Dream Kitchen Must-Haves

July 4, 2012

My husband longs to grill like a Food Network pro while I dream of soufflés that rise effortlessly. Frankly, we need all the help we can get. Thankfully, task-oriented upgrades provide the support we need to make our kitchen dreams a reality. Maybe these ideas are right for your clients too.

Cabinetry, Countertops and Storage

Start by re-thinking old standards. Taller kitchen counters (42” rather than 36” high) provide more interior cupboard and drawer space and eliminate unnecessary bending, especially for those who are taller than the average— 5’9” male, 5’-4” female.  To create a seamless, easy to navigate kitchen, opt for integrated appliances which don’t jut out beyond traditional cabinetry. Continue the seamless appearance with stone countertops. Granite provides impervious service, but some find its appearance too heavy.  Products such as Cambria, Silestone and Caesarstone work equally hard and come in a wide variety of colours.

The ultimate luxury for those who love to entertain is surely the butler’s pantry; ideally located between kitchen and dining room.  Even without a man-servant standing by, it’s the perfect spot to store wine and crystal drinking glasses, silver flatware and table top accessories such as placemats and candlesticks.

Appliances

Whether you’re preparing dinner for a family of four or orchestrating an elegant brunch for 20, the right dishwasher eases clean up efforts.  Consider two dishwashers to accommodate large parties, busy households, and kosher kitchens. For smaller households choose two dishwasher drawers, which allow for independent operation of upper and lower sections (an energy saving boost).

Double the width inside your fridge and accommodate large party platters with ease; the French door refrigerator is one of the nicest looking new appliances to hit the market in a long time.

Cleaning and Recycling

Get serious about garbage and recycling with the addition of specific chutes which lead from the kitchen directly out of doors into covered waste bins. It sounds complicated but it isn’t. Consult a qualified builder to link interior and exterior through a small hole at counter height. Install wheels on bottoms of cans and roll them to curbside as required.

Laundry in the kitchen? Why not.  I’m all for anything that eliminates unnecessary steps. A small capacity washer and dryer (or all-in-one combination that fits under counter height) puts clean dish towels at your fingertips.

Personal Enjoyment

Display the wines you love in a free standing or under counter wine fridge. Introductory models are 15”-24” wide and start around $300.00. More sophisticated versions provide independent temperature zones to store red, white and sparkling wines. Coffee lovers want, er….make that need a built-in espresso maker such as the popular Miele. But my clients are loving their less expensive, pod-eating Tassimo machines too. Locate near the breakfast table and it’s guaranteed to keep meal times percolating.