The Kitchen:
The Heart of Your Home By: Kathy McLeod
If you asked homeowners which room they spend most of their time in, my bet is the kitchen would be mentioned most. It’s the gathering spot for meals, for homework, for conversation, and for entertaining friends and family. It’s the heart of the home.
What are your “must haves”? Here’s where you start to list your non-negotiables—those things that you won’t trade off. They might include what you want to keep (e.g., your current countertop), as well as things you want to change (e.g. professional range). Is your heart set on a specific type of countertop? What about cabinets—stained, painted, or both? Do you need a larger refrigerator? Two dishwashers? Are you all about open shelving? These are often a combination of your dream kitchen elements and practical considerations.
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What are your constraints? Everyone has some type of constraint that influences the renovation process. Some of the more obvious ones are budget, timing, and project duration. Others might include plans to sell your house, availability of natural gas for appliances, or the need to use a specific vendor or manufacturer. Identifying these early in the process should minimize mistakes and the need for re-selections.
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S O , W H E N I T C O M E S T I M E TO
renovate or make updates, the choices and decisions can be overwhelming. Knowing where to start can sometimes be the hardest part. These considerations can lead you down the right path. Your insight will enable a design professional to help you create the kitchen you love. What are the pros and cons of your current kitchen? Scratch out a t-chart, and jot down the things you love about your current kitchen on one side. What you’re not so thrilled about add to the other side. How does the flow and layout work for your current and future needs? Which appliances are broken and need replaced? What works? What’s the one thing you love that you want to preserve or replicate? What do you just not like any more? This series of questions provides a great foundation for the next four points.
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How will you use your new kitchen? 2 Functionality trumps all, so it’s the best place to start when thinking about your new or updated kitchen. Is cooking its primary purpose? Or do you use it more as a gathering space? Is it an extension of your living area? Should it work with your outdoor spaces? What will you keep in your cabinets and drawers? How many people will use the kitchen at the same time? How often? How do kids factor in? Prioritize the different ways you envision using your kitchen.
What finishes and elements do you love? Pull out those pictures that inspired you to make a change in the first place! Here’s where you start to focus on “the look” you’re after. Is your heart set on a specific backsplash? What color palette are you drawn to? What types of cabinets catch your eye—traditional, contemporary, or something in between? What about lighting—do you like a little bling, or do you go for a more understated, streamlined fixture? This is where you start to incorporate what you love into your kitchen plan.
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Kathy McLeod, a member of the Interior Design Society, has experience with both new construction and renovation, with residential and with small business clients. For more information, visit www.resinteriors.com, or call 704.500.9198.