Just watch a few episodes of Property Brothers and you too will be wanting a new kitchen. Many popular design shows on HGTV would give anyone the itch to remodel their homes – and especially the kitchen areas!
Kitchens are a very popular area to remodel. For one, remodeling your kitchen is at the top of the list on how to increase your home values. And two, many updates have been made to kitchen designs to increase functionality and usability. We all want a new kitchen!
Kitchens are one of the best ways to improve your property value
The Cornell 1950s Triangular Kitchen
Researchers at Cornell University developed the triangular kitchen model in the 1950s. Their idea was to create a layout and reduce the number of steps you take when preparing a meal and then cleaning up. That meant the fridge, sink and stove were all configured in a triangle or “U” shape so that you could quickly get around the kitchen and then pick up once you finished your meal. Formal dining rooms were built off the kitchen for eating, so the kitchen was mainly used for food preparation, storage and cleanup.
Reconfiguring Kitchen Designs and Kitchen Zones
As the decades have gone on and culture has changed, families have begun to use kitchens for more than food preparation. Blame it on McDonalds if you will, but in many American homes, more school work is done in the kitchen than baking. Now, kitchens are used for all sorts of activities. Entertaining, watching TV, reading magazines, eating, and then of course food prep, is now done in the kitchen.
These new trends have caused kitchen remodelers to re-think kitchen design. Gone are the goals of reducing steps in the kitchen. Now, the goal is to provide open and functional spaces so that everyone can use the kitchen. In the remodeling world, we call it “zones,” or creating usable spaces within your new room.
Tips for Creating Kitchen Zones
When beginning a kitchen remodeling project, we first start with mapping out the idea of traffic flow. Host Danny Lipford of “Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford,” recommends carefully considering how you’ll use your kitchen space before remodeling. He suggests kitchen islands for families who need extra seating, serving space and storage. It’s important to think about all the ways your kitchen will be used, and then plan the features your remodel will include.
In a recent news report, Consumer Reports gave advice for avoiding common kitchen remodeling mistakes, with many of them involving poor planning and layout. Before you begin ripping out cabinets and pouring money into a kitchen remodel, make sure you’ve thought out how you’ll use your kitchen, and how to get the most use out of your new space. You and your family will love it.
In the Twin Cities area? Contact us to help you plan your kitchen zones for your kitchen remodel.
Design Build Consultants 