Quick answer: To bring a dream kitchen to life, design for how you actually cook and move, take home plenty of material samples, keep walkways at least 36 inches wide, stick to one appliance brand in standard sizes, and partner with the right experts.
Spending hours on Pinterest or a DIY room-design app, but not sure how to actually start bringing your dream kitchen to life? Check out these tips for designing and renovating your dream kitchen.
How do you design a kitchen for your own needs?
It's easy to be talked out of your vision by the experts. But while experts know what most people want, they don't know what you want until you tell them—and you can't tell them if you don't think about it yourself.
Take some time to brainstorm, and not just the color scheme. Do you love gourmet cooking, microwave meals, or takeout? Think about how you want your space to reflect your preferences—there's no need for lots of cabinets and appliances if you're more of a minimalist at meal prep. Looking for lots of natural light or custom cabinets to show off a mug or wine-glass collection? Incorporate that into your designs and let your contractor know what you're hoping to achieve. One more tip: think about how you move through the space. Do you want your silverware drawers next to the range or the island? Where do you want dishes, cleaning supplies, and food storage? Don't forget to make the space functional.
Why should you take home lots of samples?
On a renovation project, you might have two visions: the safe, conventional one and the exciting, vibrant one. Instead of trying to decide on the spot for paint, accessories, and décor, get samples of each style and take them home to make the final decision. Don't be shy about taking samples. If you're unsure what flooring, paint, or other design elements you want, grab some samples and start experimenting.
How wide should kitchen walkways be?
Best practice for walkways in your kitchen is to keep them at least 36 inches wide. Cooking-zone paths should be 42 inches wide for one cook, and 48 inches wide for two cooks.
Should you stick to one appliance brand?
Sticking to one brand of appliance not only creates a consistent look, it also makes life easier later. When you need someone to assess one machine for repairs, you can have them check the others too. And don't forget to pay attention to appliance sizes: if you build custom areas to fit your appliances, replacing them will mean redoing parts of your cabinets as well. Buying close-to-standard-sized appliances can save you lots of headaches later.
When should you reach out to the experts?
Once you've got a good idea of what you want, spend some time researching contractors and businesses that can help you create your perfect kitchen. You can hire out specific aspects of the job—floors, cabinetry, design layouts—or hire a business like ANVE that can help you from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide should a kitchen walkway be?
Keep general walkways at least 36 inches wide. Cooking-zone paths should be 42 inches wide for one cook and 48 inches wide for two cooks.
Why buy standard-sized kitchen appliances?
If you build custom areas to fit specific appliances, replacing them later means redoing parts of your cabinetry. Choosing close-to-standard sizes makes future replacements much easier.
Is it worth taking home material samples?
Yes. Bringing home samples of paint, flooring, and décor lets you experiment in your actual space and lighting, making it far easier to commit to a final design.
