It has often been said that the heart of the home is the

kitchen. If that is really true, then why is it that some

kitchen designs just don’t seem to support more than one cook

or guest at a time? You can turn your kitchen into a functional

and beautiful workspace and gathering place for the entire

family. Even if you have limited square footage, there just may

be more room for expansion, storage, and oh yeah, cooking in

your kitchen than you think.

Counters & Cabinets

Storage is definitely a consideration in designing a functional

kitchen. If you are limited by floor space, just look up. There

is often a great deal of space between the counter tops and

ceiling that just isn’t being used in a kitchen. Look at the

space above the refrigerator. Is yours just collecting dust or

take out menus? If so, add a cabinet and you’ve got a great

place to store seldom used platters or treats you want to keep

hidden from the children.

Kitchen cabinets also don’t have to be limited to one side of

the countertop. If your kitchen design has a peninsula or

island, you can use the ends and back side for more cabinet

storage space.

Kitchen cabinets come in more styles and finishes that you can

imagine. However, if your budget is limited then you don’t need

to replace them for an entirely new look. Cabinet refacing lets

you select cabinet patterns that are up to date and beautiful.

New countertops don’t always need to be included in this home

improvement project either. Laminate countertops come with

repair strips that will give new life to a worn surface.

Laying Out Completely New Kitchen Designs

If your budget calls for a complete renovation, then now is the

time to really think about layouts and maybe calling in some

specialist. The basic theory is that there should be no more

than 2 steps between work stations. That means you should be

able to go from the sink to stove in 2 steps; from the range to

the refrigerator in 2 steps and so on. However, with today’s

extra large sized kitchens that’s not the case any more. You

still should choose layouts that consider how much time it

takes to accomplish the normal tasks of putting dishes away

from the dishwasher or getting foods from the refrigerator to

the stove.

The newest gadgets in these mega kitchens make timesaving and

energy efficiency into an art form. There are refrigerator

drawers right next to the range and microwaves that brew your

coffee while making your toast!

Fixtures and Furniture

The finishing touches are what make kitchen designs more

inviting than ever. The furnishings, light fixtures and even

the cabinet hardware can make kitchens into real living rooms.

Look for task lighting that can highlight work spaces and then

radiant lighting for atmosphere. You can even turn the legs of

old furniture or newel posts into bases for centre islands to

make you kitchen furnishings blend with the rest of the house.

Get creative and enjoy doing much more than cooking in your new

kitchen.