JR Studio Design Blog

There is nothing better than having a kitchen lay out with beauty in style and function. You should be able to effortlessly move, reach, dice and otherwise make a mess in your kitchen without having to hurt yourself (or others) in the process.  Of course, planning ahead for all your desires is the best way to start the kitchen design process, but there are ways to make the best of any situation no matter what the circumstances.  Here are my tips for creating perfect Kitchen Zen.

Counter height depends on genetics.  What height can you use a knife at that does not necessitate bending over in the slightest?  Answer the question and you have found countertop perfection. If you are not able to recreate your kitchen from scratch (designing counter heights to preference,) you can custom order butcher block of varying sizes & heights from 1” to 6”+ in order to bring the “work at hand” into yours.  Ordering custom wood cutting boards to cover a large area (2 – 3’ in length) will also eliminate the need to huddle up over small cutting boards.  These can be left out provided they are maintained and beautiful themselves. 

Upper shelving is for nuts (or other bulk items…)  If you are tight on space and find yourself using every last inch of shelving up to the rafters, consider bringing some items out of the cupboards and out on display.  I frequently use beautiful glass apothecary jars with snug fitting lids to bring dry pasta, oatmeal, dog food and even snack bars into easy reach.  This frees space in the cabinetry for other items and creates interesting displays of everyday items. 

Don’t forget me!  One of the smartest kitchens I have had low cabinetry designed for a children’s cooking area.  Grandmother worked out cookie dough on marble counters, transferring sheets of dough to her grandkids on the counter below where they could cut it into shapes without standing on chairs.  Ingenious!  Who else may be helping out in your kitchen?  Do you need a wine and cheese tasting area that is separate from your main prep area?  This could be at bar height. Is someone in your family using a wheelchair?  They would appreciate lower counters with plenty of access space below.  Varyied counter heights can be appreciated for their function as much as their architectural features.

The person who invented the slide-in range never cooked a turkey.  Have you ever bent over to pull your perfectly browned Thanksgiving bird from the oven and winced as you lifted it awkwardlya as you staggered to the countertop 3 steps away?  Eliminate this unseemly (and dangerous) situation by using a drop-in cooktop and locating ovens at arm height into cabinetry nearby.  Most manufacturers have double oven combinations that fit into wall cabinets and handle everything from popcorn to poultry with ergonomic ease.

Think twice, twist once... Think about adjacencies when you locate your appliances.  The dishwasher should be next to the sink and near the cabinet where you store your dishes!  Hang your pot rack over your sink instead of the cook top or island – you will appreciate letting the pots drip here instead of across your granite counters. The coffee maker should be under the cabinet where your coffee mugs reside, and the refrigerator should always have a landing space next to it.  Grouping related tasks together helps determine kitchen layout.  Planning makes perfect!

Create a kitchen that cooks!  I’ve recently installed an “assembly line” kitchen for clients with a minimal amount of space – 10’ on one wall only.  (See image above and more photos of the project here...)  The clients were clear that they needed an efficient design that really worked, so we designed an assembly line that ran across the length of the entire wall.   This efficient layout starts with a landing space for groceries, moves onto the refrigerator, then to another landing space for items removed from the refrigerator for prep before rinsing at the sink.  (We even fit a custom cutting board into the sink well to further maximize the space.)  After the sink, there is a small landing space for prepped items before they are transferred from sink to stove.  It ends with a final landing space for food ready to serve. It functions beautifully and we did not have to spare any design flare to make it work either.  

Other inspirations.  Rolling islands that tuck into pantry cabinets for extra space (that hides them away when not in use!)  Pull out shelves in lower cabinets and pantries so you can find everything you need.  Include space for a folding step stool into your cabinetry plan. Create deep drawers below counters for plates and glasses you use every day. Use appliance garages to hide clutter and bookshelves for cookbooks under islands.  And, please, no more desks in the kitchen – they are ridiculous.  Tomato sauce has never been a friend of electronics and paperwork and when you are cooking there is no time for distractions!

Please send on your inspirations as well.  We love creative strategies for everyday problems…

Today’s (this week’s, this hour’s…) economy calls for careful consideration when planning your next interior design move.  I can’t stress enough that the best investment today is… longevity.  Use this as your benchmark and impulse purchases will never measure up.  Here are my top 5 trends that will outlast the headlines and position you for brighter times to come.

1. Technology & Entertainment Integration: Thoroughly integrating technology and entertainment can transport digital media anywhere in the house, providing customizable opportunities to enjoy the modern lifestyle to its fullest.  Apple TV and the Sling Box are great products that take full advantage of audio and video downloaded onto computers and DVRs, delivering them effortlessly to handhelds, computers and home stereo systems.  A significant plasma television purchase makes much more sense if it means that screen can become a media center worthy of a science fiction fantasy.  Investing in technology that intelligently adds to your lifestyle will defeat the urge to splurge on every new gadget that arrives as you grow your custom media center.  

2. High and Low Mix:  Today’s modern homes thrive on using eclectic furnishings from a variety of resources.  I encourage clients to splurge on everyday “high touch” pieces like sofas, window coverings, bedding, and dining furniture and home investments such as closet design, kitchen remodeling and landscaping.  Secondary pieces such as extra seating, lamps, pillows, and accessories can come from less expensive sources, providing of-the-moment interest without buyers remorse should styles change just after the dust settles.  

3. Repurposing dated furnishings with modern fabrics & finishes:  Classic traditional furniture in need of TLC and ready for reupholstery is easy to find at terrific values in vintage shops and the family attic.  These pieces have stood the test of time and look great dressed in modern prints and fabrics.  Dusty wing chairs recovered in a modern ethnic print are freshly familiar and instantly appreciated. Their classic form guarantees longevity while the new look brings them into today’s lifestyles.  Most importantly, repurposing is part of our formula for “Greener Living.”  There is nothing better than recycling great vintage furniture. 

4. Metal furnishings:   Interesting and formidable metal tables and chairs can be found everywhere now from high end showrooms to mass market retailers right now.  These sturdy furnishings add to a room’s eclectic layering and are almost bulletproof additions worthy of investment.  Finished in powder coated finishes in every color of the rainbow, they bring powerful life into a design scheme.  Gary Hutton Design has wonderful pieces – some I have had powdercoated especially to be used out of doors when the mood to rearrange strikes.  

5. Functional Accessorizing:  Fashionably functional gets a lot of respect in our office.  When I refresh an interior, I start by removing accessories that clutter a room and add no aesthetic value. (They can bring value, however, through sales at consignment shops!)  Your furnishings live best when they can accomplish two tasks at once – aesthetics & storage, display & serving, etc…  One functional accessory can take the place of an entire table of insignificant objects.  You will be happier in an edited space that works as well as it looks.

Should these ideas appeal to your home economics and you are looking for a partner with the savvy to bring them together for you, contact our studio for a consultation! Our services are yours for the living…www.jrstudiodesign.com

content credit: Joel Robare of JR Studio Design  

photo credit: image of currency of public domain