Your renovation agenda? Enacting a little reform in the kitchen. Our roster of designers has the sage advice to keep you on track.
Julia Buckingham: Founder, Buckingham Interiors + Design, Chicago
Do take advantage of the latest technology in electrical systems, audiovisual, and mechanicals. Newer systems save time, money, and increase the renovation’s return on investment. The latest trends are in LED lighting, radiant flooring, televisions that pop up and move down, appliances integrated with smartphones and tablets or a refrigerator with an internet connection, touchscreen and camera to save recipes, watch cooking videos, compose shopping lists. For healthfulness, consider a steam oven.
Don’t enlarge the square footage if that means using lesser-priced, inferior materials. Keep the job small to add to the room’s tastefulness, durability, sustainability. Timeless classics survive trends.
Mick de Giulio: Founder, De Giulio Kitchen Design, Chicago
Do heed the domino effect. One simple change may affect others. Consider all the ramifications. Example: You changed your double ovens to a free-standing range. Are you compensating for the loss of pot and pan storage at the cooking area?
Don’t limit the dreaming process. Put together a wish list, prioritize goals, and consider different ways to achieve them. The most expensive line item of any project can be regret. You can cut back at the end before you proceed.
Fred Wilson: Morgante-Wilson Architects, Chicago
Do make the work space separate without traffic circulating through it. Visitors to your kitchen should be comfortable and able to sit down, either at an island or breakfast table and be able to talk with you while you work in the kitchen.
Don’t skimp on kitchen equipment. The price to upgrade to better appliances in the overall scheme of the cost of the kitchen is minimal. Get the appliances you want because you will use them every day.
