The kitchen is the hub of the home. It’s where we gather to swap stories over a stove-top meal or gab near the gravy. What goes into a good kitchen, though? Which features, layouts, and touches make a kitchen more than just a room to cook in, but a place that is identifiable with our family as the gathering place? Here are some ways to make your kitchen loved by all its family.

The Island

A kitchen island truly is a remarkable feature in any family kitchen. It offers extra counter space for larger meals, and it also has potential to expand the storage space of a kitchen. The island serves as a space for serving from. If the design allows, barstools can be added here or there for a few extra seats. The island is an especially handy add-on for smaller kitchens where the cabinetry is lacking and can be customized fairly easily to fit your storage needs.

French Doors to the Outdoors

A kitchen that can open up and expand to the outdoors in an excellent feature for any family, especially one that entertains. A set of french doors or a sliding door offer easy access to other family cooking favorites: the grill and the smoker. Also, extra seating could be footsteps away in the form of a patio table. Keeping the food in the kitchen or on the deck offers easier clean-up. It also gives a safer place for spills for the little ones during large gatherings, rather than scrubbing juice from the living room carpet.

Furniture as a Built-in

When the kitchen table is included in the kitchen, it makes dining and serving a cinch. Imagine what once was a breakfast bar is expanded into a countertop. This is usually part of a center island that can seat up to six people. This feature is great for a busy family, streamlining serving and clean-up into a single room. We also see this concept in the breakfast nook, with built-in seating and an opportunity for decorative flair with cushions and pillows.

The Hide-Away Concept

Fewer visual surrounding can sometimes help our thinking. This is where the hide-away concept comes in. Everything from mixers and coffee stations to microwaves and toaster ovens can be hidden away in their own little cubbies. Once the appliance is used, the custom-made door can shut to hide it away again, never again to clutter up our countertops or our thought process. This concept can also be used to store cleaning supplies and expand the pantry. Often times, custom built-ins on castor wheels can make a world of difference for storage expansion. They can be camouflaged in, used when needed, and hidden away again!

Kitchen Zones

With everything in its own specific area, organization happens naturally. Think dishwashing station, eating station, cooking station, etc. The kitchen has everything tailored to be in the exact spot where it is needed, to be easily accessed. For example, everyday dishes are kept directly above the dishwasher, next to the sink, and within reach of drying towels to make up the dishwashing zone.

Keeping the kitchen clean and functional, yet still inviting, can be a challenge. With these tips for customization, your perfect family kitchen is just steps away.

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