How to Design the Perfect Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart and soul of many homes. There is something special about having all of your favorite people in one place to enjoy some delicious food and lasting memories. As you and your families begin to plan and prepare for the holiday season, you may find yourself spending a lot more time in this area of your home if you haven’t already been this year. In our previous blog post, How to Design Your Vacation Rental, we talk about the kitchen arena’s importance. Because of the kitchen’s larger footprint, we thought it would be best to devote a blog article to include anything and everything in its own entry. If you plan on remodeling or updating aspects of your kitchen, there are quite a few things to consider. 

APPLIANCES

How many people do you anticipate having in your home at any given time? This will help you decide on the size of furniture and appliances to purchase. If you have a group of 12 or more in attendance for a gathering, you may want to splurge on a larger fridge, (or multiple refrigerators) to store larger quantities of groceries and any prepped dishes that require refrigeration. If you are limited on space, an extra outdoor fridge or dry bar area could take care of any overflow items you may accumulate. If you own a seaside location, consider an ice maker as well to keep island cocktails cool and water fresh.

Heating elements in your kitchen are another important appliance piece of your kitchen. We recommend induction cooktops for preparing a fantastic dish. They heat quickly like a gas stove but do not have an open flame. This set up is also super easy to clean. If you are one who has family members with dietary restrictions, multigenerational families, or if you are hosting your family’s holiday gathering this year, here is our favorite kitchen appliance piece to help you cook your traditional favorites. While this appliance is a little on the expensive side, this microwave/convection oven is a huge space saver that can hold a larger size pan.

No matter what your appliance choices are, it is always best to choose your appliances first. They are the functional part of the design, and appliances have very limited size options. Cabinets can be made in any size so it’s best to fit the cabinets around the appliances. 

CABINETS 

Your cabinets should be paired with the heart and character of your home. If you are thinking of updating your cabinets but unsure what options to go with, we recommend hiring a professional. There are many trends and styles out there to filter through and having a professional’s perspective can help you make choices that will suit both your home’s style and your family’s needs.

Cabinets are lasting fixtures in your home and a big investment so tapping into a pro’s knowledge even if they charge a fee is usually worth it! You can opt for custom cabinetry tailored to your home’s exact size and style and equipped with extra organizers if the budget allows. You could also explore pull pantry or trash units to help increase storage and make navigating storage even easier for you and your family. Here is our favorite cabinet style, hands down. The enduring classic, the Shaker cabinets. These cabinets can be dressed up in various ways and have many subtle variations to help you style them for a specific look.

COUNTERTOPS

When it comes to countertops, quartz is our go-to. This man-made material is durable, affordable, and gives a fresh, clean look to a kitchen. There are an infinite number of styles, colors, patterns to choose from in the world of quartz surfaces. If you’d prefer a more luxurious countertop, you could opt for granite or quartzite. These natural stone options are beautiful and well worth the investment. When you are designing your countertops, make sure you have plenty of counter space that maintains the room’s flow. If the room feels a little tight, don’t feel like you have to have a piece that does not fit your space. A countertop fit for a breakfast bar or a built-in banquette dining makes for perfect space savers that still allow everyone to gather in for a casual lunch.

LIGHTING

Ample lighting in the kitchen is essential. With all the activities in your kitchen, it will serve you better to have plenty of light for any task or event. Your space should include overhead and under-cabinet lighting to allow for easy use and overall warmth in the space. That homey feeling can also be brought in with decorative pendant lighting to accentuate the room’s overall look and feel. 

COLOR CHOICES

Color choices can amplify the personality of your kitchen. Dropping a brightly colored kitchen backsplash to your cooking area is a great way to add a little extra flair. This small area is not too hard to change out or add in later, and it can make a massive difference to your master chef environment. Here are some other ways to add color to your kitchen:

1. Colorful Dishtowels
2. Serve-ware
3. A Fun Toaster
4. Coffee Maker
5. Colorful Dinnerware
6. Cookware

DINING ROOM AND SEATING

The more, the merrier! Make sure you have enough seats for the maximum number of people you plan on having in your home. Another thing to remember is the purpose of the gathering. Is it meant to be more of a formal dining entertainment event or a fun come and go setting where swimsuits are welcome? Family is family, which does not mean you all must sit together to enjoy the others company. Whether your guests are seated at the breakfast bar or dining table, as long as everyone is together in the same house, and they can feel the love, you are good to go. For dining table selections, glass is always super easy to clean. However, if fingerprints will drive you nuts, maybe a rustic edge wood table would serve you better. Remember, seating for guests should be comfortable and relatively easy to move if anyone needs to be squeezed in. It is okay to spend a little more on a chair that will hold up better and provide sturdy support for all of your guests.  

We hope this discussion helps you start thinking of those essential elements needed for your kitchen renovation or update. We are happy to provide our expertise in the transformation and would love to discuss your kitchen project details. Going through the process will significantly impact yours and your families’ quality time, where so many activities and memories are made.

Book here, today! 

Are you looking for the perfect kitchen accessories for the holidays? Check out my latest guide on items that all ship to the VI!