What Makes a Dream Kitchen?

Posted by Mykie Concepcion on March 16th, 2021

Dream kitchens could look widely different from one another, depending on who you ask. Some prefer light, modern finishes, while some homeowners opt for an edgier, more sophisticated vibe that comes with updated technology.

While trends and technology change in the blink of an eye, basic design principles should be kept in mind when designing dream kitchens for homes of any size. A good, beautiful, and functional kitchen is a pleasant environment with lots of space. One's dream kitchen would ideally have the right functionalities to serve the homeowner's needs.

The three design pillars of an ideal dream kitchen

Taste and style are subjective. Every homeowner would have their own set of dream kitchen essentials, but more often than not, a kitchen would generally be a space where people spend long hours not just preparing food, but bonding with one's family or friends, too.

Therefore, a dream kitchen should be pleasant to the eyes, spacious enough to do a great variety of food-related prep work, and have the right functional aspects that match its user's needs.

Pleasant to the eyes

The word "pleasant" would have many iterations, as it depends heavily on individual perception. Pleasant in terms of kitchen design would refer to the comfort felt by people using the kitchen in terms of ventilation, illumination, and space allotment. 

Among the chief considerations when trying to come up with the kind of "pleasant" that would work with your sense of style and overall aesthetic are the following:

  •          Color Palette

Take note of your kitchen's size when picking out a color scheme for the whole space. Light colors create the illusion of more space and add light to smaller kitchen spaces. Dark colors would generally create a more atmospheric look that focuses on ambiance, creating a more intimate feel.

  •          Light fixtures

Natural light would always be your best bet when it comes to working in a kitchen. It is always beautiful to work in a well-illuminated space where natural light comes in, as it generally makes one more attentive and mindful of the tasks they are doing in the kitchen.

If having natural light care of giant windows is not possible, installing size-appropriate light fixtures like the ceiling or wall lamps will allow you to create a well-illuminated environment that would enable you to enjoy the prep and cooking process. Three kinds of kitchen lighting are often used:

  1. General lighting- lights up the entire kitchen evenly; dimmers can be used for different occasions.
  1. Task lighting- depending on your kitchen's size, general lighting might not be enough; in some cases, task lighting like under-cabinet lighting is needed to perform specific tasks such as prep work on = kitchen counters.
  1. Accent lighting - helps highlight the amazing design features of your dream kitchen; under-cabinet lightings may also be used to accent certain areas in your space.

One good rule to follow when installing ceiling lamps is to suspend them 70–80 cm. above any surface or table to avoid collisions.

Ventilation

Ventilation for kitchens also come primarily in two ways: natural and artificial. The kitchen's ventilation functions will depend on its size and layout, so take this into careful consideration to install the best ventilation features e apt for your budget and space requirements.

Big windows that allow air to flow freely in the area are the most ideal, as they will help prevent strong smells from overtaking your space. If, however, you are a condominium dweller or you reside in a community with no accommodations for big windows, many brands offer extraction solutions with hoods that can be installed directly above your stovetops.

Today's hoods are durable, silent, and efficient and usually comes in many colors and sizes that can fit virtually all kitchen styles. Do meticulous research to find the right hood for the kitchen of your dreams.

Functionality

The first question you have to ask when planning and designing your dream home kitchen is: How will I be using the space? Of course, it's a given that you will be using the space for food storage and preparation, but you must break the components down even further to arrive at integrating solutions that will work for your lifestyle.

Are you a solo condo dweller? A busy mom prepping breakfasts, lunch, and dinner for the whole family every day? Will you also use your kitchen as an additional space to entertain guests or hang out with your family? How much fresh produce do you consume weekly or monthly? How much dry goods will you be storing? Will there be enough space for appliances, tools, cookware, and dining ware?

Think of designing a kitchen as an exercise in assigning well-thought-out clusters of work zones that work with your lifestyle. Some of the basic work zones in a kitchen are as follows:

  •         Prep area (sink, chopping area, trash)
  •         Clean-up area (larger sink, recycling functionalities)
  •         Baking area (usually counters made of marble where bakers can knead the dough, temper chocolate, etc.)
  •         Breakfast prep area (which will have small breakfast prep appliances like coffee makers, a toaster, and others)

There are many factors and aspects to consider, and requirements will vary from person to person or family to family. The most important thing is to maintain a good flow in your kitchen by simply observing the way your family or guests interact with the kitchen space. Ask the right questions on how you plan to use your kitchen, so you could turn it into a beautiful, functional, livable space that suits your dreams.

Storage

The kitchen would often be where unused microwave containers or plastic tumblers go to die. One day you have so much space to fill, and the next, if you are not careful, it has turned into a storage warehouse without you noticing. Thankfully, there are now many smart storage solutions available for various kitchen sizes.

Maybe you are wondering where the right place is for your kitchen pantry, and you will need help figuring out the whole deal.

Working with a designer on customized kitchen storage solutions will help you see the bigger picture and allow you to manage the whole task of designing your kitchen without being overwhelmed by the nitty-gritty of specific space requirements. Letting the professionals handle it for you will make the load lighter, so consider working with one when thinking of optimizing your kitchen storage.

Appliances

Collecting all the cutting edge kitchen appliances is undoubtedly a great thing if you have space, time, and resources to use them all regularly. To maximize your storage, design, and efficiency potentials, you must make informed decisions before shopping for kitchen appliances to buy for your dream kitchen. Otherwise, you will be wasting plenty of resources.

Plan carefully and have fun with it

Creating your dream kitchen entails planning, window shopping, and doing the actual shopping for the appliances that will go into your space.

Do not hurry and take your time picking the right components to ensure that you will create a space that is not only beautiful but also functional in all respects—and most importantly, a kitchen that fits your unique lifestyle.

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Mykie Concepcion

About the Author

Mykie Concepcion
Joined: March 16th, 2021
Articles Posted: 1