For most people, the center of the home is the kitchen. This is where people congregate and this is the room around which all the other spaces in your home will revolve. And it is where many of us spend most of our time when we’re at home.
This is why a well-designed kitchen, one crafted around you and how you live, is so important. It has to incorporate beauty but also function. How easy the kitchen is to use will be just as important as how good it looks. So here are some tips to help you achieve both.
Plan
To get the kitchen you both want and need, and to keep costs under control, a plan is essential. Working with a consultant like those at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes will be a key to doing this. With your ideas and their experience, their skills and tools, you can get a plan in place with very specific details so that once work begins, it can go smoothly and be completed so it matches your dream.
Space
An efficient kitchen will depend on space. Will you be able to open the refrigerator door fully? The oven door? The dishwasher? Appliances need enough space around them so their doors can open and to allow comfortable space for you to move. In other words, be sure there is enough space for easy movement and easy use of appliances.
Layout
When choosing countertops, sinks and other elements, make sure you have cleaning up in mind. Some material and color choices will make for easier cleanup than others. You’ll also find it makes clean up easier if you make sure the dishwasher is placed close to the sink.
Light
There are many choices available for lighting and yours will depend on the kind of kitchen you envision. Whatever you choose, remember that dimmer switches allow you to adjust lighting for the time of day and for what you are doing in the kitchen. Also be sure your electrician comes in before you put appliances and cabinets in place.
Floors
You may already know what kind of flooring you want for your kitchen. Still, it’s worthwhile to look at your options and consider the pros and cons of the different materials available. Some will be easier to clean than others. Some will look great but lack the durability you may need. Be realistic about how your kitchen will be used. Will it have a lot of traffic or just a little? Will your kitchen be used a great deal or just every so often? Your choice should reflect how the floor will be used while also matching your design style.
Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
(703)641-9800
