The Post-COVID Kitchen
COVID-19 has changed the landscape of our lives in myriad ways. Certainly, our responses to germs have changed since the beginning of the year. With COVID continuing, and regular flu-season upon us again, it’s time to contemplate what changes you might need to make your home as healthy, comfortable and stress-free as possible. I’ve put together these 5 tips to consider when thinking of remodeling your kitchen.
1. Has your cooking changed?
If you have more cooks in the kitchen, are eating more fresh foods or pre-packaged meals, you might want to consider adding a refrigerator or freezer drawer in your prep area. It helps keep all ingredients handy for whatever you need. Maybe even in a breakfast bar area or baking area. Speaking of baking areas, how about this tricked out drawer to hold all your baking needs? Talk about reducing countertop clutter!
2. Do you need WFH space?
Do you need to carve out some WFH or remote learning space? We can do that in a number of ways. From commandeering an under-utilized pantry or corner nook to incorporating charging drawers for laptops, tablets and phones, we can help you keep your sanity with a dedicated work area that seamlessly flows into the rest of the space.
3. What about light and air quality?
Air quality is so important. Good ventilation not only removes cooking odors and grease, but harmful gasses that are created during cooking. Whether it’s a down-draft, chimney hood or one that’s built into cabinetry, good ventilation is a must. Regarding lighting options, there are so many great options these days to light up the interiors of cabinets to help you find everything you need, and I always encourage clients to have multiple light sources to enhance function in the kitchen. Check out the lighting in this blind corner unit:
4. How about clutter control?
When it comes to controlling clutter, Greenfield and Siteline cabinets allow me to help clients customize the interiors to keep countertops free of “stuff” and make working in the kitchen easier. From dedicated plastic container storage to unique ways to access and utilize the cabinet above the fridge, there is something for just about every storage need.
5. How do you promote cleanliness?
We’re all more concerned with cleanliness and reducing the spread of germs, so here are some great options for you to consider. The first one is a trash drawer that opens when you break a beam of light with your foot. No more chicken hands touching the trash handle!! To close it up you can just wave your foot underneath again or give it a gentle push with your knee. Or how about this handy step-stool to help the little ones get to the sink for washing their hands? When not it use, simply fold it up and slip it back into the slot beside the sink.
Lastly, one of the most anti-microbial surfaces you can use in your kitchen is (drumroll, please) manufactured quartz countertops like the Cambria samples you see here! They are far less porous than granite countertops and so easy to maintain and they come in so many gorgeous styles.
These are just a few helpful tips of things to consider when it’s time to make your kitchen a family-friendly place! For even more ideas, including video clips of innovative new products, check out our pinterest board.
Snazzy Storage Solutions
I felt that our discussion of cabinetry and kitchens in general would be incomplete unless I showed you some really functional ways that you can store your stuff! Most of these items are definitely not in the “stock” category for cabinets, but they present good reasons for choosing custom or semi-custom cabinets.
First up are what’re called “magic corners”. You know how you usually have some sort of dead space if you have cabinetry that turns a corner? Yes, you can go with the standard lazy-susan type of cabinet which works ok but doesn’t make the most use of space. A “magic corner” utilizes the entire space very well as it is usually a series of 2 rectangular units on a slide mechanism that allows both units to be pulled out when you open the door. One unit slides all the way into the dead space and the other unit is attached toward the front where the door opens. Ok, here’s a picture:
See how it works? This is one style but I've seen others.
Pretty cool, huh? Can you tell I’m a big fan of the Container Store?
Next up: Pull-out pantries. These are great vertical storage units that make all those small things very easy to find. There are many different versions of these, but here’s one for an idea.
Tall pantry; note the great storage on the doors
This next solution is great for those of us who are “vertically challenged”- like moi! It’s also great for people who have any kind of difficulty reaching items. The cabinet actually pulls down to you!
Talk about accessible!
These are pretty common but worth mentioning: vertical spice and storage drawers. They’re great for making the most use of tight spaces as they’re usually only a few inches wide, and you can keep things handy right where you use them. I designed a kitchen that had a very small footprint and we utilized a couple of these flanking the range.
I think this person bakes! Isn't that a gorgeous oven?
I thought this was a great idea
One last picture of a very clever idea from apartmenttherapy.com, a secret hiding place!
I don't think I'd hide spices here, but maybe some secret recipes!
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Trash and recycling chutes- they can be cut into the backsplash in kitchens that have a garage or mud room next to them. Saves on having to devote storage space in the kitchen for trash, and saves time because your trash and recycling goes where they’re supposed to end up!
- Pull-out chopping blocks- these generally look like a drawer front, except that when you pull it out it’s a wooden chopping block. Great for having next to the sink and trash.
- Pull-up mixer shelves. If you have a stand mixer you know that they’re not lightweight! There are shelves that store in lower cabinets that can hold your mixer and with very little effort raise the shelf out of the cabinet and to counter height. An interesting concept except when your mixer spits its contents all over the place!
Have you seen any interesting storage ideas out there, or have any really great storage in your own kitchen?
Creating Your Dream Kitchen- Part 4
I hope that you all had a moment to remember and reflect on that tragic day 9 years ago this past Saturday. Like most people, I’ll never forget where I was and who I was with when we got the news. I pray that we shall never again know the pain and anguish of that day and that someday we can achieve world peace.
I love my country!
Ok, now back to our kitchen. Today I have some tips on selecting cabinetry from Justin Oliver, owner of Vision Built Custom Furniture- a craftsman in the highest sense of the word! Here’s what he has to say about choosing cabinets:
Take a walk through any cabinet show room, and you will be confronted with an array of styles and choices, but what makes a really good cabinet? To answer this we need to break the cabinet down into some simple parts.
1. Carcass- This is the body of the cabinet, the sides, bottom, top and shelves.
2. Door/ drawer arrangement- The parts you see from the outside.
Let’s start with the carcass. We’ll discuss 3 common options here. The one most people are familiar with is stock, carcasses that are mass produced, and available in only a few set sizes. Stock cabinets tend to be simple in finish, not allowing for customization in any way.
Semi-custom is similar to stock, but tends to be available in a wider array of sizes and finishes, and allows for a little more choice and customization.
Custom cabinets are built to suit, and offer infinite choices regarding size, materials and finish. Custom cabinets are normally made with the best materials, and will stand up to use much better than stock cabinets.
The door and drawer arrangement is where things get really interesting. There are two principle styles, face frame, and euro or frameless.
Cabinet types
With a face frame cabinet, a frame is fixed to the carcass, and doors and drawer fronts are then hung to the frame, either inset into it, or over laid.
The other option is euro, also known as frameless. In this instance, the doors are hung from the cabinet carcass, and the drawer fronts mounted to the drawer boxes giving a very sleek, more modern look.
As for how to pick, a lot depends on the size and space available to you, your ideas on design, and your budget. If you are not too worried about the inside of the cabinets, and can find sizes that work for you, then stock is the way to go. You can use the stock doors, or get custom doors if you cannot find something stock that you like. If you have an interesting space, or some design ideas that are not available off the shelf, then custom is the way to go.
Traditional style custom cabinets
It is most important to find the look, style, size and quality that you like, and that fits in your budget. Don’t be afraid to explore options. Cost effective stock cabinets can transformed into a stunning kitchen if you, or your designer, have a great idea for door and drawer fronts, and can get them custom made. You can get the custom look of very high end, unique kitchen for a fraction of the cost. -My addition- Sometimes you can even combine stock and semi-custom or custom for a kitchen that will suit your needs for a special size, finish or look while not blowing the budget.
Thanks for your expertise, Justin!
To see some of Justin’s work visit:http://www.custommade.com/by/justinoliver and check back here to see the beautiful bathroom vanity, dresser, and night stands he created for my client!
