Ideas for your (small) dream kitchen
January 7, 2016 10:30 AM Subscribe
We're getting ready to gut and replace our 12' x 13' DC Capitol Hill rowhome kitchen. What are the little things you like in a small kitchen, or that you wish you had done?
We've finalized a design with an architect, and are doing the work ourselves. Our cabinets, appliances, flooring, etc, are set. Obviously something like a double oven won't work for us, but I'm thinking things like:
- heated flooring, since we're on a slab
- putting insulation around the dishwasher to minimize noise
- several different types of lighting (overhead, over counter, under counter) on different switches for different types of ambiance
Basically, what little "luxury" or thoughtful touches do you see in small kitchens that we could add? The kind of stuff that isn't necessarily hard or expensive but really can only happen when everything is new?
(Bonus question: good-quality induction range: yes or no? I can't find anyone who's used one, and I'm not thrilled about running a new gas service to the house)
We've finalized a design with an architect, and are doing the work ourselves. Our cabinets, appliances, flooring, etc, are set. Obviously something like a double oven won't work for us, but I'm thinking things like:
- heated flooring, since we're on a slab
- putting insulation around the dishwasher to minimize noise
- several different types of lighting (overhead, over counter, under counter) on different switches for different types of ambiance
Basically, what little "luxury" or thoughtful touches do you see in small kitchens that we could add? The kind of stuff that isn't necessarily hard or expensive but really can only happen when everything is new?
(Bonus question: good-quality induction range: yes or no? I can't find anyone who's used one, and I'm not thrilled about running a new gas service to the house)
Best answer: My friends have slide-out step stool hidden in kickplate.
posted by acoutu at 10:36 AM on January 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by acoutu at 10:36 AM on January 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
One little touch we added to our kitchen was a false front to our dishwasher so that it looked like a set of drawers (which matched the drawers on the opposite side of our sink).
posted by Lucinda at 10:38 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Lucinda at 10:38 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
For years I wanted a removable square in the countertop with a garbage can under it so when you're prepping ingredients you can just swipe the throwaway bits down the hole.
posted by humboldt32 at 10:40 AM on January 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by humboldt32 at 10:40 AM on January 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
I have a small kitchen with a passthrough. The top of the passthrough was previously solid cabinets that only opened into the kitchen. These were replaced with glass fronted cabinets that open on both side (glass doors on both sides). I get the same amount of storage with way more light and I can access my wine glasses (and plates and stuff) easily from both the sink and the dining area.
posted by TORunner at 10:41 AM on January 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by TORunner at 10:41 AM on January 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
Best answer: - dedicated off-counter location for microwave (non-negotiable), and coffee maker (negotiable)
- deep-well double sink (omg, that extra couple of inches is a huge difference)
- exhaust hood for stove
- yes on lots of light, in different configurations, especially dimming lights
- consider in-cabinet lighting for one special location, if you have fancy things to show off
- ceiling fan, if there's room (it helps with air flow when you've got lots of cooks for a big event, like Thanksgiving)
- easily accessible, but not-seen fire extinguisher (ours is under the counter, above the trash can)
- flip out cubby thing in front of the sink (this is usually just a false panel, but it can tip out to hold drain plugs, scouring pads, etc).
- swing-out hook over the sink to hang a mesh bag or colander for draining washed fruits, etc.
posted by yesster at 10:43 AM on January 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
- deep-well double sink (omg, that extra couple of inches is a huge difference)
- exhaust hood for stove
- yes on lots of light, in different configurations, especially dimming lights
- consider in-cabinet lighting for one special location, if you have fancy things to show off
- ceiling fan, if there's room (it helps with air flow when you've got lots of cooks for a big event, like Thanksgiving)
- easily accessible, but not-seen fire extinguisher (ours is under the counter, above the trash can)
- flip out cubby thing in front of the sink (this is usually just a false panel, but it can tip out to hold drain plugs, scouring pads, etc).
- swing-out hook over the sink to hang a mesh bag or colander for draining washed fruits, etc.
posted by yesster at 10:43 AM on January 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Storage that actually works for my workflow.
posted by matildaben at 10:45 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 10:45 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you're not already planning on putting a hood over your stove that vents to the outdoors, and that's possible, this is a good time to do it.
My other kitchen suggestions are easy to add later: pegboards and hanging potracks. They save cabinet/drawer space, but also you can let stuff dry there, which makes your dish drying rack effectively a lot bigger.
posted by aubilenon at 10:45 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
My other kitchen suggestions are easy to add later: pegboards and hanging potracks. They save cabinet/drawer space, but also you can let stuff dry there, which makes your dish drying rack effectively a lot bigger.
posted by aubilenon at 10:45 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
A place, or places, to hang _lots_ of things you use frequently: multiple sets of measuring spoons and cups, ladles, cups, potholders, towels, brushes, broom, tea balls, spatulas, tongs, etc. Having a place for all this stuff makes putting it away after cleaning very fast and easy -- you can even hang things that aren't completely dry -- and makes it extremely quick to grab when you use it.
posted by amtho at 10:46 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 10:46 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Make sure that your faucet comes out far enough that's comfortable for you. I was doing dishes today (rental apartment) and noticed that the sink is juuust too short for me to stand comfortably. I am always reaching a little bit.
posted by radioamy at 10:47 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 10:47 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Our current place has tile backsplash going all the way up to the cabinetry. I guess it's easier to clean, but it makes it damn near impossible to drill into. I would love to put up a wall-mounted magnetic knife rack, or hang a few pots and pans, but I can't.
posted by radioamy at 10:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by radioamy at 10:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
We just redid ours and have a few features I will insist on in any future kitchen. My favorite by far is the drawer in which we keep/hide our recycling bin and our trash can. It's so great, not seeing a trash can in the kitchen, and having everything hidden away. It's just to the right of the sink and is under the countertop.
Dimmable ask lighting is everything. Everything. High hats in the ceiling, under cabinet lighting, over sink, over eating area, a light inside a pantry or deep cabinet. It is EVERYTHING.
Garden window in which to grow herbs all year round.
Lazy susan in any corner cabinet so you can use it to full advantage.
posted by the webmistress at 10:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Dimmable ask lighting is everything. Everything. High hats in the ceiling, under cabinet lighting, over sink, over eating area, a light inside a pantry or deep cabinet. It is EVERYTHING.
Garden window in which to grow herbs all year round.
Lazy susan in any corner cabinet so you can use it to full advantage.
posted by the webmistress at 10:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I have toe kick drawers in my kitchen and it's amazing extra space for rarely used stuff.
Also, slow close on all drawers and cabinets. Makes a surprisingly big difference.
posted by brainmouse at 10:51 AM on January 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
Also, slow close on all drawers and cabinets. Makes a surprisingly big difference.
posted by brainmouse at 10:51 AM on January 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
Best answer: When we redid our kitchen, we put the microwave as a built-in above counter level. Mistake. Too awkward, especially with something heavy. Keep it at counter level.
Also when we did the kitchen, the cabinet installers failed to follow the plan for over-counter lighting leaving us with the options of ugly wiring or no over-counter lighting. Damn them, anyway. Pay attention when the work is done.
Table top electrical appliances all have very short cords. (Thank you Ralph Nader?) Our new grill seems to want an outlet within about 15 inches to the left (if you don't mind). We don't have one there, so we have to reverse the grill. Same sorts of issues with the can opener, food processor, toaster oven, coffee grinder. Look for some flexible new technology in plugs.
You want to be able to reach the cabinets in which you store dishes while standing next to the dishwasher.
posted by SemiSalt at 10:52 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also when we did the kitchen, the cabinet installers failed to follow the plan for over-counter lighting leaving us with the options of ugly wiring or no over-counter lighting. Damn them, anyway. Pay attention when the work is done.
Table top electrical appliances all have very short cords. (Thank you Ralph Nader?) Our new grill seems to want an outlet within about 15 inches to the left (if you don't mind). We don't have one there, so we have to reverse the grill. Same sorts of issues with the can opener, food processor, toaster oven, coffee grinder. Look for some flexible new technology in plugs.
You want to be able to reach the cabinets in which you store dishes while standing next to the dishwasher.
posted by SemiSalt at 10:52 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I was impressed by those clever things where instead of opening a corner cabinet door and having to reach your arm around a 90 degree bend to get to the corner cabinet space that has no cabinet facing, and fish around blindly by touch for what you think is supposed to be there, instead there is a thing installed behind the cabinet door now which makes the door slide out more like a drawer and the "drawer bottom" rotates out with it, bringing all the lost corner space (and anything stored there) out into the kitchen where you can reach it.
posted by anonymisc at 10:53 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by anonymisc at 10:53 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thoughtful storage can make a world of difference. A couple really nice kitchen touches I've recently seen and envied: pull-out drawers for spices and the garbage can, and a cabinet with a vertical slot for cutting boards/cookie sheets.
I also recently saw a kitchen with a section of countertop behind the door, sort of like this, so you can keep your toaster, stand mixer, etc. on the countertop and just close the door to put them "away" and make your kitchen look uncluttered. If you have limited counter space or don't use many countertop appliances, this probably isn't necessary.
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:00 AM on January 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
I also recently saw a kitchen with a section of countertop behind the door, sort of like this, so you can keep your toaster, stand mixer, etc. on the countertop and just close the door to put them "away" and make your kitchen look uncluttered. If you have limited counter space or don't use many countertop appliances, this probably isn't necessary.
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:00 AM on January 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
I would like counter tops at a height that I don't need to stand on tiptoe to make pizza dough.
posted by florencetnoa at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by florencetnoa at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2016
Echoing pot-filler faucet. Using it makes me silly happy.
posted by Sunshower at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by Sunshower at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2016
A "rimless" sink. I am forever disgusted by the grody bits of meals past that get stuck on the lip of the all the sinks I've ever rented. I recently went to a relative's house, and Hark! Kitchen sinks can be just set...under...the counter without a lip or ridge.
posted by Guess What at 11:10 AM on January 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by Guess What at 11:10 AM on January 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
I've done two kitchen remodels, in two years, in two different houses.
Some people made mention of those corner cabinets, especially on the bottom. We have this pull out now, and it's great.
Under cabinet lighting is a must.
For both projects, we picked out really awesome, hand crafted tile that went from the counter to the bottom of the upper cabinets all around. The last thing i would want, is an outlet that sticks out on this beautiful tile. Instead, we had the outlets installed under the cabinets. We are both short, so this is a non-issue for us.
As others noted, soft close everything.
Oven hood.
It was also important to me to have a place to store and display my most used cookbooks, so a book shelf in the kitchen was nice.
I like having a tall, pull out cabinet with shelves to store spices, oils, vinegars, etc.
I have composting worms in the kitchen who are kept in a tote under the kitchen sink in/on a shelf that can be pulled out. It's a convenient way to feed them scraps.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 11:19 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Some people made mention of those corner cabinets, especially on the bottom. We have this pull out now, and it's great.
Under cabinet lighting is a must.
For both projects, we picked out really awesome, hand crafted tile that went from the counter to the bottom of the upper cabinets all around. The last thing i would want, is an outlet that sticks out on this beautiful tile. Instead, we had the outlets installed under the cabinets. We are both short, so this is a non-issue for us.
As others noted, soft close everything.
Oven hood.
It was also important to me to have a place to store and display my most used cookbooks, so a book shelf in the kitchen was nice.
I like having a tall, pull out cabinet with shelves to store spices, oils, vinegars, etc.
I have composting worms in the kitchen who are kept in a tote under the kitchen sink in/on a shelf that can be pulled out. It's a convenient way to feed them scraps.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 11:19 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Having remodeled an old kitchen and built a new one, my non-negotiable was countertops that are a comfortable height. Mr Jane and I aren't especially tall, but adding 2-3" to our counter heights (ergo the sink) has alleviated that hunched over back pain when cooking or washing for long stretches.
I recently saw these corner cabinet drawers and wish I had known about them sooner.
If your space allows, consider all drawers for your lower cabinets. Soooo much easier than rooting around a lower cabinet. I have 2 banks of drawers and one set of lower cabinets in my (admittedly large) new island and already wish that those were drawers. However, if you have a lot of plates to store in said drawer, ask for heavy duty drawer glides.
posted by sarajane at 11:23 AM on January 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
I recently saw these corner cabinet drawers and wish I had known about them sooner.
If your space allows, consider all drawers for your lower cabinets. Soooo much easier than rooting around a lower cabinet. I have 2 banks of drawers and one set of lower cabinets in my (admittedly large) new island and already wish that those were drawers. However, if you have a lot of plates to store in said drawer, ask for heavy duty drawer glides.
posted by sarajane at 11:23 AM on January 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Seconding hidden trash and recycling cans. Lots of light. Drawers rather than cupboards.
posted by firstdrop at 11:25 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by firstdrop at 11:25 AM on January 7, 2016
under cabinet lighting and good task lighting makes a huge difference.
a LOT of outlets.
counters at a comfortable height for YOU, not "standard height".
Drawers rather than lower cabinets, or at least high quality pull-outs.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 11:26 AM on January 7, 2016
a LOT of outlets.
counters at a comfortable height for YOU, not "standard height".
Drawers rather than lower cabinets, or at least high quality pull-outs.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 11:26 AM on January 7, 2016
Many people mention deviating from a standard counter height. If you do, either way, consider how long you plan to be in the house and if not long enough, how the height of the counters may impact buyer's view of the kitchen.
(I went to an open house with counters that were insanely too high for a normal person, much less a shorter one like myself.)
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 11:27 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
(I went to an open house with counters that were insanely too high for a normal person, much less a shorter one like myself.)
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 11:27 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Hidden plug rails under the upper cabinets - means we don't have to cut into the backsplash and don't have ugly outlets visible everywhere. We have about twenty totally invisible places to plug things in and it's LOVELY.
Filtered water spout next to the sink - my favorite thing. Hot and cold - the hot is plenty hot enough to use in a french press in the morning with no boiling!
Motion-sensitive faucet - you can wave under the curve of it to turn it off and on when the handle is "open", which means you don't have to touch the handle with your chicken-slime-covered hands to turn the water off and on while cooking.
Grid at the bottom of the sink so things don't fall over when you put them in the sink. I don't have any idea what it's called. But it's awesome. LESS awesome is the sink-mounted cutting board, complete with vegetable strainer, which we never use and which is too big to fit in any drawer or cabinet in our house.
posted by kythuen at 11:28 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Filtered water spout next to the sink - my favorite thing. Hot and cold - the hot is plenty hot enough to use in a french press in the morning with no boiling!
Motion-sensitive faucet - you can wave under the curve of it to turn it off and on when the handle is "open", which means you don't have to touch the handle with your chicken-slime-covered hands to turn the water off and on while cooking.
Grid at the bottom of the sink so things don't fall over when you put them in the sink. I don't have any idea what it's called. But it's awesome. LESS awesome is the sink-mounted cutting board, complete with vegetable strainer, which we never use and which is too big to fit in any drawer or cabinet in our house.
posted by kythuen at 11:28 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you're going to make use of high-up spaces for extra storage than some kind of dedicated area where a folding stepladder can be stored is the best thing ever. Also, depending on kitchen tininess, some fold-out extra counter space?
nb every single dedicated hot water spout i have ever used has tasted foul and metallic within months of the installation.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:30 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
nb every single dedicated hot water spout i have ever used has tasted foul and metallic within months of the installation.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:30 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Bonus question: good-quality induction range: yes or no? I can't find anyone who's used one, and I'm not thrilled about running a new gas service to the house
We've had an induction range for a year and love, love, LOVE it! The heat is instantly on or off, it's easy to use and easy to clean, so it combines the advantages of gas and conventional ceramic hobs.
Also seconding as many drawers as possible! We love our drawers for pots and pans and tupperware and plates/bowls. The only thing we haven't got in drawers are wine glasses, for obvious reasons.
posted by amf at 11:32 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
We've had an induction range for a year and love, love, LOVE it! The heat is instantly on or off, it's easy to use and easy to clean, so it combines the advantages of gas and conventional ceramic hobs.
Also seconding as many drawers as possible! We love our drawers for pots and pans and tupperware and plates/bowls. The only thing we haven't got in drawers are wine glasses, for obvious reasons.
posted by amf at 11:32 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My mother-in-law's kitchen has upper cabinets where it is a wire shelf drawer that comes out and down on arms. It has springs or hydraulics on it so it isn't heavy to pull out. No need for a stool and you can get at everything in the cabinet easily. They only have 2 or 3 upper cabinets so it wasn't a great expense for them.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:35 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:35 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have not used an induction oven, but my super practical, built his own house/boat/cars, New Englander father LOVES his. He's like a love sick teenager raving about this thing. He's not a "home chef" but he IS someone who appreciates a good, solid tool and to him, his induction oven is a fine household tool. (He's a uh, unique individual and for him to rave about anything, much less a cooktop, is far beyond ordinary.)
posted by PorcineWithMe at 11:35 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by PorcineWithMe at 11:35 AM on January 7, 2016
- Custom-height countertops if you and your spouse are not average height (or just prefer something different).
- Do you entertain at home? Create a floorplan that allows for flow, so people don't get "trapped" in the kitchen.
- A good modern dishwasher is quiet enough that you don't need to soundproof it, IMO.
- The thing we did in my kitchen that I like most a large kitchen island covered in maple butcher-block. We use the whole thing as a cutting board. It makes food prep easier and more social.
- Undermount sink so you can sweep counter messes right into it .
- Monolithic counter around sink (such as concrete or quartz composite).
- I bought one of those touch-activated faucets. Then the touch-activated valve failed (silt got kicked up in the water lines by nearby construction, and clogged the mechanism), and replacements are ridiculously expensive.
posted by adamrice at 11:40 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Our fridge is counter depth and I HATE it. Our ovens are smaller than standard size and I'd trade two smalls for one normal any day of the week. We have a trash compactor which came with the house and I never thought I'd want one but we love it. We also have ALL DRAWERS on the bottom shelving except for one horizontal cabinet for cutting boards and cookie sheets and the corner lazy susan. The deep drawers get the pots and pans and it's great. Our cabinets go all the way to the ceiling and I'll never do that any other way, to be sure.
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:44 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:44 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The deeper the sink the easier it is to wash large items. Including babies.
Run your cabinets all the way to the ceiling for both extra storage and to eliminate having nasty, greasy cabinet tops that you won't remember to clean for years.
A pendant or recessed light shining down into the sink is very useful.
Install a garbage disposal - they are cheap and they use the exact same plumbing your sink and dishwasher need.
A beverage / wine fridge is a great way to keep those large bottles of drinks out of the way of your regular fridge needs.
posted by lstanley at 11:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Run your cabinets all the way to the ceiling for both extra storage and to eliminate having nasty, greasy cabinet tops that you won't remember to clean for years.
A pendant or recessed light shining down into the sink is very useful.
Install a garbage disposal - they are cheap and they use the exact same plumbing your sink and dishwasher need.
A beverage / wine fridge is a great way to keep those large bottles of drinks out of the way of your regular fridge needs.
posted by lstanley at 11:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
I would definitely do a stock faucet. Outlets everywhere (subject to code/safety restrictions) including under the counter! Consider adding a USB charger. Small LED lights inside the cabinet or drawers that turn on when you open it. An under-mounted extra deep sink with a professional-style faucet. Not sure if there's a bar or table in your layout, but I like having a seating option in the kitchen (for when I need to watch something kind of close but not stand right over it); a place for a folding slim barstool might be good (this is for a step stool, but same idea). Depending on your height, consider having the countertop installed at a nonstandard height. This slide-away step idea is cool for those times you need to knead something with extra leverage (or for kids). As a person who uses her kitchenaid a lot, but doesn't like to keep it on the counter, a swing out shelf would be amazing (the mixer is so heavy!). I'm not a fan of the garbage hole cutting board drawer (it's never at a good height for me and is just awkward to use), but a custom cutting board that fits over part or all of the sink would be nice.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by melissasaurus at 11:48 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
- Spend extra money and get a quality kitchen faucet that has a double duty sprayer.
- A large double square undermount sink is fantastic.
- Garborators reduce the amount of food waste that goes in the garbage and makes cleanup a breeze.
- We installed this type of corner cabinet through a local supplier; it is amazing. We use it for canned goods.
- Install way more light than you need (LED) and install them in several banks on dimmers.
- If your kitchen open into the dining room or another social room, your kitchen will become the social hub.
- Under cabinet lights are expensive for what you get
If you have contractors in to do any of the work be sure to look it over carefully and not sign off on anything until you are happy with the work. I am an avid DIYer, but I strongly recommend that you have cabinet installers install your cabinets. For my reno (kitchen, laundry room, wine cabinet and pantry): cabinet delivery and installation was $1200 CAD.
posted by axismundi at 11:50 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
- A large double square undermount sink is fantastic.
- Garborators reduce the amount of food waste that goes in the garbage and makes cleanup a breeze.
- We installed this type of corner cabinet through a local supplier; it is amazing. We use it for canned goods.
- Install way more light than you need (LED) and install them in several banks on dimmers.
- If your kitchen open into the dining room or another social room, your kitchen will become the social hub.
- Under cabinet lights are expensive for what you get
If you have contractors in to do any of the work be sure to look it over carefully and not sign off on anything until you are happy with the work. I am an avid DIYer, but I strongly recommend that you have cabinet installers install your cabinets. For my reno (kitchen, laundry room, wine cabinet and pantry): cabinet delivery and installation was $1200 CAD.
posted by axismundi at 11:50 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Whoever redid our kitchen took "lots of lights" and "lots of outlets" to heart. We have way more recessed can lights than necessary, and because they are mostly on one switch it makes the kitchen unbearably hot. We switched to LED lights and that has helped a lot, but just FYI.
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:52 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:52 AM on January 7, 2016
Best answer: I have this pot rack hanging from a beam over my kitchen sink. My most often used pans hang from it - the ones I use every day - and it's my single most favorite thing. The pans are super accessible, take up no room, and the best thing is that I can hang them back up wet after handwashing and they just drip dry into the sink. Saves time, saves space.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:01 PM on January 7, 2016
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:01 PM on January 7, 2016
Our small kitchen is mostly fantastic, however the central island (contains the sink and dishwasher) is so close to the counter containing the oven that if the dishwasher door or oven door is open, you do not have room to pass through to the other side of that appliance and have to either close the door or go around the island the long way. If the island had been pushed back even a foot or 18 inches, you would be able to scoot past just fine, and I grit my teeth about it on a regular basis. If possible, ensure you have room to get around any open appliances.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:04 PM on January 7, 2016
posted by Rock Steady at 12:04 PM on January 7, 2016
Best answer: What I love about our kitchen is that we sat down and took the time to think about how we wanted to use the space, and what it was going to look like when he made coffee while I cooked eggs and toast, and when I chopped vegetables while he put everything into a stir fry, and when I baked, and when we washed dishes, and when we threw a party, and where will the crockpot sit when it's making us food, basically all the kitchen-stories we could think of. Think about paths colliding and whether you can move workstations around to prevent bottlenecks. We put all the mugs and coffee and tea together, and we put all the oils and spices within easy reach of the stove. Pans are nearby too, but for me I'm willing to walk two steps to pick up a pan, and walk across the kitchen to put water in it, but I absolutely love being able to reach into the drawer next to the stove and access my entire spice collection.
My point is not that you need a spice drawer, my point is that you need to design the kitchen for your habits. Don't just say "two base cabinets and three drawer-stacks", actually plan out what's going on every shelf and in every drawer, and why. Knowing what we expected things to do and how we expected things to work told us exactly where we needed large/small drawers, cabinets, pullouts behind doors, extra electrical outlets, etc.
That said, put in extra outlets by the coffeemaker and where you'll be baking (mixer!) as well as one within reach of the stove (immersion blender!).
posted by aimedwander at 12:35 PM on January 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
My point is not that you need a spice drawer, my point is that you need to design the kitchen for your habits. Don't just say "two base cabinets and three drawer-stacks", actually plan out what's going on every shelf and in every drawer, and why. Knowing what we expected things to do and how we expected things to work told us exactly where we needed large/small drawers, cabinets, pullouts behind doors, extra electrical outlets, etc.
That said, put in extra outlets by the coffeemaker and where you'll be baking (mixer!) as well as one within reach of the stove (immersion blender!).
posted by aimedwander at 12:35 PM on January 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
Best answer: The kitchen in my condo was 7' X 7'. It was very functional when I renovated it.
1. Deep pot sink. It doesn't have to be big, and it shouldn't be, but it should be deep. Nth disposal.
2. Upper cabinets running up to ceiling.
3. Smaller dishwasher so that you have more room for storage.
4. I'd suggest a tall and slim fridge, rather than a regular sized one. Again, gives you more storage.
5. Pull out drawers rather than cabinets.
6. Instead of a vent hood over the range, use a combo/microwave. This frees up counter space.
7. Under cabinet task lights. Cheap, easy to install and it's great to be able to have light where you need it.
Basically, miniaturize any appliances and maximize storage.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:37 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
1. Deep pot sink. It doesn't have to be big, and it shouldn't be, but it should be deep. Nth disposal.
2. Upper cabinets running up to ceiling.
3. Smaller dishwasher so that you have more room for storage.
4. I'd suggest a tall and slim fridge, rather than a regular sized one. Again, gives you more storage.
5. Pull out drawers rather than cabinets.
6. Instead of a vent hood over the range, use a combo/microwave. This frees up counter space.
7. Under cabinet task lights. Cheap, easy to install and it's great to be able to have light where you need it.
Basically, miniaturize any appliances and maximize storage.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:37 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just a data point about induction stovetops: we love ours. 100%. Fast and easy control like gas, but boils water faster! Insanely easy cleanup! Safe around kiddos! Burners turn off when you remove a pan! We've had it 4 years now. Only had two I think two pans that wouldn't work on it.
posted by wyzewoman at 12:39 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wyzewoman at 12:39 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, duh, forgot to mention.
We have an extra 4" counter depth. That's nominally "lost space" because it's a 29" counter sitting on a 24"cabinet with a 1" overhang in front and 4" of empty space behind, but in one section of the kitchen we needed space to run pipes behind, and then we realized it was a great idea. The advantage (other than having the fridge sit flush) is that we can have appliances against the back wall and still have space in front of them to work. Can actually do all the coffee prep in front of the coffeemaker and not off to the side. Can fill the crockpot then push it back out of the way and have a full 16" of workspace in front of it. Can leave the breakfast-smoothie blender on the countertop 24/7 without it being in the way. Highly recommended, if it's at all possible to fit that and still have wide enough walkways. (Wide enough, according to NKBA guidelines, very useful!)
We sacrificed size on our island/peninsula to make this work and it was totally worth it. For us. YMMV.
posted by aimedwander at 12:42 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
We have an extra 4" counter depth. That's nominally "lost space" because it's a 29" counter sitting on a 24"cabinet with a 1" overhang in front and 4" of empty space behind, but in one section of the kitchen we needed space to run pipes behind, and then we realized it was a great idea. The advantage (other than having the fridge sit flush) is that we can have appliances against the back wall and still have space in front of them to work. Can actually do all the coffee prep in front of the coffeemaker and not off to the side. Can fill the crockpot then push it back out of the way and have a full 16" of workspace in front of it. Can leave the breakfast-smoothie blender on the countertop 24/7 without it being in the way. Highly recommended, if it's at all possible to fit that and still have wide enough walkways. (Wide enough, according to NKBA guidelines, very useful!)
We sacrificed size on our island/peninsula to make this work and it was totally worth it. For us. YMMV.
posted by aimedwander at 12:42 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
For years I wanted a removable square in the countertop with a garbage can under it so when you're prepping ingredients you can just swipe the throwaway bits down the hole.
humboldt32, my solution was this scrap trap - hook it over a drawer to put a garbage/compost cup just at/below your work surface, and hook it over the back of the trash can to store out of sight. Then dump in composter or garbage as necessary.
posted by aimedwander at 12:53 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
humboldt32, my solution was this scrap trap - hook it over a drawer to put a garbage/compost cup just at/below your work surface, and hook it over the back of the trash can to store out of sight. Then dump in composter or garbage as necessary.
posted by aimedwander at 12:53 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, one other fun thing we did in the remodeled kitchen - there's a black decorative stripe on the floor in the linoleum - the stripe surrounds the island. When we have a big family dinner and I'm trying to get everything out of the oven/stove and plated, but everyone is hanging around in the kitchen, I just shout "EVERYONE BEHIND THE BLACK LINE!" and they are still free to be in the kitchen, but are out of my workspace. YMMV.
posted by sarajane at 1:28 PM on January 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by sarajane at 1:28 PM on January 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
The reason upper cabinets don't usually go to the celling is that the celling may not be level but the cabinets usually are installed level. If you decide to go for this, check if your celling is level and get your architect to design a solution if it is not.
The backsplash should be easy to clean, glazed tile, not textured or mate tile.
posted by bdc34 at 1:31 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The backsplash should be easy to clean, glazed tile, not textured or mate tile.
posted by bdc34 at 1:31 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
If I were able, I'd seriously consider installing:
A foot-pedal controlled sink faucet.
Think about how much water you could save if you didn't have to leave the faucet running continuously while rinsing a series of dishes, or washing a series of vegetables. Every day. Twice a day.
posted by amtho at 1:33 PM on January 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
A foot-pedal controlled sink faucet.
Think about how much water you could save if you didn't have to leave the faucet running continuously while rinsing a series of dishes, or washing a series of vegetables. Every day. Twice a day.
posted by amtho at 1:33 PM on January 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
Large drawers everywhere - they're soooo much more usable than cupboards (no more reaching right in the back to search for stuff!)
posted by snap, crackle and pop at 1:42 PM on January 7, 2016
posted by snap, crackle and pop at 1:42 PM on January 7, 2016
I wish I'd done all drawers or pull-out trays on the bottom cabinets, they're so much better than straight cabinets.
Love my cookie-sheet cabinet.
Love my butcher block counter.
Love my undermount sink.
posted by suelac at 1:54 PM on January 7, 2016
Love my cookie-sheet cabinet.
Love my butcher block counter.
Love my undermount sink.
posted by suelac at 1:54 PM on January 7, 2016
Another thought -- have an in-person look at new high-end RV's. Specifically 5th wheel travel trailers. They are cutting-edge for space utilization. Make sure to have someone actually show you all of the kitchen features.
posted by yesster at 1:56 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yesster at 1:56 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
My husband appreciates that in our kitchen, the sink is flush with the countertop rather than having a lip. As the person who would occasionally try to clean the part where the lip met the countertop at our old place, I concur.
If you look into newer dishwashers, some of them are *really* quiet. My mother-in-law and brother both bought new ones recently (I think the same one) and they were shocked by how quiet it is. My MIL actually checked to be sure it was running.
Under-cabinet lighting is nice but my husband bought a light himself and stuck it under the cabinet where we use it most - it wasn't an ordeal.
To maximize counter space, I'd mount the microwave and toaster.
posted by kat518 at 1:57 PM on January 7, 2016
If you look into newer dishwashers, some of them are *really* quiet. My mother-in-law and brother both bought new ones recently (I think the same one) and they were shocked by how quiet it is. My MIL actually checked to be sure it was running.
Under-cabinet lighting is nice but my husband bought a light himself and stuck it under the cabinet where we use it most - it wasn't an ordeal.
To maximize counter space, I'd mount the microwave and toaster.
posted by kat518 at 1:57 PM on January 7, 2016
Best answer: As an interior designer, I feel I need to say that the advice above is spectacular. There are so many ask-mes and normally there is a wide spectrum of usefulness. But here, every single answer is really valuable.
This leaves a lot to you! You need to think about your daily use of your kitchen, and you need to think about what you really need and use. I'm a kitchen maximalist, and I have all the space I could ever ask for, but recently I did a cull, thinking through what my needs were, and of course also what I was missing.
When I was a graduate student, living in a rented studio, I had a wok and a rice pot with a steamer that fitted on top of it. A cooks knife, and a cutting board. And four plates, four sets of cutlery and two multipurpose dishes. With this gear, I got offered a job as a private cook, and I cooked for parties across the city. You don't really need anything. But we all need stuff that makes us feel comfortable, and this is the analysis you need to make.
Regarding your specific questions: almost no one needs heating in a kitchen. Even though you might have a few cold days during winter, the expense of floor heating isn't worth it. Just turn on the oven, bake a bread or cook a stew.
Your dishwasher should be almost silent. Otherwise complain and return it.
You cannot have enough light elements and outlets in a kitchen. Ever. Good thing to have separate switches and dampers.
Regarding induction, I really strongly prefer gas, but several major chefs are turning towards induction.
For good reasons, I have chosen induction for my second home, and as I learn to use it, I tend to agree with those smart chefs. It is as reactive as gas, it is safer than gas, and it is clean. There is a learning proces, and there is something sentimental that I can't get rid of. But after almost two years, I have to admit that my cooking is almost as good on the induction stove that as on the gas burner.
There is one big issue: my wok. I love my wok, and I can't imagine life without it. But I can't figure out how to cook with the induction-friendly wok on the induction stove. If I move permanently to the second home, I will install a gas-driven wok burner.
For me, a less important issue is the stovetop grill iron. I use it, and I enjoy it, but I don't need it. But maybe you do? Actually I use it a lot in place of a pizza stone. I move the iron plate to the oven and use the back-side in place of a stone. These days I neither use the grill nor bake pizzas enough for this to be important. But had you asked me 10 years ago it would have central to my cooking. So make a food diary, analyse it, and decide from that.
posted by mumimor at 2:06 PM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
This leaves a lot to you! You need to think about your daily use of your kitchen, and you need to think about what you really need and use. I'm a kitchen maximalist, and I have all the space I could ever ask for, but recently I did a cull, thinking through what my needs were, and of course also what I was missing.
When I was a graduate student, living in a rented studio, I had a wok and a rice pot with a steamer that fitted on top of it. A cooks knife, and a cutting board. And four plates, four sets of cutlery and two multipurpose dishes. With this gear, I got offered a job as a private cook, and I cooked for parties across the city. You don't really need anything. But we all need stuff that makes us feel comfortable, and this is the analysis you need to make.
Regarding your specific questions: almost no one needs heating in a kitchen. Even though you might have a few cold days during winter, the expense of floor heating isn't worth it. Just turn on the oven, bake a bread or cook a stew.
Your dishwasher should be almost silent. Otherwise complain and return it.
You cannot have enough light elements and outlets in a kitchen. Ever. Good thing to have separate switches and dampers.
Regarding induction, I really strongly prefer gas, but several major chefs are turning towards induction.
For good reasons, I have chosen induction for my second home, and as I learn to use it, I tend to agree with those smart chefs. It is as reactive as gas, it is safer than gas, and it is clean. There is a learning proces, and there is something sentimental that I can't get rid of. But after almost two years, I have to admit that my cooking is almost as good on the induction stove that as on the gas burner.
There is one big issue: my wok. I love my wok, and I can't imagine life without it. But I can't figure out how to cook with the induction-friendly wok on the induction stove. If I move permanently to the second home, I will install a gas-driven wok burner.
For me, a less important issue is the stovetop grill iron. I use it, and I enjoy it, but I don't need it. But maybe you do? Actually I use it a lot in place of a pizza stone. I move the iron plate to the oven and use the back-side in place of a stone. These days I neither use the grill nor bake pizzas enough for this to be important. But had you asked me 10 years ago it would have central to my cooking. So make a food diary, analyse it, and decide from that.
posted by mumimor at 2:06 PM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I *just* finished a down-to-the-studs kitchen renovation. My favorite things:
-we took the time to do what aimedwander describes
-silestone countertops: heat and stain resistant, smooth and durable
-undermount sink set back a smidge from the edge of the counter so that there is no lip of sink that can accumulate crud (thing to keep in mind: undermount sink means it's a bit "deeper" which can be hard on your back if you're tall)
-under cabinet LED lighting on a dimmer (set lights back about 3 inches from the edge of the cabinets otherwise you get a harsh line of light instead of light everywhere you need it)
-Bosch 500 Series 44-Decibel Built-In Dishwasher: no need to insulate because it is so quiet. There is even a quieter model available I believe. It's so quiet they include a little light that shines on the floor to let you know it is running! The light is necessary!
-separate lighting control for the light over the sink
-one basin sink because I've never found use for the second basin (ymmv, see aimedwander's advice again)
-soft close drawers and doors, the kind that shut automatically after a certain point
-resisted everyone's advice to get a bigger fridge: the size of the one we had was the size of one we had used previously without complaint and we still like it.
-recycle bins in a built in cabinet (out of sight)
-marmoleum flooring: soft underfoot, durable, pleasing color
-small details like making sure the door to the cabinet next to the stove that would hold all the spices opened in the correct direction so that you can reach into that cabinet (not around a door) to get to stuff while you're cooking
We spent a great deal of time considering the layout and taped off the rough design on the floor once the space was gutted so we could see how it would feel. We'd mimic cooking dinner or making coffee to see how it felt.
posted by purple_bird at 2:12 PM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
-we took the time to do what aimedwander describes
-silestone countertops: heat and stain resistant, smooth and durable
-undermount sink set back a smidge from the edge of the counter so that there is no lip of sink that can accumulate crud (thing to keep in mind: undermount sink means it's a bit "deeper" which can be hard on your back if you're tall)
-under cabinet LED lighting on a dimmer (set lights back about 3 inches from the edge of the cabinets otherwise you get a harsh line of light instead of light everywhere you need it)
-Bosch 500 Series 44-Decibel Built-In Dishwasher: no need to insulate because it is so quiet. There is even a quieter model available I believe. It's so quiet they include a little light that shines on the floor to let you know it is running! The light is necessary!
-separate lighting control for the light over the sink
-one basin sink because I've never found use for the second basin (ymmv, see aimedwander's advice again)
-soft close drawers and doors, the kind that shut automatically after a certain point
-resisted everyone's advice to get a bigger fridge: the size of the one we had was the size of one we had used previously without complaint and we still like it.
-recycle bins in a built in cabinet (out of sight)
-marmoleum flooring: soft underfoot, durable, pleasing color
-small details like making sure the door to the cabinet next to the stove that would hold all the spices opened in the correct direction so that you can reach into that cabinet (not around a door) to get to stuff while you're cooking
We spent a great deal of time considering the layout and taped off the rough design on the floor once the space was gutted so we could see how it would feel. We'd mimic cooking dinner or making coffee to see how it felt.
posted by purple_bird at 2:12 PM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I would look into a remote blower/fan for my range hood. It might be impossible depending on your home. In my case, I'd rather have the fan operating in my attic (I live in a one-story home), than making a racket while I'm trying to have a conversation in my kitchen. If not possible, you should still be very picky about the noise levels of whatever exhaust system you buy.
I also love my induction range. I don't have natural gas at my home, and got the induction range a couple years back and still have almost no complaints. My one complaint is that I miss operating my "burners" using knobs, but there are models of induction ranges available now that incorporate knobs.
posted by bennett being thrown at 3:15 PM on January 7, 2016
I also love my induction range. I don't have natural gas at my home, and got the induction range a couple years back and still have almost no complaints. My one complaint is that I miss operating my "burners" using knobs, but there are models of induction ranges available now that incorporate knobs.
posted by bennett being thrown at 3:15 PM on January 7, 2016
Best answer: I have remodeled two kitchens and this is my list of my faves:
1. A hood that vents directly to the outside that is quiet enough you can have a conversation while it is in use.
2. A section of countertop that is deep enough that you can surround yourself with your materials and still have plenty of working room.
3. A dishwasher that takes about a day's worth of your dishes, no more. things get crusty sitting in there! 18" is great for my small kitchen.
4. Cabinets up to the ceiling. I need a step stool to get up there but I rarely need my canning stuff, so, who cares.
5. Magnetic knife rack. Safer than reaching into a drawer and keeps blades sharper.
6. A designated and easy to access place for the ladder, broom, mop, etc. When they are at hand and easy to use, they get used a lot more.
7. A comfy place to sit down in the kitchen. People at parties hang out in the kitchen first. I also study there and surf the internet there when I am watching something in the oven. Embrace the reality that people want to be in the kitchen and give them cozy places to hang. In my super small kitchen, I faked an island with a counter piece flung over two shop cabinets. Two very comfy stools faced one another and made a great place for meals and studying. In my current, larger kitchen, I have a huge table with one especially comfy tanker office chair.
posted by Foam Pants at 3:37 PM on January 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
1. A hood that vents directly to the outside that is quiet enough you can have a conversation while it is in use.
2. A section of countertop that is deep enough that you can surround yourself with your materials and still have plenty of working room.
3. A dishwasher that takes about a day's worth of your dishes, no more. things get crusty sitting in there! 18" is great for my small kitchen.
4. Cabinets up to the ceiling. I need a step stool to get up there but I rarely need my canning stuff, so, who cares.
5. Magnetic knife rack. Safer than reaching into a drawer and keeps blades sharper.
6. A designated and easy to access place for the ladder, broom, mop, etc. When they are at hand and easy to use, they get used a lot more.
7. A comfy place to sit down in the kitchen. People at parties hang out in the kitchen first. I also study there and surf the internet there when I am watching something in the oven. Embrace the reality that people want to be in the kitchen and give them cozy places to hang. In my super small kitchen, I faked an island with a counter piece flung over two shop cabinets. Two very comfy stools faced one another and made a great place for meals and studying. In my current, larger kitchen, I have a huge table with one especially comfy tanker office chair.
posted by Foam Pants at 3:37 PM on January 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: -Bosch 500 Series 44-Decibel Built-In Dishwasher: no need to insulate because it is so quiet. There is even a quieter model available I believe. It's so quiet they include a little light that shines on the floor to let you know it is running! The light is necessary!
I have this model. It's quiet enough, but in a kitchen/great room with cathedral ceilings... The water rinsing draining. It burbles, weirdly, and echoes. It's probably quieter than 44 db. But the weird gurgles. They get me...
It really works well -like, exceptionally- only with a rinse aid, by design. I hate having to add detergent AND rinse aid.
posted by slateyness at 3:44 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have this model. It's quiet enough, but in a kitchen/great room with cathedral ceilings... The water rinsing draining. It burbles, weirdly, and echoes. It's probably quieter than 44 db. But the weird gurgles. They get me...
It really works well -like, exceptionally- only with a rinse aid, by design. I hate having to add detergent AND rinse aid.
posted by slateyness at 3:44 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, I put in a counter height butcher block island with stools around it on one side and pot hangers and open shelves on the other. The countertop was IKEA, the base was custom made from pine painted black.
I use it as a giant cutting board and let guests sit around and drink while I cook. When cleaned up, it doubles as a table. When i pull my actual dining room table up next to it laterally (in a kitchen/dining/living open concept space of 400 SF) , it can provide seating in one long row for 12-14.
posted by slateyness at 3:56 PM on January 7, 2016
I use it as a giant cutting board and let guests sit around and drink while I cook. When cleaned up, it doubles as a table. When i pull my actual dining room table up next to it laterally (in a kitchen/dining/living open concept space of 400 SF) , it can provide seating in one long row for 12-14.
posted by slateyness at 3:56 PM on January 7, 2016
Best answer: Task lighting and power. Task lighting and power. Task lighting and power. Storage for the appliances you actually own and use (e.g. if you have one of those tall KitchenAid mixers with the lever action to raise and lower the bowl instead of lifting the head, make sure you can both fit the thing on your counter when you need it and put it away when you don't). And task lighting and power.
Power to kitchens in old houses in DC always seems to be really janky. When I lived in Crystal City we couldn't make coffee and toast at the same time. And now the house we own (renovated in 2009!) has really stupid power in the kitchen, with all the outlets above the counter on the same circuit as each other … and the fridge. We had to figure out how to plug the toaster in behind the (gas) oven so (again) we could make coffee and toast without losing power to the fridge in the process. You're maybe going to have to have a new circuit run for an induction cooktop anyway (depending on how things are wired now) so I'd make sure you've got new dedicated appliance circuits above the counters, and yeah, the more outlets the better.
If you're putting in an island, make sure that it has power (ours doesn't) and that it's got useful task lighting with reliable bulbs. Those tiny little halogen bulbs decorators love for pendant spots cost like $15 each and burn out every two months. So I'd try to design my task lighting around LED spotlights and make sure to use dimmable fixtures and bulbs so I could turn them down when I'm not actively working.
Also FWIW if you've got a Costco membership you can get LED flood and spotlight bulbs for standard can lighting there, with an instant rebate that makes them really cost effective. All the can lights on our first floor now have LED floods, and they've been great.
And yeah, as people have said above: make sure the storage you're putting in works for your actual stuff. We've got a place for baking sheets, but just barely. In our last apartment our dishes didn't actually fit in the cabinets and we had to keep them in the pantry. That really narrow cabinet that fits into a weird space seems like it would be a great place for spices until you need the thing all the way in the back. I still don't own a stand mixer because a decade ago I didn't have anywhere to store the one I bought, and I returned it unopened. We'll probably buy one in time for next year's Christmas baking, but once we have it it's going to have to live on the counter unless we redo our kitchen. And so on. Sigh.
As for sinks: I used to be a big two-basin partisan, but I've kind of come around to one-big-basin-and-a-dishpan-when-needed. Just get whichever style works for you and make sure it's actually deep, not one of those stupid builder-grade things that's only eight inches deep and so sloped that your stemware falls over and breaks. I like the look of a flush, under-counter basin but unless you get one of those molded Corian counters with an integrated sink you may just be moving the grody edge underneath the counter where the basin snugs up against it, not quite flat. Ask Me How I Know.
And do one last sweep of the design before anything is put in to make sure that one thing being open won't prevent another thing from working. So, make sure the dishwasher can be open without blocking cabinets (and vice versa), make sure the oven door can actually open all the way, make sure the drawers will all be able to open and won't be wedged shut by corner trim or something, and so on. All our cabinets and drawers open, but a friend's kitchen has a drawer that literally can't be opened because the front of another drawer blocks it.
posted by fedward at 4:38 PM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Power to kitchens in old houses in DC always seems to be really janky. When I lived in Crystal City we couldn't make coffee and toast at the same time. And now the house we own (renovated in 2009!) has really stupid power in the kitchen, with all the outlets above the counter on the same circuit as each other … and the fridge. We had to figure out how to plug the toaster in behind the (gas) oven so (again) we could make coffee and toast without losing power to the fridge in the process. You're maybe going to have to have a new circuit run for an induction cooktop anyway (depending on how things are wired now) so I'd make sure you've got new dedicated appliance circuits above the counters, and yeah, the more outlets the better.
If you're putting in an island, make sure that it has power (ours doesn't) and that it's got useful task lighting with reliable bulbs. Those tiny little halogen bulbs decorators love for pendant spots cost like $15 each and burn out every two months. So I'd try to design my task lighting around LED spotlights and make sure to use dimmable fixtures and bulbs so I could turn them down when I'm not actively working.
Also FWIW if you've got a Costco membership you can get LED flood and spotlight bulbs for standard can lighting there, with an instant rebate that makes them really cost effective. All the can lights on our first floor now have LED floods, and they've been great.
And yeah, as people have said above: make sure the storage you're putting in works for your actual stuff. We've got a place for baking sheets, but just barely. In our last apartment our dishes didn't actually fit in the cabinets and we had to keep them in the pantry. That really narrow cabinet that fits into a weird space seems like it would be a great place for spices until you need the thing all the way in the back. I still don't own a stand mixer because a decade ago I didn't have anywhere to store the one I bought, and I returned it unopened. We'll probably buy one in time for next year's Christmas baking, but once we have it it's going to have to live on the counter unless we redo our kitchen. And so on. Sigh.
As for sinks: I used to be a big two-basin partisan, but I've kind of come around to one-big-basin-and-a-dishpan-when-needed. Just get whichever style works for you and make sure it's actually deep, not one of those stupid builder-grade things that's only eight inches deep and so sloped that your stemware falls over and breaks. I like the look of a flush, under-counter basin but unless you get one of those molded Corian counters with an integrated sink you may just be moving the grody edge underneath the counter where the basin snugs up against it, not quite flat. Ask Me How I Know.
And do one last sweep of the design before anything is put in to make sure that one thing being open won't prevent another thing from working. So, make sure the dishwasher can be open without blocking cabinets (and vice versa), make sure the oven door can actually open all the way, make sure the drawers will all be able to open and won't be wedged shut by corner trim or something, and so on. All our cabinets and drawers open, but a friend's kitchen has a drawer that literally can't be opened because the front of another drawer blocks it.
posted by fedward at 4:38 PM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Best answer: A small, undercounted fridge with space for two pony kegs. And two countertop taps; One for fizzy water, and one for beer.
posted by furnace.heart at 4:48 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by furnace.heart at 4:48 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Do you have kids, or expect to have kids, or to have people with kids in your kitchen? You can choose drawer handles and countertops with more rounded edges to make it a lot less dangerous without too much hassle.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 4:51 PM on January 7, 2016
posted by the agents of KAOS at 4:51 PM on January 7, 2016
Also, does your house not have gas service at all? That seems unlikely on the Hill. Is there maybe a line that's just been capped? I mean, induction is great if you can power the burners, but gas is also great. I might ask Washington Gas for a consultation and let them tell you if there's service or not (unless you've already done that, in which case you can ignore me).
posted by fedward at 5:56 PM on January 7, 2016
posted by fedward at 5:56 PM on January 7, 2016
Unless you're shorter than about 5'7", put 4" under your cabinets. The extra height eliminates so much hassle/bending, etc. Put 8-12 inches under your washer, and it's now a bar-height countertop, but also you don't have to strain/stretch to load/unload.
posted by Seeba at 8:19 PM on January 7, 2016
posted by Seeba at 8:19 PM on January 7, 2016
Maximize cutting space by getting or making two cutting board surfaces that fit securely over the sinks, each with a hole in the board that aligns with the faucet, so you can use the tap while the board is in place, and you can slide excess crap into the hole (and thus into the sink) as you're cutting.
Buy or build a rack is bolted to the wall. The rack can hold either or both of these boards as food shelves, so you can remove them from the sinks and place them in the rack, or vice versa.
When not in use, the rack folds away to the wall and the boards lean against it (if it's above the counter) or fit into it (if it is bolted to the wall above floor space) or stay on the sinks (if that's what you need at the time).
posted by pracowity at 3:57 AM on January 8, 2016
Buy or build a rack is bolted to the wall. The rack can hold either or both of these boards as food shelves, so you can remove them from the sinks and place them in the rack, or vice versa.
When not in use, the rack folds away to the wall and the boards lean against it (if it's above the counter) or fit into it (if it is bolted to the wall above floor space) or stay on the sinks (if that's what you need at the time).
posted by pracowity at 3:57 AM on January 8, 2016
1. I just recently watched a YouTube video where they put in small lights under the cabinets. It made a huge difference in workspace lighting (I live in DC and I know row house interiors can get dark) but also just looked really classy when the lights were on. The kind of thing you'd notice and think "that lighting is nice" without knowing why.
2. A friend has a water filter under her sink. This way she doesn't have to look at a bulky filter on the faucet or deal with a pitcher in the sink. DC water is terrible!
posted by lunasol at 5:06 AM on January 8, 2016
2. A friend has a water filter under her sink. This way she doesn't have to look at a bulky filter on the faucet or deal with a pitcher in the sink. DC water is terrible!
posted by lunasol at 5:06 AM on January 8, 2016
Rounded outer corners on the cabinet doors, especially the upper ones. We just finished dealing with a rather dramatic head injury from my dude standing up into an open cabinet door (there was a staple in his head).
posted by amtho at 5:54 AM on January 8, 2016
posted by amtho at 5:54 AM on January 8, 2016
Response by poster: You people are fantastic, as always. There are a ton of really good ideas in here. Thanks again for your time and thoughts.
Regarding gas on the Hill- all our neighbors have it, but we don't. The previous owner was a super green-type person who converted to electric everything, including putting solar on the roof. I suspect that you're right- there's probably a gas line capped just outside the front wall. We're trying to make the trade between having the gas run back into the house vs going induction- I suspect the cost will be about the same in the end. The wife prefers gas, I'm interested in induction, but we agree that the current glass ceramic cooktop needs an Office Space-style death.
posted by zap rowsdower at 6:14 AM on January 8, 2016
Regarding gas on the Hill- all our neighbors have it, but we don't. The previous owner was a super green-type person who converted to electric everything, including putting solar on the roof. I suspect that you're right- there's probably a gas line capped just outside the front wall. We're trying to make the trade between having the gas run back into the house vs going induction- I suspect the cost will be about the same in the end. The wife prefers gas, I'm interested in induction, but we agree that the current glass ceramic cooktop needs an Office Space-style death.
posted by zap rowsdower at 6:14 AM on January 8, 2016
I have a very small kitchen that was redone a few years before we bought the house, and I'm going to tell you about a few things that I really dislike about it. I always say, as someone who loves cooking, that my kitchen was designed by someone who was actively hostile to cooking.
--counter depth fridge and oven. This is probably a great idea in terms of space but realistically I can't put a Costco pizza in my oven without having it touch both the back and the oven door, unless I cut it in half before cooking, and it's nearly impossible to have something cooking on two adjacent burners. And my fridge space is minimal. This would be fine if I didn't have a family of four to cook for. If full sized appliances are at all possible, try to make them work.
--half-sized dishwasher, which again is great from a space perspective but realistically means that it's a good thing we don't all eat lunch at home every day, because it can barely hold breakfast and dinner dishes for one day's worth of four people eating, and that all serving dishes and cookware must be hand washed. Which means there are always some things drying on the very limited counter space.
--there's no room for people to hang out in the kitchen during a party if a host is in there cooking, and very little space for anyone to help cook. If you entertain even infrequently, or if you like to cook with a partner or have children you'd like to teach, this is a huge pain in the ass. A little attention to flow would solve this problem. It also means that the above dish-washing problem is harder to solve, because there's nowhere for a dish-dryer to stand without being in the way. Actually mine is a de facto one person kitchen in so many ways, because if I'm moving around trying to access things from cupboards or the fridge and someone else comes in to get something from a cupboard or the fridge, it becomes anarchy. Cooking a multi-course holiday dinner for thirteen people this year was pretty hilarious, and it was only because my sister and I can read each other's minds that it worked without anyone getting hurt.
On the other hand:
--I have a lot of vertical space which has been super great. Those cabinet tops? Wonderful for rarely-used serving dishes and weird bakeware that only comes out on certain birthdays, thanks to a nice tall stepstool that folds up very flat and takes up very little real estate when it isn't needed.
--a restaurant-grade pot rack has been a godsend since there isn't any logical cupboard space for these, and I have made an effort to train the family to put the most-used things in easy reach of the workspace. Sure, my aesthetically-minded father in law sneered at how it's "too big for the space" but he doesn't turn his nose up at the dinners that come out of my inadequately sized kitchen, so to hell with him. The space is too small for the magic that comes out of it, I say.
--most of my cookbooks live in a different room but I keep the ones I refer to most on a shelf just above head-level (so I won't accidentally clip myself on it) on a wall that would otherwise be wasted space.
--I made overflow pantry space in a different part of the house, so I can stock up on staples without sacrificing precious cupboard room. Upper cupboards/top of fridge/top of cupboard space would work well for this idea as well.
--I installed a narrow shelf under the cupboard over my counter, about 6" wide and about halfway between the bottom of the cupboard and the counter, for things like my salt cellar and a couple gadgets I reach for constantly and a Bluetooth speaker, so they don't take up real estate on the counter itself but I can grab them easily.
We have plans for a remodel within the next couple years that includes a much bigger kitchen, but meanwhile, I've learned a lot about what really matters to me when I'm planning that remodel: flow, flow, flow.
posted by padraigin at 8:25 AM on January 8, 2016
--counter depth fridge and oven. This is probably a great idea in terms of space but realistically I can't put a Costco pizza in my oven without having it touch both the back and the oven door, unless I cut it in half before cooking, and it's nearly impossible to have something cooking on two adjacent burners. And my fridge space is minimal. This would be fine if I didn't have a family of four to cook for. If full sized appliances are at all possible, try to make them work.
--half-sized dishwasher, which again is great from a space perspective but realistically means that it's a good thing we don't all eat lunch at home every day, because it can barely hold breakfast and dinner dishes for one day's worth of four people eating, and that all serving dishes and cookware must be hand washed. Which means there are always some things drying on the very limited counter space.
--there's no room for people to hang out in the kitchen during a party if a host is in there cooking, and very little space for anyone to help cook. If you entertain even infrequently, or if you like to cook with a partner or have children you'd like to teach, this is a huge pain in the ass. A little attention to flow would solve this problem. It also means that the above dish-washing problem is harder to solve, because there's nowhere for a dish-dryer to stand without being in the way. Actually mine is a de facto one person kitchen in so many ways, because if I'm moving around trying to access things from cupboards or the fridge and someone else comes in to get something from a cupboard or the fridge, it becomes anarchy. Cooking a multi-course holiday dinner for thirteen people this year was pretty hilarious, and it was only because my sister and I can read each other's minds that it worked without anyone getting hurt.
On the other hand:
--I have a lot of vertical space which has been super great. Those cabinet tops? Wonderful for rarely-used serving dishes and weird bakeware that only comes out on certain birthdays, thanks to a nice tall stepstool that folds up very flat and takes up very little real estate when it isn't needed.
--a restaurant-grade pot rack has been a godsend since there isn't any logical cupboard space for these, and I have made an effort to train the family to put the most-used things in easy reach of the workspace. Sure, my aesthetically-minded father in law sneered at how it's "too big for the space" but he doesn't turn his nose up at the dinners that come out of my inadequately sized kitchen, so to hell with him. The space is too small for the magic that comes out of it, I say.
--most of my cookbooks live in a different room but I keep the ones I refer to most on a shelf just above head-level (so I won't accidentally clip myself on it) on a wall that would otherwise be wasted space.
--I made overflow pantry space in a different part of the house, so I can stock up on staples without sacrificing precious cupboard room. Upper cupboards/top of fridge/top of cupboard space would work well for this idea as well.
--I installed a narrow shelf under the cupboard over my counter, about 6" wide and about halfway between the bottom of the cupboard and the counter, for things like my salt cellar and a couple gadgets I reach for constantly and a Bluetooth speaker, so they don't take up real estate on the counter itself but I can grab them easily.
We have plans for a remodel within the next couple years that includes a much bigger kitchen, but meanwhile, I've learned a lot about what really matters to me when I'm planning that remodel: flow, flow, flow.
posted by padraigin at 8:25 AM on January 8, 2016
A "rimless" sink. I am forever disgusted by the grody bits of meals past that get stuck on the lip of the all the sinks I've ever rented. I recently went to a relative's house, and Hark! Kitchen sinks can be just set...under...the counter without a lip or ridge.
I just have to comment on this one thing -- if you get an under mount sink, make sure you install it correctly. My sister's sink has fallen out not once, but twice, due to poor contracting. And this is a brand new million plus dollar home (lucky sister)!
posted by echo0720 at 5:27 PM on January 8, 2016
I just have to comment on this one thing -- if you get an under mount sink, make sure you install it correctly. My sister's sink has fallen out not once, but twice, due to poor contracting. And this is a brand new million plus dollar home (lucky sister)!
posted by echo0720 at 5:27 PM on January 8, 2016
...small details like making sure the door opened in the correct direction so that you can reach into that cabinet (not around a door) to get to stuff...
ALL the doors should open in a logical direction, including your fridge door. I absolutely HATE kitchens that do this bassackwards!
Most kitchens accumulate a junk drawer. Figure out where the best place is for it, and make it easy to (semi) organize. I have stuff in separate cans--small measuring tape, platypus and other frequently needed small tool, nuts & bolts, lighter, emergency candles, superglue, tape, etc. Makes life easier.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:08 PM on January 8, 2016
ALL the doors should open in a logical direction, including your fridge door. I absolutely HATE kitchens that do this bassackwards!
Most kitchens accumulate a junk drawer. Figure out where the best place is for it, and make it easy to (semi) organize. I have stuff in separate cans--small measuring tape, platypus and other frequently needed small tool, nuts & bolts, lighter, emergency candles, superglue, tape, etc. Makes life easier.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:08 PM on January 8, 2016
fedward makes a great point about storage for cutting boards, cookie sheets, and large oven pans. Those large, flat items are used every day but it's rare to find a kitchen with a real solution to store them. I have left a spot in my kitchen for a custom solution of my own making that will store them off the counter but within easy reach. I will also be putting in a pot rack. Right now, my cast iron, cookie sheets, etc. are all in the oven and I have to drag them out several times a week so I can use the space. I hate it! Theses things should have a permanent home! In a commercial kitchen, they often store flat items on a speed rack.
posted by Foam Pants at 1:11 PM on January 10, 2016
posted by Foam Pants at 1:11 PM on January 10, 2016
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Also, outlets everywhere. Everywhere.
posted by chillin411 at 10:34 AM on January 7, 2016 [6 favorites]