a workable plan? You can get help from an experienced professional and it’s free. Most better quality kitchen companies offer free kitchen design consultation but…
For more than a hundred years, architects and homeowners have endeavoured to develop the most efficient kitchen layout. The first really scientific plan was the Work Triangle developed in the late 1940’s by a group…
The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the home yet it is the only room that is not named by its function. You have a living room, dining room, family room, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. So what is the…
There was a time when cabinets were the main architectural detail in the kitchen but that’s changed with appliances, countertops, floors and backsplashes now playing very important roles. All of these have gone…
One of the most prominent features in any new or restyled kitchen is the countertop. Stone tops are very popular these days and you have a lot of options so you really need to educate yourself about features and benefits as well as…
For your kitchen to be really efficient, the things you use every day need to have a home that is readily accessible. Two of the most frequently used kitchen items are cutting boards and baking sheets and they are…
Storage is really about accessibility and that means being able to get things whenever you want and always having a place to put them away when you are done. The best way to organize your kitchen cabinets…
While wine racks were once very popular, there are good reasons why you do not see them today. A kitchen wine cooler is a better solution. There are a few things that you should know before purchasing one…
Most kitchens were originally designed with a light in the centre of the room. This not only draws your eye to some place that serves no purpose, it makes the room feel smaller and you are always working in…
A separate cooktop and wall oven can add unique functional benefits and design features to your new kitchen. However there are some drawbacks to consider before committing to separate…
It is true what the real estate industry says, Kitchens and Bathrooms sell homes. We are delighted to say that we have heard from many of our past clients who call us to say that is was the kitchen that Coxson McInnis designed and built for them that…
Very few kitchen items cannot be stored in drawers. Roll-out trays are behind cabinet doors so they’re not quite as convenient but can be positioned as required to accommodate taller items such as cereal boxes and portable…
On the working side of your island you will need approximately 37 and 42” between the kitchen cabinets. On this prep side of the island you will need room for appliance doors to open and still allow the cooks to pass one another. Generally you would like…