In Loretta Simpson’s Woodstock home, the kitchen is the social center of house. But after 15 years of cooking, casual entertaining and family activities, Simpson decided her hard-working kitchen needed a fresh look.
Simpson, who likes to cook and is a serious cyclist, didn’t want to knock down walls or bust her budget to create a showpiece kitchen. She just wanted to her kitchen to be a more functional and modernized space that her active family could enjoy.
After two years researching recommended professionals and kitchen looks she liked, Simpson contacted BeckySue Becker, president and principal designer of Designs by BDB in Lawrenceville.
Last January, the kitchen makeover was completed. The updates included new cabinets, pendant lighting, granite countertops and all new appliances, except for the refrigerator. To open up the galley-style kitchen and make it conducive to more than one cook in the kitchen, Becker suggested removing the outdated angles on the eat-out counter, which can now seat four people, instead of two.
Becker, a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, also suggested creating a statement-making counter top. The one-of-a-kind walnut top, which adds texture and warmth to the light kitchen, was designed with a waterfall edge, suspending over five feet.
Simpson enjoys her kitchen facelift now more than ever.
“I got the light, clean look I wanted,” said Simpson. “And a more multi-functional gathering area for casual meals and hosting our sons’ friends and cross-country teammates. I have also claimed the counter as my work space.”
Like many families, the Simpsons use their kitchen for more than cooking. A recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports asked more than 1,000 Americans what activities they do in the kitchen at least once in a typical week. No surprise. The survey found that uses for the kitchen go beyond meal prep.
Nearly half entertain regularly in the kitchen, 58 percent go online (recipe downloads) and 61 percent use the space to do homework or paperwork. “
“What I recognize in talking with my clients as that most have lives like my family does. We hustle around with work, school, and activities of all kinds,” said Becker. “When we are home, the kitchen is the one sanctuary where we have the best chances of socializing with friends — and being together with family.”
To create an easy-to-use, social-centered kitchen, consider these features and tips from Becker and Consumer Reports.
Before you start
- Explore websites, such as houzz.com, trends.com and nkba.org, and magazines (Kitchen + Bath Ideas). Clip, bookmark, make notes and keep files of what you like, love, want and need. If you are indecisive, then at the least make a list of wants and needs — and even what you hate about your current space.
- Have a budget. “This is the first question I ask my clients” said Becker. “Making a kitchen beautiful is the easy and fun part. Staying within budget and getting the most value for your investment is the most time consuming, and often the most important.”
Features
- Open up the space with care. Be judicious when eliminating barriers. Use half-walls or wider openings to create a sense of openness while maintaining traffic flow.
- Bring back the eat-in kitchen. Built-in banquettes are making a comeback. Casual dining is integral to the social kitchen, and it's good for resale value. It's also a place to work or help with the homework. The base can provide additional storage.
- Add an island – or two. A central island counter will give people a place to sit while the cook prepares a meal or snack. It also can functional as an interactive buffet. If there is space, two islands are the friendliest for socializing and multiple cooks, said Becker.
- Sized-right aisles. There should be 42 inches to 48 of clearance on all sides of the work areas. For larger kitchens with oversized islands, it is not uncommon to see 54 inches of clearance.
- Seating. Whether friends or children are watching or helping, provide seating where they can sit and relax or keep the cook company.
- Drop zone. When the kitchen is the nucleus of the home, it can become a dumping ground for papers, bags and jackets. A well-appointed "drop zone," usually located near the kitchen, will provide a place for those items. A hallway closet also can be converted into a drop zone in smaller households.
- Appliances today are more quiet, energy-efficient and life-style driven. For example, a prep sink can be useful, but in small- to medium-size kitchen, it is typically not worth losing the "real-estate" of counter space or storage space for another sink.
- Charging stations. For many families, the kitchen is where their electronic devices live. Handy charging stations can be tucked under or into a cabinet or drawer that's fitted with docks and electrical outlets.
- Clutter-containers. Pull-out trashcans, spice racks and tray dividers are a popular way to avoid clutter in an open kitchen. So are drawer appliances and appliances hidden under the counter.
FYI
For more information on kitchen design:
- Consumer Reports magazine (July 2014 issue) or www.consumerreports.org for tips and ratings on everything from appliances to flooring.
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