Design

Working with an appliance specialist is the most recommended advice we can give. In fact, you’ll need to sign a waiver if you don’t! Here’s why.

There is likely not to be a more technical part of your home than the kitchen. The technology and planning for it is going to make this one room the most technical aspect of the project.

Pay close attention to where outlets need to be. Often times it’s recommended that outlets be adjacent to their respective appliance in order to allow the appliance to be perfectly flush with the cabinets. Sometimes the only way to get the appliances completely flush is to have the outlets be recessed into the wall. There can be different voltage or plug types too. Some items have ventilation requirements too. You might also need to consult with your electrician if your current electrical panel can support the new load requirements of the kitchen. You might need to add circuits, or even upgrade the panel, which can be costly.

A kitchen that has consistency in aesthetics and function speaks volumes. If it looks like each piece was donated from a different uncle, then it’s going be a lot more difficult to sell when the time comes.

Today’s domestic made “built in” appliances usually have an option for “Standard Installation” or “Flush Inset.” The difference is significant and will affect the aesthetics and the built out of the cabinetry. Ensure you are informed by your specialist.

Most European brands are Flush Inset. This means that the panel of the appliance is flush with the panel of the cabinets, and that you can’t even tell the difference between the two. Furthermore, don’t forget the handle detail. Some new models are now touch open and require no handle.

Provide the specifications on openings and panels as well. Consider door swing clearances, especially near walls and inside corners.

Dishwashers and other under counter appliances may also come panel ready, meaning a wooden door may take the place of a stainless panel and hide them away. Some items require handles, where others can be integrated with a channel.

This will usually require the ADA compliant model to allow the channel to cross above it without making the base cabinets too tall. Some new models have touch open options to avoid the need of handles should that be part of the aesthetic of the cabinets. Make sure to provide the specifications on openings and panels too.

At times, you might stack a speed oven on top of a regular oven, both of which may be above a warming drawer. Stacking all these may become troublesome. Make sure you understand how these dimensions work with each other, you might need trim kits. If there are items side by side, such as a coffee machine by a microwave, inquire to their heights. They might not line up in some models.

Make sure they fit in the base cabinet. A standard base cabinet interior opening is typically 1.5” less wide then its outer dimension. This means the cooktop housing will need to fit. Also, if you require a downdraft, double check to see that it will all fit.

Don’t bang your head. Make sure you are aware of the relationship with the front of the cabinets and the front of the ventilation hood. If it is too low and/or sticks out too far then peeking into that rear pot might not be pleasant. If you are doing a full slab backsplash, make sure you account for the thickness of that slab before installing your hood and vent. It could get locked in and cause trouble for future service repairs.

We recommend installing the backsplash before the hood, this being able to adjust to the distance of the back wall. Also, make sure you have the right duct diameter as it might be too small for requirements and may end up extra noisy. If you’re given the option to have 30-36” clearance from the cooking surface, we vote 36”. The bigger backsplash, the better.

Too often we see beautiful slab waterfalls only to be pimpled by a large electrical outlet. Yes, you need power to your island per code. It’s nice to have a laptop near by when being casual. But today we have solutions to prevent this archaic approach to island power.

Plug strips, pop up power towers along with interior drawer power outlets are a few ways to correctly engineer these requirements. Or just slap an outlet right smack on the focal point.

Prior to cabinets going into production, we must be assured you understand the appliances you have purchased and what the final outcome of your kitchen is going to look like.

Expectations can be more accurate with informed experiences rather than assuming things will work themselves out. We never assume somebody else took care of it. This is why we urge that you request more than a receipt after your purchase.  Get all of the specifications for your appliances.

Check to see if  the options available for your appliance model aren’t ambiguous, and that you’re provided the exact specs for the way you want it. Ask for the panel specs too. The largest mistake occurs on refrigerators that have options on how they are installed. It’s affects everything. If you’re going for a high end flush install, then getting the correct trim kits and specs is paramount.

Imagine this scenario: Your permits have been approved and you’re ready to begin demolition and construction. You could be six months out before any of your finishes will be going in so you focus on all the structural and mechanical details of the home with the intention of visiting the finishes down the line.

The time comes to finalize your cabinets and have a professional walk your job. It is only then that you realize without an early comprehensive design, exact appliances and their locations haven’t been considered. Some elements have very specific requirements and you’re faced with relocating rough electric plumbing along with drywall. But the island sink drain isn’t in the right area, and that requires the foundation to be opened, so you settle on sacrificing the very much wanted side cabinet drawers to run the plumbing. Now we’ve realized that under cabinet lighting was overlooked, and that the island lights aren’t perfectly centered.

In the Master Closet, you’ve realized that the room required 4” more in width to adequately fit an island with jewelry drawers, hampers, and a bench for sitting while putting your socks on.

The point is that design will influence the space, and thus the framing of the home. It will direct lighting, electrical, and plumbing. You’ll realize clearance spaces, points of symmetry, and the energetic feedback that an environment’s potential can achieve.

It will also assist with the prevention of common delays of construction. By catching all the snags in the design phase, everything can be ready for installation. All the tradesman can be informed and the project manager will have a handle on the whole picture.

Changing your mind in the middle of a kitchen remodel can be quite costly and will slow down the entire process. Take extra time in the design stage to make sure that you’re getting exactly what you want.

People often forget how important lighting is. It’s easy to get distracted by the cabinets and countertops and overlook other aspects of the design. It’s prudent to make sure the lighting is even, is a color the compliments your design, and that the fixtures match your aesthetic concept.

It’s paramount to hire a certified general contractor and/or an interior designer who specializes in kitchens. The average kitchen remodel costs around 25k. If you’re going to make an investment this large it’s very important that major decisions are made by, or at least approved by experienced professionals.

Everyone wants to save money. But sometimes the company that gives out higher bids do so because they’re experienced, honest, or simply better at what they do. They might go out of their way to hire better employees that in turn require higher pay. Whereas some general contractors will give low bids at first just to get the job and then tack on more fees later, or because they hire lower quality help, or they’re less experienced and don’t consider some costs that more experienced contractors can foresee. Don’t choose the contractor or designer by their bid. Choose based on the quality of their work. If their bid is too high let them know what your budget is and see if there are compromises you two can make to decrease the price.

When it comes to storage space too much is just enough. Make sure you and the designer make use of every possible square inch to give yourself as much space as possible.

Walkways in a kitchen must be at least 36 inches in width. Walkways within the cooking zone should be at least 42 inches wide. When designing, adjust kitchen islands and peninsulas accordingly. If adding an island prevents your kitchen from meeting these requirements then you should not have an island. Homeowners can sometimes get stuck on an idea and force it into the design even though it’s not practical. Don’t let that happen to you.

There is no scientific evidence that Feng Shui’s claims are true, and it’s considered by the scientific community to be pseudoscience. However, you don’t need to believe in the mystical aspects of it to learn from the practical aspects of it.

Most cultures pass down survival advice, more often than not this advice is simple common sense: If you put your cottage too close to a cliff it might fall; If you build a bungalow too close to the ocean the tide may rise and wash it away. The idea behind living harmoniously within one’s environment begins with simple safety guidelines such as the aforementioned.

Although most cultures pass down these guidelines no culture has taken it to the extent that the Chinese have. They have developed Feng Shui to be an intricate system to help your home be harmonious with your environment. We’ve found that by studying Feng Shui one can learn a lot about interior design. So today we’re going to go over the basic principles and tools of Feng Shui, and then we’ll share a few tips to bring more Feng Shui into your home.