It is considered one of the most important rooms in a house. Used for preparing food, eating, and sometimes entertaining, the kitchen is pretty much the heart of any residence. It is usually equipped with a stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, toaster, and possibly a dishwasher. Some architectural designs even allow space for a washer and dryer, but that’s pretty atypical.
A kitchen is often the center of family activities. It’s the place where Junior does homework, Dad checks his email early in the morning, and Mom visits her friends in the afternoon. At one point or another during the day, everyone ends up in the kitchen, and that’s a good incentive to make this busy hub as welcoming and inviting as possible.
The characteristics of a kitchen depend on the budget, the size and the lifestyle. The architectural structure of some buildings only allows for miniature kitchen areas (apartments come to mind), while others have a lot of space, but are arranged quite simply. There’s no need to have the ultimate kitchen with an island, over-the-range microwave, dishwasher, multiple stainless steel appliances, fancy pendant light fixtures, granite countertops or antique sinks with copper patina, and designer brass faucets, when the cook is never home.
It is not always by choice that a kitchen ends up being disadvantaged. The style of an old house can be quite limited in the room, or there’s always the possibility that, with baby number three on the way, the resident family grew up a little too quickly. These are just a few of the reasons that limited space can make a kitchen undesirable or cramped. In that case, a more specific expert interior decorator or designer can help with advice. For example: swapping out a cab for a rolling island will create much more work surface area and an island with a drop sash and casters can provide mobile convenience. Tucked against a wall, it won’t even interrupt room traffic. And don’t forget the floating shelves if you need extra storage!
Whether you’re reorganizing your kitchen with what you already have or going all out, keep in mind that any modification you make will have a big impact. Use your imagination when it comes to changes, whether it’s a frame, new flooring, or upgrading your cabinets. Just keep one thing in mind: whatever you do, stay on budget. You don’t want to end up dissatisfied with your efforts just because of the cost!
Paying attention to details will determine the warmth of your kitchen area. Adding bright, warm colors to a bland kitchen will bring excitement, while bold, high-energy patterns will add character. With a few imaginative accents, you can emphasize attractive countertops, walls and furniture features and make any kitchen as inspiring, unique and as attractive as a magazine cover!
