Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home
Anyone planning a kitchen renovation will appreciate this free design advice.Help Me! I'm getting ready to take on a budget kitchen renovation. I know what surfaces and appliances I love, but I'm lost when it comes to space planning and functionality.
Home Rescue: Interior designer Larry Duggan, principal of LD Design in New York City, knows a thing or two about kitchen design. To help ensure your exciting project doesn't turn into a layout nightmare, follow Duggan's five tips for effective kitchen planning.
Photo: Alamy Images
1. Make a plan. Designing the layout is the most important step in kitchen design. The placement of the sink, range (or cooktop and oven) and the refrigerator should form a triangle of more or less equal distances. Zone your kitchen according to functions - i.e. cooking, storage, food preparation, eating and clean-up. Don't forget areas for your morning coffee, surfing the net, dining alone or entertaining the whole family at Thanksgiving.
2. Consider how the kitchen relates to surrounding rooms. Kitchens are the social center of the home, so a smart layout will help integrate it into the living/dining room space. All this interconnectedness means that everything is in plain sight, so being clean and neat is essential. It also means that when choosing colors and materials you will need to coordinate with the connecting rooms.
3. Lighting should be layered. Use task lights (think LED) under the wall cabinets and surface-mounted lights for general or ambient light. Recessed lights can be cold, austere and unflattering. The same goes for fluorescent lights. And don't forget to install dimmer switches!
4. Open yourself to the outdoors. If it's possible and your budget allows, consider installing a new, larger window, which can visually expand the room, providing views and natural light.
5. Choose your appliances carefully for function, size and aesthetics. They can be a focal point or disappear behind custom cabinetry. Stainless steel is still the preferred finish in upscale kitchens.
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