Where to Eat
The kitchen is the most important room in the house. For that reason, many books and articles have been written on style, color, appliance choices, etc. Our goal here is to get you thinking about design and layout.
For the last couple of decades home design has trended toward convenience, openness, and being more casual. It’s in that vein that informal eating areas have surpassed formal dining rooms in popularity, though many homes have both. Where do you want your main eating space (where you actually eat every day)?
In the evolution of design, breakfast rooms with large windows replaced the traditional eat-in kitchen with a table in the center. Now that’s being replaced in popularity with an eating island. Which is a lot like going back to traditional eat-in kitchens when you think about it.
This makes a lot of sense. The island is centrally located to everything – food prep, cooking, and storage. How could it be any easier to go from hungry to food right in front of you? There’s no carting the bread, mayo and meat to another room to dine on sandwiches. Then there’s the bonus of it doubling as food prep space. (Scroll down to continue.)
At Habitation Home Design we investigate your needs and wants to create a kitchen designed around you!
But, an island isn’t the only good option. An old-fashioned table in the center of the room suits large, rustic kitchens while giving a throw-back feel that has become so popular. It does have the disadvantage that preparing food on a table is not as convenient as a counter.
Another popular option is a bar or smaller island (though it can be large) with a larger dining area adjoining the kitchen. This is often in a combination area the includes the kitchen, dining area, and family room in one big open space.
More formal dining areas can also be open to the family room and main living space. This is best accomplished with a cased opening or something similar to provide a sense of separation. This area can also be painted a different color.
Size
Recognition that the kitchen is the center of the home has helped popularize large, gourmet kitchens. If this is your choice you may want to consider a step-saving design. It may look nice to have the range or cooktop located 20 feet from the fridge, but there is a trade-off in practicality. It’s perfectly fine if you want a spread-out look. But if you prefer, we can design a large kitchen and still save you some steps in cooking.
Also consider how many people will likely be working in the kitchen at the same time. If you want a design for multiple cooks, then you will need more space between counters. If you’re planning to devote a lot of space to the kitchen, you may prefer it anyway.
For medium and smaller kitchens, an eating island is a great choice since it provides extra counter space and storage. A nice, walk-in pantry can make up for lost cabinet space.
At Habitation Home Design we custom design stunning, practical kitchens!