When you start considering appliances for your kitchen, consider function as well as aesthetic. Efficiency and lifestlye are imperative in deciding what to put into your kitchen. If you go to the market everyday for fresh ingredients, then you probably have a quick food turnover rate so you won't be needing that huge 48" side by side refridgerator and freezer. Or, if the extent of your cooking is boiling water for pasta, the added expense of a double oven may be unnecessary. Look into your day to day needs and be pragmatic about what purposes your kitchen will serve. So, please don't ask your designer to create a room that you'll only utilize for a single large annual event, ie. Thanksgiving.
Moving on to aesthetics; your kitchen is part of a larger whole, that being your home. Think about choosing materials that flow with and complement the rest of your house. Trends come and go, but a cohesive look lends itself to longevity. A hand-brushed traditional English Country look may not appeal to you in a stark contemporary steel building down the road. You don't to end up with buyer's remorse. Paint is a fairly simple thing to change while kitchen cabinetry and appliances are not.
The best way to turn your dream kitchen into a reality is to do your homework! Be sensitive to the rhythm and needs of your life and family. Take the time to really get acquainted with your family and yourself, and the once daunting process is suddenly more fun and manageable!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Your Dream Kitchen Part 2
To pick up from last week...
When you're looking into hiring a design professional, personality is key. Much like a swim coach, their goal is to motivate you towards an optimal finish. They take your initial ideas and finesse them with technique and experience; with this education the end result should be an Olympic gold. Professionals should be able to assess what your needs are for you and your family no matter how great or small, and how these needs play into the family dynamics.
Interviewing different designers is a great way for you to assess them. By looking at their portfolio you should be able to see a good indication of the designer's creativity. Do keep in mind that you are looking at other people's homes, and that their choices may not be yours. If you notice a theme running throughout a designer's portfolio, then this designer may not be able to stray too far from their own comfort zone.
As your coach, your designer will play an integral part in fostering the wants and needs that you have. And, together you should be able to create an overall theme and game plan. This professional should, again, be able to help you reach for the gold - making your dream kitchen a reality!
When you're looking into hiring a design professional, personality is key. Much like a swim coach, their goal is to motivate you towards an optimal finish. They take your initial ideas and finesse them with technique and experience; with this education the end result should be an Olympic gold. Professionals should be able to assess what your needs are for you and your family no matter how great or small, and how these needs play into the family dynamics.
Interviewing different designers is a great way for you to assess them. By looking at their portfolio you should be able to see a good indication of the designer's creativity. Do keep in mind that you are looking at other people's homes, and that their choices may not be yours. If you notice a theme running throughout a designer's portfolio, then this designer may not be able to stray too far from their own comfort zone.
As your coach, your designer will play an integral part in fostering the wants and needs that you have. And, together you should be able to create an overall theme and game plan. This professional should, again, be able to help you reach for the gold - making your dream kitchen a reality!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Your Dream Kitchen Part 1
Do you find yourself in the middle of your kitchen short of breath and panic stricken, crazed and foaming at the mouth wondering what you've gotten yourself into? If the answer is yes, then cahnces are that you're in the throws of remodeling your kitchen.
No, (take a deep breath now) your dream kitchen is not a myth but a reality yet to be fully realized.
In the last 20 years I've seen the same glazed-over and confused look time and time again. Often when remodeling kitchens people dive head first into the shallow end of the pool eager to finally have their end goals met without having taken swimming lessons. What I mean to say is that with a little bit of patience and education, the process will be fruitful.
When rehabing your kitchen, you're not just putting in new cabinets, you're assessing your lifestlye. This means that you shouldn't get caught up in the competition of what Betty down the street will like. Make the choices that will be best for you and your family.
To avoid the mouth foaming and glazed expressions described earlier hire a professional. I find that people function best in these projects when they have some sort of guide that's deeper into the process and more experienced than they are. This doesn't mean relinquishing control-- a good professional will be able to take the information that you give them (so be honest) and put it to good use.
No, (take a deep breath now) your dream kitchen is not a myth but a reality yet to be fully realized.
In the last 20 years I've seen the same glazed-over and confused look time and time again. Often when remodeling kitchens people dive head first into the shallow end of the pool eager to finally have their end goals met without having taken swimming lessons. What I mean to say is that with a little bit of patience and education, the process will be fruitful.
When rehabing your kitchen, you're not just putting in new cabinets, you're assessing your lifestlye. This means that you shouldn't get caught up in the competition of what Betty down the street will like. Make the choices that will be best for you and your family.
To avoid the mouth foaming and glazed expressions described earlier hire a professional. I find that people function best in these projects when they have some sort of guide that's deeper into the process and more experienced than they are. This doesn't mean relinquishing control-- a good professional will be able to take the information that you give them (so be honest) and put it to good use.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)