In this section we take a look at neat ways to spice up your kitchen that you never thought possible on a budget.
Central Iowa Kitchen Trends
At Fleishman Fine Cabinetry, we have a front row seat to the kitchen and bath trends sweeping the state. While we believe some ideas (like above the fridge wine racks and countertop resurfacing) are fads that will quickly fade, other ideas are here to stay. Here are a few trends that incorporate great ideas, sharp design, and make the kitchen a fun and efficient place to be.
Now more than ever, homeowners require flexibility in their kitchens. A kitchen may be a part of a great room that opens into an informal dining area, and from there to the living room. It’s critical that the space functions cohesively to meet the changing demands of today’s busy family. Multi purpose kitchens incorporate space for everything from food preparation and serving to nightly homework sessions and weekend entertaining. Even in a home with a small kitchen, it is important that the space meet a family’s needs.
A multiple layered island is a great way to add counterspace to your kitchen!
In order to craft a multi purpose kitchen, priorities must be identified to establish how the space within the kitchen will be used. A great way to figure out how to craft a multi purpose kitchen is to start with an honest assessment of Wants vs. Needs. Needs must be met for the space to successfully provide the functionality every kitchen should have. Some examples of Needs might be:
- Sink and dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- Range
- Countertop space
- Storage
Wants are the items or features we’d like to see in our kitchen. While some wants may not be feasible for a particular space, others make good sense. Examples of Wants might be:
- Butler’s Pantry
- Wine Center
- Multi media space for homework
- Buffet
- Coffee and espresso stand
- Entertainment area
- Roll out trays
- Recycle area
- Under-counter appliances
- A particular color or style
- And so on…
A standard kitchen has enough square footage to support five to eight distinct work centers. After a thorough examination of Wants vs. Needs has been completed, work centers can be established. Using the examples above, the ideal multi purpose kitchen could include the standard amenities you would expect in the a kitchen, plus an entertainment peninsula with built in recycle bins, a cozy coffee corner, and a drop zone for laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players. Even the smallest kitchens have enough space to allocate to multi use purposes if they are handled properly. For these and more ideas please visit us at www.fleishmancabinets.com or give us a call at 515-989-9819. We would love to collaborate on ideas with you to give your home the perfect kitchen!
