The modern kitchen has become more than just a place to prepare and eat meals. Most radical and contemporary changes have turned kitchens into the heart of the home. It’s the one space in your house that is utilised by all members of the family.
The kitchen’s importance depends on its size, the family’s preferences, and their lifestyles. Older homes had smaller kitchens that were more isolated from the rest of the home. It was little more than a utilitarian space reserved exclusively for cooking meals that you could easily seal off to hide the ensuing mess. Instead, the living and dining rooms were used to set up meals.
Modern‐day millennial’s will most likely have fond memories of their mother or father tirelessly slaving away at the stove and counter-tops, preparing savoury and nutritious meals for the whole family. Some homes preferred to keep children out of the kitchen, probably out of concerns for safety due to hazardous equipment and fire.
Medium and larger homes meant that families didn’t need to go elsewhere to go to eat their meals and could congregate in the spacious kitchen instead.
In this sense, the kitchen can be said to be the hub of the house, buzzing with activity as all the energy, texture, and aroma leaks out into other rooms.
Due to the importance of the kitchen, a lot of planning and strategy goes into the overall design.
Things to Consider Before Designing Your Kitchen
As with other things in life, breaking the planning into smaller, more manageable steps will simplify the design process. Whether this is your first time designing kitchen or you’re an enthusiast fishing for new ideas, the guide below serves as a quick refresher course on kitchen design.
Evaluate Your Needs
It helps to know what you like and dislike about your kitchen’s existing makeover. Take a cursory look around your existing kitchen and note the things that need to be changed. This could be anything from an aesthetic makeover to a change in the type of appliances or new cabinetry for storage.
Does your ideal kitchen need more room, perhaps to create a multi-functional space where you can congregate and eat together with friends and family? In rare cases, you may be looking to restrict the kitchen’s dimensions if you are going for a more utilitarian look.
Create A Layout
Once you have evaluated your needs and wants, you can start designing a kitchen layout that works. The idea is to establish a concept known as “the kitchen triangle”. It connects your sink, cooktop and fridge to make them more accessible. The cook stands at the centre of the triangle and does most of the food prep here.
The smaller the triangle, the more efficient the kitchen, with the trade‐off being that the kitchen will become more cramped.
Below are five popular variations of the kitchen triangle:
The single‐line kitchen is reminiscent of modern kitchens from the 1920s when homes were very small and had little space. The kitchen was laid out in a single line that was incredibly practical and maximised the use of space in a constricted environment.
The galley kitchen is preferred in spaces with more room. It has 2 parallel walls, each loaded with appliances, counter space, and storage. Galley kitchens are practical and efficient, allowing you to have all the bare necessities needed from a modern‐day kitchen. There is very little room for customisation here.
An L‐shaped kitchen, as the name suggests, resembles an L‐shape. It is designed to take advantage of corner spaces. This layout does not work well in older homes with less space.
The U‐shaped kitchen is mostly used on larger homes with plenty of room for storage cabinets. It looks aesthetic and can be customised to your heart’s content.
The G‐Shaped kitchen adds an extra counter space to the U‐shaped layout. The extra space could be used to sit and have a chat while cooking and other activities. This type of kitchen layout works best in homes that offer lots of space, or else all the extra items will only make the cook feel more crowded
Plumbing & Heating Matters
At the heart of your kitchen are the plumbing and heating. This is one area that needs to function properly to ensure smooth operation. Your kitchen needs hot and cold water supply lines, a gas supply line, and a waste line to connect to the sink. You may need additional supply lines for a water treatment system, an ice maker, disposer, dishwasher, and immediate hot water.
Before you even get to flooring and layout, you will have to ensure that both electricity and plumbing supplies are properly installed. Your appliances, both big and small, will need access to electricity and water for proper functioning.
Try to take into account every type of appliance you will possibly need and the possible locations for the power outlets; this also includes chargers for mobile phones. To make your life easier, you may want to install the dishwasher and washing machine close together to keep the plumbing simpler.
Sink Styles
There are many types of kitchen sinks. The two most popular options are stainless sinks and granite sinks. Granite sinks offer durability due to their strong granite and resin construction that is nigh impossible to chip or scratch. Fire-clay sinks offer a unique spin on kitchen design due to their ceramic‐like look and have the durability to match. Another option is cast iron which comes in plenty of colours to add more character to a kitchen.
Lighting Options
Using the right balance of lighting can help you accomplish your everyday tasks, helping kids with homework to cooking delicious meals, or simply have a family get‐together.
There are three kinds of lighting to consider: ambient, accent, and task.
Ambient is your main source of light and is used to illuminate the kitchen. This light fixture should cast light as evenly as possible from the ceiling; you can choose from a range of possibilities such as pendant lights, recessed lights, chandeliers, and flush mounts.
Ambient lighting may create shadows in areas that require more attention and focus. This is where secondary lighting or task lighting comes in. It can properly illuminate cabinetry and work surfaces to help you read recipes, prepare meals, and easily spot ingredients on a shelf. The most common options include pick lights and strip lights.
If you want to highlight certain elements of your kitchen or make them stand out, consider using accent lighting.
Wallpaper & Colours
Wallpapers add a chic backsplash to your kitchen. The best part is that you can change them at any time depending on your mood. If you like constant experimentation with wallpaper colours, make sure to buy removable wallpaper samples to see if the colour ties in together with the rest of the décor.
A popular choice for contemporary kitchen design is beachy colours because they feel light and airy. Beachy colours add energy to the room but don’t overwhelm the eye. Going for a beach design requires little more than ocean‐themed removable wallpaper and decorative items such as conch shells and ship wheels.
Choose A Focal Point
Focal points are designed to accentuate specific areas in your kitchen. They get your guests to stop and stare in admiration.
Possible choices can be as simple as a pair of decorative hardware on the kitchen countertop. You could use range hoods made of metal or wood to make a statement. Wall cabinets covered with glass doors can be used to showcase important décor items.
When it comes to creating a focal point, there is no one‐size‐fits‐all‐rule ‐ you choose what works best with your personality. If you’re running out of ideas and need inspiration, visit Pinterest boards about kitchen focal point ideas to learn what other people are doing with their kitchens.
Get Help From A Professional Kitchen Consultant
To get the most out of your kitchen you may want to consult a professional kitchen designer. This person will use their expertise and experience to give you plenty of simple and unique ideas that are custom‐tailored for you. The expert will closely inspect your kitchen, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses and provide useful tips to help you create the most efficient kitchen space possible.
Get An Idea For A Budget
Make sure you’re upfront about your budget to your kitchen designer from the get‐go. This is important even if you’re not looking to or want to spend large sums of money. Your kitchen designer will use your budget to offer advice that works best with the room’s strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, having a budget prevents you from overspending on extra things you don’t need over appliances that you need.
As a general rule of thumb, the most important element in your kitchen has to be the worktop. Make sure you to allocate a large percentage of your budget to the worktop because this is where you’ll be preparing your food. Good choices include composite, granite, and solid surfaces.
Modern and Contemporary Kitchens Are Not the Same
Although the terms contemporary and modern sound alike, they are not the same. Modern designs were popular from the 1920s to the 1950s, in this sense, they might as well be considered ‘retro’ or ‘vintage’. Contemporary design is the change that is taking place right now, and these trends are not easy evaluated.
Modern kitchens are streamlined spaces with shiny appliances and simple designs that lean towards clean lines and minimal aesthetics. They do away with unnecessary curves and items that don’t serve any purpose. The Flat‐panel cabinet doors look plain and cork floors are the norm. More notably, there is a complete absence of ornamentation. Anything remotely considered ‘beautiful’ has to do with the beauty of the natural materials itself.
Contemporary kitchens are an umbrella term that can be used to sum up most design styles that are in popular demand today. These include minimalism, Scandinavian, and even Victorian‐era designs, or a fusion of them all. Contemporary kitchens have more characterisation and personalisation compared to modern kitchens. This includes luxurious throws, colourful soft rugs, plump cushions, and other items that are an extension of your personality.
What Is the Difference Between Modern and Traditional Kitchens?
Traditional kitchens set themselves apart due to their classic and retro feel. They are dominated by a complete range of colours, going from greys to creams to pale colours, with lots of versatility. This kitchen is mostly dominated by natural materials like real wood and a few manmade ones. The wood often has muted colours to appear more aged.
The floors are made from natural materials like tile and stained hardwood. Raised panel cabinets take central space in the kitchen, adding more detail and dimension to the room. Lots of storage space is a hallmark of this kitchen.
The stove is located smack dab in the centre of the room while the appliances and accessories surround it for ease of access. In comparison, a modern kitchen is more like a means to an end. Getting the job done and moving on is the order of the day.
Get in touch with kitchen consultants and designers over at mpmoran.co.uk. We simplify the process of kitchen design according to your tastes and budget. MP Moran outfits you with a fully equipped, high- end kitchen that fits all your culinary needs. We are a family-owned business operating for over 40 years and have become a household name since. Simply visit us or call for a free consultation!