For those of us who love to cook, the thought of being able to design a kitchen from scratch is pretty exciting. In these types of homes, the kitchen is not only where the meals are prepared, but it also often serves as the home’s entertainment hub. A spacious layout, state-of-the-art appliances, and unique details can make this a beautiful and functional space.
Sophisticated Appliances for the Home Chef
The gourmet experience starts with the appliances. A professional-grade range is a must, as are dual ovens and a flat-top grill. If you really want to up your game, a warming station and wine refrigerator are some nice upgrades you may want to consider. For me, a massive center island with ample lighting and seating is a must. Another addition you will want to consider is Wi-Fi access and possibly a tablet incorporated into the countertop for help with recipes or to blast some music while you are cooking.
Spacious Layouts and Multiple Workstations
Countertop space is a premium in a gourmet kitchen. You need space for multiple prep stations as well as enough room for more than one person to be in the kitchen at the same time. If you plan on using the kitchen as an entertainment hub, I would recommend putting your sink on the back countertop rather than the center island so you can use both sides of that island for seating.
High-Quality Materials and Surfaces
For a gourmet kitchen, the countertops need to be both durable and attractive, so we recommend materials such as granite or quartz for your countertops. Wood cabinets are a nice touch. Glass fronts are a nice upgrade for certain cabinets, such as those holding your expensive glassware or fine china.
Ergonomic Design and Custom Storage
Entertaining often means long hours in the kitchen, so ergonomics needs to be considered in the design of the kitchen. Countertops should be installed to benefit your height, deep kitchen sinks, pull-out shelves, and spice racks that are all within arm’s length will keep you comfortable during those long sessions in the kitchen. Ample storage space for essential cookware between waist and neck height can help save your back when pulling out heavy pots, pans, and gadgets. You should also consider flooring that will take less of a toll on your back. Cork and laminate are a far better choice than polished concrete or other unforgiving surfaces.
Lighting and Ambiance
Lighting will be critical to the kitchen, as you will need to have brighter lighting for safety considerations when preparing the meals, but you will also want to be able to have warm and inviting lighting options when you are in entertainment mode. Under-cabinet and pendant lighting are considerations, and dimming options should be available as well.
Personal Touches for a Signature Space
The kitchen should be a reflection of the home chef, be it a farmhouse look or a sleek, modern kitchen. While the kitchen will obviously complement the rest of the home design, you can still add some personal touches that make it quite clear this is “your” room.
Looking for more custom-built home design ideas? Better Build Now offers a variety of managed residential construction services, and we would love to help you design your dream home. For more information, click here, or give us a call at 888-402-4180 to talk to a member of our team about your Oregon custom-built home.