Anatomy of a Dream Kitchen
After fifteen years in our forever home I finally tackled designing “My Dream Kitchen!” As a designer, I am keenly aware of all the options out there and it can be hard to choose a path and stick with it. Sure, I had a pintrest board accumulating inspiration images but when it comes to actually making the decision to choose this and not that, there is some FOMO. By saying yes to one design direction, you are also saying no to many others that could be equally as great. Most important is that the design fits the people who are going to use the space. My dream kitchen looks different than yours because it is a reflection of my style and how we live.
“Form Follows Function” - Louis H. Sullivan
Easier than selecting a design style for me to decide was to assess things that I wanted to functionally improve. As I do with my clients, I took inventory of we use our space in the day to day.
Trash and Recycle: Don’t laugh but we actually had bolted our trash cans to the wall and placed a weight on top when we left to work each morning to prevent the dog from getting in it. Top on my list in the new kitchen was a base cabinet for the trash and recycle bins.
Sink: When assessing a sink style I thought about what I typically wash in the sink since we have a dishwasher. Typically it’s large pots and pans so I opted for a single sink bin and a sturdy stainless steel faucet.
Cabinets: Thinking about bending down to get into the back of base cabinets made me decide to go with drawers instead of doors. I also desired smooth, easy to clean upper cabinets around the stove.
A spot for everything: Dedicating spaces for wine, spices, holiday dishes, and a coffee station allowed me to tailor the type of cabinets I selected including layering the upper cabinets for easier access.
Bringing It Together
I wanted my kitchen to feel modern and minimal, yet warm, earthy and comfortable. Yes, you can mix and layer lots of woods! The key here is to make sure the undertones are similar so that things blend and contrast naturally. I chose a fun backslash pattern to add more texture to the clean palette. The pale blue on the wall provides both a refreshing and calming backdrop.
The end result has been pure joy for me even as I cook and clean! Tell me, what is your vision of a dream kitchen?