The Kitchen Is The New Family Room

Great conversations often happen in the kitchen. You might have a spectacular home with plenty of comfortable places to sit, but big or small, your kitchen is where everyone wants to be. With that in mind, designers are creating kitchen layouts that allow for easier access with fewer walls and less separation from other rooms in the house.
Great conversations often happen in the kitchen. You might have a spectacular home with plenty of comfortable places to sit, but big or small, your kitchen is where everyone wants to be. With that in mind, designers are creating kitchen layouts that allow for easier access with fewer walls and less separation from other rooms in the house.
“Open plan kitchens are more popular now, meaning that the kitchen flows into the rest of the house,” says Sean Rusk, manager of public relations and editorial services for the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Because our lives are so much busier, often with both parents working and kids involved in various after-school activities, families tend to gather in the kitchen to reconnect at the end of a hectic day. Meal preparation has become an extension of dinnertime and, while you’re preparing the food, your kids may be sitting at the island doing homework, surfing the web or even watching TV.
Design trends are accommodating the need for surfaces that allow for multitasking. For example, a counter could be set up with a wood or glass surfaced food prep area on one side, and the other side could feature a granite counter for eating or just hanging out.
Rusk adds that having an Internet connection in the kitchen area allows parents to monitor their kids’ online activities or help with homework while getting dinner ready. An open floor plan makes the home feel cozier because the kitchen is truly part of the house, rather than being a separate room closed off by walls.
However, with less wall space, kitchen storage solutions need to be a little more creative. Rusk suggests things like utilizing a hanging pot rack, creating a large walk-in pantry, or adding more cabinet space to the island. He also notes that newer appliances like a microwave drawer that can be mounted into a center island are designed as space-saving alternatives. He also suggests looking into warming drawers, dishwasher drawers and even refrigerator drawers.
The multi-purpose kitchen has been a trend that Dennis Chicotel, senior designer with EXPO Design Center, has been working with for several years.
“Over the past couple of decades, the kitchen has turned into more of an all-purpose room. It’s become the living room, the dining room, the family room and the kitchen all in one,” he explains.
At one time, kitchens were used just for traditional meal preparation but Chicotel finds that newer kitchens have incorporated individual workstations. For example, if you love to bake you might create a baking center with plenty of counter space and storage areas for specific baking utensils right near the oven. Counter surfaces would be lower to accommodate kneading and be made with a cooler stone, like marble, to prevent dough from sticking. Some cooks prefer a special area for chopping vegetables with a built-in cutting surface and easy access to chopping knives.
“Usually an island is set up for chopping and has a second sink and disposal, a cutting surface, and utility drawers for knives. One person can be preparing a salad while someone else can be prepping meat near the cooking surface,” Chicotel says.
Traditionally, kitchens have been designed with the “triangle” in mind, which utilizes a strategic placement of three key areas - the sink, refrigerator, and oven/cooktop. With newer designs, there is often a double triangle to accommodate two people preparing food at the same time: one being the traditional triangle, and the other encompassing the second sink on the island, a microwave or convection oven, and the refrigerator. And kitchen islands have taken on a life of their own. “Kitchen islands have become the center of activity. A big challenge today is to have the island serve as a meal preparation area as well as an entertainment area,” Chicotel notes.
He recalls a recent project where he installed two islands in one kitchen. One was set up primarily as a food preparation area, while the other was created solely for entertaining and included a wine refrigerator and an icemaker. This design allows guests to sit in the kitchen comfortably, enjoy a glass of wine, and interact with you while you prepare the food. So, rather than trying to prep a meal while running back and forth to another part of the house to entertain guests, you can interact with everyone and get things done at the same time.
Allison Beatty is an old house enthusiast and has spent several years writing about renovations and home remodeling. At www.RenovatorsPlace.com, an online resource for home renovations, Beatty breaks down kitchen islands into three categories:

The Family Gathering Place Island
One of the most popular island designs is the large island for family meals. This type of island requires plenty of space -- often 4-feet by 6-feet or larger -- and a durable granite countertop. It can also feature some of these additional options:
* 4 to 6 seats
* A microwave, small refrigerator, a warming or cooling drawer
* A wine rack or cooler

The Party Island If large social gatherings are part of your personality, then add an island that will draw people to gather, sit and chat. Try a unique island shape, such as a 5- or 6-sided island that allows many people to gather around. Consider adding:
* A sparkling granite countertop
* Stylish pendant lights that dangle over the countertop
* A small refrigerator and/or wine cooler
* A veggie sink and warming drawer for appetizers

The True Cook's Island If cooking is your passion, then an island can become a full-fledged chef's center, a baking station or a grand food prep area. Depending on the kitchen design, the island can be placed in a central location between the main oven and refrigerator and the eating area. Optional features include:
* A veggie sink
* A cooktop
* A warming drawer
* A nearby double wall oven
“When remodeling your kitchen, evaluate your island personality and the way you plan to use your kitchen,” says Beatty. “Whether the kitchen design features a large party island or an informal family gathering spot, it should have the features you need.”
Many people wonder whether they should add appliances to their kitchen island. The debate is often evenly split. Some people love them, others don't. Here's how to decide:
* How much space do you have? Appliances require more space.
* Do you plan to serve meals at the island or use it as a holding station?
* What's your primary cooking source and how far is it from the island? Dennis Chicotel with EXPO Design Center suggests that, whether you want a tricked out gourmet kitchen, or simply an area for the family to gather, consider seating, storage and space. The kitchen isn’t just a utility room; with less wall space between the kitchen and the rest of the house, it’s important that the color scheme, cabinets, flooring and counter tops work with your décor. Chicotel notes that custom cabinetry is a popular design trend. And some pet owners even request special cabinets that will accommodate dog beds. After all, Fido needs a place to chew on his rawhide while you cook.
“Open plan kitchens are more popular now, meaning that the kitchen flows into the rest of the house,” says Sean Rusk, manager of public relations and editorial services for the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Because our lives are so much busier, often with both parents working and kids involved in various after-school activities, families tend to gather in the kitchen to reconnect at the end of a hectic day. Meal preparation has become an extension of dinnertime and, while you’re preparing the food, your kids may be sitting at the island doing homework, surfing the web or even watching TV.
Design trends are accommodating the need for surfaces that allow for multitasking. For example, a counter could be set up with a wood or glass surfaced food prep area on one side, and the other side could feature a granite counter for eating or just hanging out.
Rusk adds that having an Internet connection in the kitchen area allows parents to monitor their kids’ online activities or help with homework while getting dinner ready. An open floor plan makes the home feel cozier because the kitchen is truly part of the house, rather than being a separate room closed off by walls.
However, with less wall space, kitchen storage solutions need to be a little more creative. Rusk suggests things like utilizing a hanging pot rack, creating a large walk-in pantry, or adding more cabinet space to the island. He also notes that newer appliances like a microwave drawer that can be mounted into a center island are designed as space-saving alternatives. He also suggests looking into warming drawers, dishwasher drawers and even refrigerator drawers.
The multi-purpose kitchen has been a trend that Dennis Chicotel, senior designer with EXPO Design Center, has been working with for several years.
“Over the past couple of decades, the kitchen has turned into more of an all-purpose room. It’s become the living room, the dining room, the family room and the kitchen all in one,” he explains.
At one time, kitchens were used just for traditional meal preparation but Chicotel finds that newer kitchens have incorporated individual workstations. For example, if you love to bake you might create a baking center with plenty of counter space and storage areas for specific baking utensils right near the oven. Counter surfaces would be lower to accommodate kneading and be made with a cooler stone, like marble, to prevent dough from sticking. Some cooks prefer a special area for chopping vegetables with a built-in cutting surface and easy access to chopping knives.
“Usually an island is set up for chopping and has a second sink and disposal, a cutting surface, and utility drawers for knives. One person can be preparing a salad while someone else can be prepping meat near the cooking surface,” Chicotel says.
Traditionally, kitchens have been designed with the “triangle” in mind, which utilizes a strategic placement of three key areas - the sink, refrigerator, and oven/cooktop. With newer designs, there is often a double triangle to accommodate two people preparing food at the same time: one being the traditional triangle, and the other encompassing the second sink on the island, a microwave or convection oven, and the refrigerator. And kitchen islands have taken on a life of their own. “Kitchen islands have become the center of activity. A big challenge today is to have the island serve as a meal preparation area as well as an entertainment area,” Chicotel notes.
He recalls a recent project where he installed two islands in one kitchen. One was set up primarily as a food preparation area, while the other was created solely for entertaining and included a wine refrigerator and an icemaker. This design allows guests to sit in the kitchen comfortably, enjoy a glass of wine, and interact with you while you prepare the food. So, rather than trying to prep a meal while running back and forth to another part of the house to entertain guests, you can interact with everyone and get things done at the same time.
Allison Beatty is an old house enthusiast and has spent several years writing about renovations and home remodeling. At www.RenovatorsPlace.com, an online resource for home renovations, Beatty breaks down kitchen islands into three categories:

The Party Island
If large social gatherings are part of your personality, then add an island that will draw people to gather, sit and chat. Try a unique island shape, such as a 5- or 6-sided island that allows many people to gather around. Consider adding:
* A sparkling granite countertop
* Stylish pendant lights that dangle over the countertop
* A small refrigerator and/or wine cooler
* A veggie sink and warming drawer for appetizers

Related Advertisers

Related Articles