Finally got that big promotion and looking to create the kitchen of your dreams? Look no further. We have you covered. Here is an overview of the things you need to cover to make sure you get a great high end kitchen you will love, no regrets.
Space Planning
Luxury kitchens tend to be spacious. This can actually be a problem if they aren’t well designed. The last thing you want is to feel like you are running a marathon every single time you try to cook an egg for yourself. It’s generally best to hire someone to handle the planning, then make sure you communicate to them how you live your life. It would be a tragedy for that gorgeous space to become a white elephant in your mind.
A simple rule of thumb to keep in mind is that no matter how big the room, the work core still needs to be efficient. The three points of the triangle include food storage, sink and stove. In a large kitchen, you may have more than one work triangle. For example, you may have a triangle for cooking and another one for baking, with separate a stove top and oven, plus storage and countertops nearby for both purposes. That way you can efficiently throw together your favorite foods or work in tandem with other family members.
If you do a lot of entertaining, you may need staging areas for serving the food as well. If you do a lot of holiday baking, you may want a large island and other features typical of a commercial space.
Great Appliances
In the past, upper class families had butlers and other live-in servants. Today, our appliances are often our servants. They are the work-horses that help give us a great life. So think hard about exactly what you need here.
List out how you like to cook, live and entertain and brainstorm the appliances that you need to live the way you want. Whether they are built-ins or designed to go on your countertops, great Kitchenaid appliances are an essential element of a great kitchen. Also, choose them with an eye towards how easy they are to keep clean.
Self-cleaning oven? Check!
Exterior that is fingerprint resistant? Check!
Parts that easily fit in the dishwasher? Check!
High Quality Materials
Whether you are picking out natural stone countertops, wood floors or stainless steel appliances, quality materials are an essential component of a great kitchen. No matter how well designed it is or how much money you spent, if the materials aren’t high quality, you won’t really be satisfied with the end result. Whether floors, countertops or other detailing, natural stone, especially quartz, is currently very popular. It’s hard wearing and beautiful. It is also a timeless classic component in any home. It’s fairly inexpensive and is known for being very versatile. You can easily dress up your kitchen with a stunning quartz island.
Easy to Clean
You want to cook there and eat there, not slave away cleaning the space. A little forethought will go a long way towards making it a space you enjoy entertaining in, not a space you dread cleaning once a week. There isn’t any one thing that makes such a space low maintenance. This needs to be kept in mind every step of the way, from choosing the appliances to choosing the countertops and lighting.
For example, natural stone countertops will tend to be easy to keep clean and hard wearing. Quartz is both beautiful and can be easily cleaned up with a damp cloth. It’s extremely low maintenance and will look gorgeous with very little work on your part.
Good Lighting
This is a workspace. In many homes, it is the most important work space you have, or one of the most. Yes, you want it to be beautiful, but you also need it to be a well- lit space to work. A great kitchen should consider all three types of lighting in its design:
- Ambient
- Decorative
- Task lighting
Ambient light gives you enough light to comfortably navigate the space. Decorative lights or spot lights can call attention to details you want to highlight, such as artwork in a niche. Task lighting is how the real work happens in this space. It makes it so you can see what you are doing. This helps you not only prepare a lovely meal but also stay safe while doing so.
During the day, natural lighting can be wonderful. This is a great space to have lots of windows. But plan for both privacy issues and night time lighting needs. You don’t want it to fall apart after sunset.
Also, keep in mind that you’ll have to hire a professional contractor if you’re looking to add new windows to your existing home. This need arises because window replacement a large job to undertake and permits are often required, depending on how much the home’s structure is being changed. Luckily, there are plenty of LA home window replacement professionals around, giving you some options when the time comes to compare quotes. You’ll have a few different window types from which to choose, as well, and this can help alleviate some of your privacy issues.
Passive Solar Design
Passive solar is a fancy way of saying that space is well designed to keep a comfortable temperature and good air flow with minimal use of energy. It is very dependent upon the use of day-lighting, thermal mass, and materials that absorb heat during the day and give them off at night during cold weather. The design may also wick heat out through a natural chimney, much the way Victorian stairwells were designed to do, thus keeping the place cool and comfortable on the hottest days without the need for air conditioning per se.
Thermal mass sometimes comes in the form of heavy materials, like natural stone. That gorgeous floor can do double duty by soaking up the rays all day and giving them back after dark. Well- designed passive solar spaces are both environmentally friendly and people friendly. When done right, they are typically more comfortable to the inhabitants than spaces that heavily rely upon approaches such as forced air HVAC systems. Who knew that saving money on energy bills while saving the environment could feel so wonderful?
Energy Efficient
Passive solar will help keep it energy efficient, but it won’t do the job alone. With a room full of lighting and great appliances, you should also keep in mind their energy efficiency when making choices for the space. Going with items with good ratings can help justify the cost of a high end appliance. Look at the figures for average lifetime cost, not just upfront cost. This perspective can by eye-opening. It’s also better for the planet to keep energy use down while creating a wonderful home life for yourself. That’s a good feeling too.
Beauty
Last but not least, a luxury kitchen should be beautiful. It should be a work of art in its own right, one that is a feast for the eyes even when there isn’t a scrap of food in it. Feel free to pick a color palette to die for and fill it with your favorite materials, from your favorite types of natural stone to glass and metal. Architectural details, strong lines and great views can all play their part in making it a work of art that you are thrilled to see when you come home at the end of the day.
Luxury is about pleasing the soul. It should shoot for greater heights than mere practicality. You should feel your heart soar there. You should feel inspired and happy when designing your gorgeous kitchen.
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