Kitchens are the center of the home, where meals are prepared for the
entire family, afternoon snacks are eaten, and family announcements are made.
So if you are thinking of remodeling your home in the next year, the kitchen
is a wonderful place to start.
A warm and welcoming kitchen can add value and improve your home more than
you could imagine.
Open Kitchens
If your kitchen is separated from the rest of the home, consider creating
an "open kitchen," or a kitchen with less than four walls.
An open kitchen will allow family to enjoy each other's company while a cook
bastes the turkey during a holiday. A kitchen with one less wall will allow
light and aroma to travel through the home.
"(Open kitchens) give you that grand room look," said Bob Meyer, a
designer, consultant and sales representative for West End Kitchen Center in
St. Paul, Minn. "It can really open up the home."
And while other kitchen experts agreed, they also brought up some issues to
consider if you think an open kitchen would fit your home.
Lori Jo Krengel, co-owner of Kitchens By Krengel in St. Paul, said the open
kitchen is currently very popular, but, "You have to have plans for what you
are going to do about the added noise from kitchen appliances."
In addition to a possible noise problem, "wall-less kitchens also make it
hard to find storage, because cabinets go on walls, but there are ways to
solve that," said Jim Brandon, owner of Kitchens Stillwater and Kitchens
Direct in Minneapolis.
The Island
Hanging pots and pans from hooks in the ceiling can save space, but the
island is one of the most effective solutions to the possible storage shortage
of the open kitchen. The island creates extra counter space and cabinet
storage in the center, instead of around the room.
Experts agree that islands are more popular than ever.
"People will do just about anything to fit a island into a kitchen,"
Krengel said. "The L-shape kitchen with an island is big now."
Brandon said as islands become more popular, customers want more with them.
"They're getting quite elaborate," he said. "The shape and style changes.
Some want a granite table attached to it, and although they're popular, I
personally don't like stoves in the island. Sinks are good."
That's because most islands have stools on one site and the stove on the
other. It's a snacking and cooking area in one.
The stools are supposed to sit under a ledge (the table) beyond arm's reach
of the stove. But some experts like Brandon aren't sure that's enough
protection. If you have children that would use the stools, consider keeping
the stove in it's original place along the wall.
And even if you have no children, the stove might be best situated along
the wall for better ventilation. With the stove in the island, there's no room
for a traditional ventilation hood to hang over.
Proper ventilation is very important. It prevents rotting of walls caused
by steam, excess amounts of carbon monoxide, splatters of grease on the
ceiling and buildup of odors.
"The round vent in the ceiling," Meyer said, "I wouldn't give you 10 cents
for them. You end up with grease buildup and smoke stains on the ceiling."
Brandon agreed the traditional hood vent is best.
"It's better to have the vent over the stove. The ceiling vent really isn't
close enough to be effective," he said.
Popular Natural Colors
Brandon said he's received numerous requests for lighter, natural wood
lately.
"People are asking for maple with no stain," he said. "People want mustard
yellow for walls. And there are a fair amount of requests for whites, but not
stark whites."
Meyer agreed. "White kitchens are not popular. People are adding lighter
colors with darker counter tops," he said.
Krengel said she's had the same experience with requests for natural wood
and soft natural colors, possibly a reaction to the Sept. 11 attacks. But
Krengel adds that bold colors have remained popular throughout the year.
So no matter what colors, woods, islands you choose, make sure your fashion
fits with the function of the kitchen. Can you move, cook, snack safely? After
all, this might just be the most important room of the house.
