With a
kitchen remodel right around the corner, you can well imagine that I'm pouring over kitchen books, magazines, and websites. Even though we have a basic
floor plan, there are a million and one little things that need to be figured out. As I've looked at hundreds of kitchen photos, I've noticed things. Improbable things, such as how every one is so organized and clutter free. Of course, I imagine that behind the camera is a large table, loaded with everything they cleared out to make it look so neat! Other things strike me as curious and make me wonder. Wonder enough to find out how your kitchens are set up, and what you think about the current trends. Things like:
Windows. Hardly any of the kitchens in the books and magazines have window treatments. Whatever happened to kitchen curtains? Or even blinds or shades? Does anyone have bare kitchen windows like that? Doesn't that make you feel exposed? What if you want to run into the kitchen in your underwear? Especially at night when you can't see out to know if anybody might be around to see in. Please tell me about your kitchen windows.
Appliance Garages. I admit these look kind of neat and I like the idea of being able to push some commonly used appliances out of the way. But I think it would eventually get annoying to have to do that little door up and down every time I needed one. And come to think of it, why would I want to hide my small appliances anyway? It's not like they're the messiest thing in my kitchen. Does anyone have an appliance garage? How do you like it? Do you bother to push the appliances back in after you use them? Do you keep the door mostly up or mostly down?
Rugs. Now, I really like the look of a few throw rugs in the kitchen. Pretty on the eyes and easy on the feet. But personally I find they are way too hard to keep clean. How many of you have rugs in your kitchens? Do you really truly like them there? Aren't they always full of crumbs, dirt, sand, cat/dog hair, and pizza sauce spills? How do you keep them clean?
Peninsulas. Every peninsula is made with an overhang for stools. Does a peninsula have to accommodate seating? For one, we don't need it, and for two, nobody really likes sitting on stools to eat anyway. And so what if a peninsula can seat five. What kind of arrangement is that for a conversation? It seems like islands can get away with no seating, but it's expected with a peninsula. Does anyone have stools at your island or peninsula? How often do you use them? How often do you eat there? Do they ever get in the way?
Work Triangles. OK. Whats the deal with work triangles. Honestly, how many of you work in a triangle? When I cook it's: sink, fridge, cabinet, pantry, garden, outdoor faucet, sink, countertop, sink, cabinet, stove, shelves, countertop, stove, sink, pantry, dining area, cabinet, fridge, dining area, sink, fridge, countertop, shelves, stove, sink. Where's the triangle in that? Yet every book and article on kitchen design tells us we have to have one.
I did find an article online, and learned that work triangles were devised in the 1950s to test kitchen layouts in government financed housing. The ideal distance was deemed 4 to 7 feet between sink, refrigerator, and stove. The rationale was that this either saves steps, or keeps the cook from constantly having to walk around appliances. Even so this doesn't seem logical because it takes more than a sink, fridge, and stove to prepare a meal. I've noticed that modern kitchen triangles go anywhere from straight lines for one wall kitchens, to triangles with bumped out legs to accommodate huge islands and peninsulas. I've also read enough kitchen forums to know that lots of folks (myself included) think that 48 inches is too far for some set-ups. (Can you say "water from freshly rinsed vegetables dripping all over the floor"?) It's curious that kitchen designers would hang on to this concept. Needless to say, I'm not worrying about triangles in my kitchen.
Please tell me, how does your work triangle work for you? What's your ideal distance between work areas? Are you conscious of your "work flow" and able to organize every step around the most efficient footwork? If you are, I need to know your secret.
Kitchens as Entertainment Centers. Maybe this is a sign of the times, but rarely do I see kitchens treated as a workshops. The rare exceptions are the personal home kitchens of professional chefs. More commonly, book descriptions point out amenities for guests and multiple cooks, and open concept architecture which enables the cook to remain part of the action elsewhere in the house. In addition, they are big on things like a fully stocked cappuccino center and little sinks designed solely for washing celery. Decorator details seem to be the focus. We even found one that touted "the lived in look." Um, hello, we need to make the kitchen look like we actually use it?
My question for you all is, how many of you entertain in your kitchen? I mean, how often do you work up a guest list for making an evening out of a group cook in? Personally, I find it's more trouble to find things for guests to do in the kitchen than to do it myself. Just don't leave before the dishes are done.
The resale factor. OK, moving is a reality and we're considered the mobile society after all. Still, why do I have to design my kitchen based on what somebody else may want in the future? Why can't I make it the way I want? I mean, how many of you absolutely fall in love with those one size fits all, cookie cutter kitchens in homes you're looking to buy? I read that the number one room people want to remodel in their homes is their kitchen. Maybe kitchens designers should take a hint. Or, maybe they already did and generic kitchen design is the way to guarantee job security. Keeping future buyers in mind may be good advice for those whose house is simply an investment, but what about those of us who actually plan to live in our homes? What do you think?
Books, magazines, and websites are fun to look at and great for ideas, but not for whole kitchens. I say this because most of them seem to be geared toward career minded folks rather than homemakers and homesteaders. That's where you all come in. Please tell me, what do you love about your kitchen? What would you change? If you could design your dream kitchen, what would be important to you? The floor is yours.