As our society has changed substantially over the past 40 years, the layouts and designs of kitchens have kept pace with that change. In the 1960’s and 70’s the kitchen was considered a workplace to be kept out of sight and a sanctuary where those doing the food preparation could work without interruption. To borrow an expression, “We’ve come a long way, baby!”
Today the kitchen has become a gathering place, a place to talk, to eat, to party, to watch television, to do homework, and even to serve as a home office. The requirements of efficient food storage and preparation have not disappeared or even diminished. We have added many additional requirements to those of cooking. The kitchen has now become the most lived-in room in the house.
This is why your new kitchen’s design is such an important consideration and also why your selection of an experienced designer is equally important. Because of these numerous “live-in” requirements, your last step in the process will be to look at and select actual products. Your first step will be to take a careful and introspective look at yourself and your family. Get this important homework done before you have the first meeting with your designer.
Consider how many cooks are in your family and how many people use the kitchen at the same time. Do you eat out frequently? Do you entertain others frequently, and if so do you cook meals for them or just snacks? Do you have small children or elderly in the family? Are there unusual height disparities between family members. These are just a few questions – you will find a lot more questions on Cabinet Discounters’ lifestyle survey which is on our website.
Your kitchen designer should be very interested in the information you bring about your family and your lifestyle. If not, go find another designer. Your kitchen design must address your family’s lifestyle and habits as well as your likes, dislikes, and desires. The better you do your homework, the better you will equip your designer to produce the best possible space for your family to enjoy for many years to come.
You will find a lot more information for getting started with your kitchen remodeling project on Cabinet Discounters’ website. There, you can also download the free kitchen planning guide which will help you communicate to your designer the size and configuration of your current kitchen space. You will find experienced kitchen designers at any of Cabinet Discounters six showrooms in Maryland and Virginia (suburban Washington, DC). Just click on the showroom link for hours, addresses and phone numbers – you can even request an appointment online. You can see many photos of their projects on our website’s photo gallery which is a fantastic source of ideas for your planning. And remember, when you purchase your kitchen at Cabinet Discounters, there is no additional charge for the services of our designer.