Designing Your Dream Kitchen: 2020 Guide

It’s every homeowner’s dream - a kitchen design or installation! Maybe you’re designing the home of your dreams from the ground up, working on a house flip project that needs a stellar kitchen, giving your home some TLC with an awesome kitchen re-do, there are some amazing elements that can help you to design the kitchen that you’ve always wanted. 

One big part of a kitchen project is based around functionality; we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and so we’ll discuss how you can choose practical and functional design elements that help enhance the quality and usefulness of your kitchen; while countertop installation is really important, there are so many other elements that you want to consider to make your kitchen shine. 

Thinking about all of the components you absolutely need to include in your kitchen project can be overwhelming. There are so many options and choices in terms of kitchen design, so we’ve created this blog to help you think about all of the key elements that you’ll need to incorporate for the design you’ve always wanted. 

1. Think About Your Kitchen’s Function 

Our kitchen is more than just a kitchen. It’s one of the most-occupied spaces in our house. When you think about the main function of a kitchen, of course the first things that come to mind is preparing, cooking, and maybe even eating food. And you’d be exactly right! Of course we use our kitchen for cooking, and it can easily be argued that it’s the primary function of a kitchen. 

However, there are many more things that we do in our kitchen; one could even argue that it’s really the hub of a home. Let’s really consider all of the other things we do in our kitchen. What comes to mind? It’s not uncommon for people to work, read, relax, check messages or mail, drink some wine, spend time chatting with friends and family, among other things. 

So, when thinking about the functionality of the kitchen, here are some items to keep in mind to create your perfect design: 

• How do you plan to use it: do people hang out a lot in the kitchen? Do you need a lot of space for big cooking projects, or do you prefer everything to be neatly stored and only used when necessary? 
• What activities will you do there: knowing what types of things you will do in your kitchen helps your design. Do you like to entertain? You may need a countertop installation with a large island. If you often find yourself hanging out doing some small work tasks or having a beverage or two, you may want to consider having a countertop installation that includes a bar or island with seating. You can even think about having a small nook or dining area. 
• How do you plan to organize things: do you want to have a wine fridge? Will you have a walk-in storage, or do you need to build in a lot of cabinet drawers? Will you use your island for storage? Keep in mind how you like to organize yourself. 

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2. Kitchen Layout and Work Triangle

If we think about the practical function of our kitchen, the main points that we find ourselves going between include the stove, sink, and refrigerator. Because these are the main function points in a kitchen, there is a “work triangle” rule for making sure that your kitchen is designed with functionality and comfort in mind.

The work triangle in a kitchen helps to optimize traffic in your kitchen, so it’s important to keep in mind the space that you have available and not try to overextend. For example, if you’re looking to have a countertop installation that includes a huge island, but only leaves a small gap for people to move around in the kitchen, you won’t be happy with this design. Even if you choose the most beautiful marble countertops you’ve ever seen and have incredible lighting fixtures, you won’t want to spend time in your kitchen, and you certainly won’t be able to use it to its full capability. 

So, you should keep in mind the kitchen work triangle when thinking about design options. You can also add in more zones; for instance, if you have a bar area, that may be another element to your work zone. 

In terms of layout, the size of your kitchen countertops and cabinets are going to be key. Also, you’ll need to make sure that you have enough space to move around comfortably with any seating options you choose. If an island is in your countertops installation plan, you’ll need to make sure that it’s the appropriate size for the space you’re working with. 

3. Building Materials 

Choosing the best building materials for your kitchen is also a key element of the perfect design. This is where you’ll need to take into account all of your habits and which building materials will be most practical for you. 

For example, if you know that you have a lot of little ones running around and banging into surface areas, you’ll need to ensure that you have durable surfaces that won’t be prone to nicks and scratches. For cabinets, this may be something like hardwood, including hickory or maple. 

In terms of countertops, if you know that you like to place high-temperature objects on your countertops, you may want to consider granite countertops, as it’s very heat-resistant. If you live a very busy lifestyle and don’t want to worry about maintenance, choosing quartz countertops can help you to avoid having to do any sealing maintenance, minimizing the risk of corrosion or bacteria growth. 

The building materials that you choose always determine how practical your kitchen will be and how long it will last. 

4. Aesthetic 

Another element that you want to keep in mind is aesthetic. What type of look do you want for your kitchen? Do you want a look that is more elegant and luxurious, or are you looking for a more natural look that gives off a homey feel? 

There are three elements that will help your kitchen aesthetic: your countertop material, your lighting choices, as well as your backsplash and wall design. 

Let’s take a look at some options for countertop materials: 

• Granite: Granite countertops are extremely durable and provide a very natural and unique look. You can find it in a variety of different styles, thus making it a viable material for many different styles. Each piece is completely unique, so you’ll have a great choice in terms of meeting your aesthetic. 
• Marble: A go-to luxury choice, marble countertops have always had an air of sophistication and class. That’s not to say it can’t be molded into other aesthetics-- there are many different options for marble and it can really increase the beauty and comfort of your kitchen. 
• Quartz: One of the most popular, quartz countertops are incredibly versatile and can meet pretty much any design aesthetic. Because quartz is 95% natural quartz and 5% polymer resin, it has many options that are easily accessible, which makes the selection process straightforward. 

Giving your space enough lighting fixtures is also really important. You’ll want to consider elements like general lighting, area lighting, as well as accent lighting. Accent lighting can be a great way to give your kitchen a standout ambiance. 

Pair your countertop installation and lighting fixture installations with the optimal backsplash, and your kitchen will be a brilliant expression of your aesthetic preferences. 

Wrap-Up: Designing Your Dream Kitchen  

While there are many moving parts that go into designing your dream kitchen, these 4 aspects can help you get your design up and running, optimizing both the functionality, practicality, as well as the visual aesthetic of your kitchen. 

Choosing the right countertop installation experts is a make-or-break decision when making your dream kitchen a reality. If you need help with any design elements or material selection for your kitchen design, Vancouver Countertop Installation has a team of experts that’s ready to work with you to make your kitchen dreams a reality!