Interiors

It’s a far cry from the cozy but utilitarian spaces that most of us remember from our childhoods. But putting the hype aside, what’s really important in a well-designed, highly functional kitchen?
The people who know are the region’s top kitchen designers. They’re the talented pros who attend national conferences, peruse trade publications, hob-nob with builders and, most important, listen to consumers who visit their showrooms.

So we decided to ask the experts what they considered to be kitchen essentials. All agreed that the perfect kitchen would be large enough to accommodate multiple chefs, would have separate prep and cooking areas and would flow seamlessly into the rest of the home.

“A generation ago, kitchens were where mom cooked by herself, then brought the food out to the rest of the family,” says Ellen Cheever, ASID, a trendwatcher for industry publications such as Kitchen and Bath Design News. “Now, kitchens are the hub of the home where the entire family gathers to do homework, share meals and entertain friends.”

Therefore, says Cheever and other industry insiders, the kitchen is more than ever a multifunctional, welcoming space—bigger and more open as well as more aesthetically pleasing.
As a result, designers are creating quick prep areas where a small sink, a cutting board and a microwave are close together. Some larger homes are even using a small butler’s pantry off the main kitchen for prep. That approach offers the advantage of providing storage for linens, silverware and china while keeping dirty dishes out of sight during get-togethers.

But there are almost as many exciting kitchen concepts and products as there are designers.
For example, veteran designer Jennifer Dasher of Central Kitchen & Bath said her ideal kitchen, in addition to being large enough to accommodate more than one cook, would feature “green” (environmentally friendly) cabinet fronts made from such easily renewable wood as bamboo. Countertops would be fashioned from EnviroSlab, a composite material made of recycled glass and porcelain.

And plenty of storage is important, Dasher adds, including specified storage space for each work area. “The most important feature in any kitchen is storage,” she says. “Everything has a place and everything is easily accessible.”

As for appliances, Dasher likes Miele personal steamers, Sub Zero refrigerators with bottom freezer drawers, Wolf gas cooktops, Wolf electric ovens and any brand of dishwasher that’s energy- and water-efficient. For lighting, Dasher prefers recessed ceiling fixtures and pendant lights as well as under-cabinet lighting.

“The relationship between the kitchen and the dining room or living room depends on the people using the rooms,” Dasher notes. “Most commonly, families want to feel connected so the kitchen is open to the living area but separated by an island or a raised bar.” Architectural columns may also be used to define the space, she says.

But while Dasher likes a big kitchen, she doesn’t recommend overdoing it. “Sometimes you get oversized spaces with endless cabinets where you have to use rollerblades to get from one side of the room to another,” she notes.

Brian Cumming, president of S&W Kitchens, says the kitchen of his dreams “would start with the house surrounding it.” That is, it should be easily accessible from any room. And while Cumming appreciates the importance of aesthetics, he believes that functionality is paramount.

Cumming says the “working triangle” should be the basis for all kitchen design. In fact, he says, with several cooks in a single kitchen, multiple sinks and cooking stations—or multiple working triangles—are often required.

Frameless cabinetry with all-plywood box construction and full-extension drawer boxes with soft-close systems are favorites with Cumming. As for countertops, he prefers quartz or engineered stone because of its durability and easy maintenance. Natural quartz, he notes, is treated with an antimicrobial product that deters the growth of bacteria that causes stains, odors and deterioration.

In the appliance realm, Cumming is a fan of the Dacor line. “The Dacor dual-fuel range has more features on it than my car,” he says. “Its simmer burner is so controlled that chocolate won’t burn and the convection oven allows the most even baking in the industry.” The Dacor refrigerator keeps meat fresh without freezing for a week longer than other models, Cumming adds.

Joan DesCombes, a designer with Architectural Artworks, agrees with Cumming that function is crucial. But she also likes flair, and refers to her kitchen designs as “functional works of art.” She enjoys mixing materials and colors, combining contemporary and traditional themes and creating spaces that are “aesthetically fabulous.”

DesCombes says she designs kitchens in zones, not triangles, but insists that everything depends upon the space available and the preferences and the needs of the homeowner. “There are people who don’t cook at all and people who have six children and cook a lot,” she says. But in her own kitchen, DesCombes boasts painted and antique stained surfaces and for storage uses individual pieces of furniture in addition to built-in cabinets.

Her eclectic approach mirrors a national trend, according to Jan Aufderhar, semi-custom manager for MasterBrand Cabinets. “Instead of having a solid bank of cabinets with a standard look, customers are mixing and matching finishes, putting cabinets up on feet to make them look like freestanding furniture and choosing exotic woods and hardware,” she says.

Homeowners are also adding display areas into their cabinets, putting clear or art-glass inserts into the front doors and gallery lighting inside to show off prized ceramics or hand-blown glass collections.

Phil Johnson, president of Kornerstone Kitchens, agrees with his colleagues that a dream kitchen should be designed for multiple cooks. “I would design a large kitchen with completely separate areas for preparation, cooking and clean-up,” he says. “This would allow two people to work at the same time without running into each other.”

Johnson likes red birch and walnut for cabinetry, but adds that if the wood isn’t from a sustainable-growth forest, his company won’t use it. And he likes granite for countertops but would also incorporate a large wooden butcher-block for food prep. “Wood has been the choice for cutting surfaces for centuries,” he says. “And it’s recently been discovered that wood has great anti-bacterial properties.”

When choosing appliances, Johnson would select a Sub-Zero 48-inch refrigerator, which has a commercial-grade glass door and a stainless-steel finish, a Wolf 36-inch oven and a Wolf 48-inch gas cooktop with six burners. A stainless-steel shelf under UV lights would be installed to keep food hot before serving.

What does Johnson believe is the most important kitchen feature? “I can make do with any kitchen,” he says. “I’ve cooked on backpacking trips, sailing regattas and even on a remote island near the Arctic Circle. The one thing I can’t do without is family and friends. They’re the ingredient that’s most special.”??

What's Hot in Kitchens
Smart appliances.? Today’s cooktops sound an alarm and shut off if liquid boils over or after long periods of inactivity.

Space maximization. Under-counter microwaves, fridges and dishwasher drawers as well as modular cooking and storage units make limited space more efficient.

Green appliances/materials. Water-saving and energy efficiency features are high on the list of priorities for kitchen manufacturers. Plus, countertops are being fashioned from sustainable woods such as bamboo.

Vacation at home. Homeowners, inspired by their travels, are creating destination-inspired kitchens worthy of professional chefs.

Bringing the outdoors indoors. Exotic natural veneers such as bamboo and jade wood as well as screened porches, deep windows and sliding walls create peaceful settings and deliver breathtaking views of the outdoors.

Stainless steel.? Sparkling stainless steel is one of the most versatile elements when it comes to adding the final touches to the kitchen. And it’s not just for appliances; stainless steel cabinetry is also hot.

Flooring that floors. Slate, wood and ceramic tile are now being offered in a variety of textures, patterns and colors while inlays and surface combinations create beauty and excitement.
n Kitchen entertaining. High-definition TV fridges, large islands, multiple workspaces, six-burner ranges and temperature-perfected wine storage systems make the kitchen the new family and entertainment room.

Quick and easy cooking. Multi-tasking kitchen marvels speed up dinner prep with new ovens featuring Airspeed Technology, which blows heated air at speeds of 60 miles per hour and allows food to be cooked up to 15 times faster.

Freestanding vent hoods. They’re showing up in glass, wood, stainless steel and many other materials. These hoods combine high style and functionality—and are energy-efficient to boot.

Source: National Kitchen & Bath Association