Very helpful. One thing we did when we had our home built over 30 years ago, was to incorporate a dedicated closet within the kitchen that houses our trash can and recyling, brooms, etc. The builder suggested just tucking all that into our pantry, but I didn't want the trash in where the food is stored. The only issue is that when we have a crowd over, we always find random bits of trash just tossed under the sink! We now tape up signs to let folks know where the garbage goes. Now, 34 years later, it is time for a refresh of cabinetry and flooring. I've always had blue accents in my kitchen, and happy to see the navy trend. Oh, and YES to the large single sink.
Thank you for all your valuable information. I was debating between a one or two basin sink. I decided on a two basin sink with a shallow separation. It will allow me to wash larger pans better than the traditional two basin sink and it will also give me the flexibility to divide the sink (clean/dirty side).
I feel the big divide is between kitchens that are meant to be worked in, and kitchens that are for show. Having two of every appliance, and just using the kitchen as a place to land takeout because you don't really know how to cook....is not the flex most people think it is.
That is definitely true. What has been interesting this year though is that most of the people I’m working with do love cooking or baking. I don’t tend to get many clients who fall in the ‘just for show’ camp.
The unspoken assumption is "well designed". I find that frequently large kitchens throw in everything (or two of everything) because they have the room and "why not?" Small kitchens you have to be well-designed.....and you need to choose wisely ..saying yes to something means saying no to something else.
Hi Jeff; Suggestion: How about a segment with an appliance expert? I am often surprised by how friends who are designing a kitchen don't consider newest trends in appliances. Until very recently, many of my foodie friends had not even heard of induction cooktops. I installed one in my last kitchen 12 years ago - and they have been very popular in Europe for over 30 years. Even lower-end induction appliances are remarkable. But the "wish list" in North America still often includes a large gas range or cooktop. My new kitchen design has a combi-steam oven. I am finding, again, my pals do not even know what that is, and the benefits of steam cooking. My friends in Europe are all installing them, though. I discovered that there IS a learning curve, so I bought a small counter-top combi-steam oven before finalizing the decision, in order to see if it was a good fit for how we live. Well, it is amazing and a real game-changer. So I have now purchased my new full-sized wall combi-steam oven for when my new kitchen gets built. Since a kitchen design should last you a long time, considering what options are coming is a good way to go, so that you are choosing for now and a few years down the road, as well. You remarked that North Americans seem to be a bit behind our European counterparts on adopting these changes. I think step one is for people to be exposed to these things in advance. Also: Fun to see our kitchen design featured in this vid!
Hi Catharine! This is a great idea, and you make some very good points. I've reached out to a couple local companies to see if I can get someone on the channel!
People forget that a kitchen that's too large is just as bad as a kitchen that's too small. I know that as a 60+ consumer, I find drawers below the counters much more usable as well as a cooktop and wall over. I would hate to fall while trying to reach an oven in a range or even worse, falling while I'm on my way up with a hot roast in my hands.
It all depends on how you place wall ovens. They should be placed at a comfortable working height for the users of the kitchen. You shouldn't be reaching above your head or needing a step stool to access the inside! It is rather rare to find a kitchen that is classified as too large, though I would agree. More often than not, it's that the layout is poorly setup in large kitchens, forcing you to constantly cross the entire space.
Yes and no. If you have a large family and make most of your food from scratch, then no. Or in the case of my family, we run out of freezer space in the fall (main plus a deep freeze) because of fall food processing from the garden. If you don’t cook much, then yes haha
That’s fair too. Most of the time these are built in and panelled, so they blend in more than two huge stainless steel doors. I still see your point though.
@@kyleg3588 I would love to have a space in my kitchen area for my upright freezer. It is not super huge, but I dislike having to go to another room to get to it. Just personal preference though. No wrong or right way to do it.
Where I live we it's the number of different bins needed that is the problem. We gave garbage, compost, paper recycling and other recycling. I would love to have a dedicated pullout space for the bins.
Very helpful. One thing we did when we had our home built over 30 years ago, was to incorporate a dedicated closet within the kitchen that houses our trash can and recyling, brooms, etc. The builder suggested just tucking all that into our pantry, but I didn't want the trash in where the food is stored. The only issue is that when we have a crowd over, we always find random bits of trash just tossed under the sink! We now tape up signs to let folks know where the garbage goes. Now, 34 years later, it is time for a refresh of cabinetry and flooring. I've always had blue accents in my kitchen, and happy to see the navy trend. Oh, and YES to the large single sink.
Thank you for all your valuable information. I was debating between a one or two basin sink. I decided on a two basin sink with a shallow separation. It will allow me to wash larger pans better than the traditional two basin sink and it will also give me the flexibility to divide the sink (clean/dirty side).
I feel the big divide is between kitchens that are meant to be worked in, and kitchens that are for show. Having two of every appliance, and just using the kitchen as a place to land takeout because you don't really know how to cook....is not the flex most people think it is.
That is definitely true. What has been interesting this year though is that most of the people I’m working with do love cooking or baking. I don’t tend to get many clients who fall in the ‘just for show’ camp.
The unspoken assumption is "well designed". I find that frequently large kitchens throw in everything (or two of everything) because they have the room and "why not?" Small kitchens you have to be well-designed.....and you need to choose wisely ..saying yes to something means saying no to something else.
I know I enjoy having a large, one basin sink in the kitchen or laundry where I can wash out refrigerator bins.
Large one basin sinks are by far the more common choice among my clients.
I love getting your take on kitchens.
Thank you!
Hello! Thank you for your videos! What kitchen design planner do you use here?
Hi Jeff;
Suggestion: How about a segment with an appliance expert? I am often surprised by how friends who are designing a kitchen don't consider newest trends in appliances. Until very recently, many of my foodie friends had not even heard of induction cooktops. I installed one in my last kitchen 12 years ago - and they have been very popular in Europe for over 30 years. Even lower-end induction appliances are remarkable. But the "wish list" in North America still often includes a large gas range or cooktop.
My new kitchen design has a combi-steam oven. I am finding, again, my pals do not even know what that is, and the benefits of steam cooking. My friends in Europe are all installing them, though. I discovered that there IS a learning curve, so I bought a small counter-top combi-steam oven before finalizing the decision, in order to see if it was a good fit for how we live. Well, it is amazing and a real game-changer. So I have now purchased my new full-sized wall combi-steam oven for when my new kitchen gets built.
Since a kitchen design should last you a long time, considering what options are coming is a good way to go, so that you are choosing for now and a few years down the road, as well. You remarked that North Americans seem to be a bit behind our European counterparts on adopting these changes. I think step one is for people to be exposed to these things in advance.
Also: Fun to see our kitchen design featured in this vid!
Hi Catharine! This is a great idea, and you make some very good points. I've reached out to a couple local companies to see if I can get someone on the channel!
IMHO two basin sink is a major waste of space. 1 compartments is never big enough now you got two right next to each other.
People forget that a kitchen that's too large is just as bad as a kitchen that's too small. I know that as a 60+ consumer, I find drawers below the counters much more usable as well as a cooktop and wall over. I would hate to fall while trying to reach an oven in a range or even worse, falling while I'm on my way up with a hot roast in my hands.
It all depends on how you place wall ovens. They should be placed at a comfortable working height for the users of the kitchen. You shouldn't be reaching above your head or needing a step stool to access the inside! It is rather rare to find a kitchen that is classified as too large, though I would agree. More often than not, it's that the layout is poorly setup in large kitchens, forcing you to constantly cross the entire space.
5 or 6 feet of fridge/freezer is insane
Yes and no. If you have a large family and make most of your food from scratch, then no. Or in the case of my family, we run out of freezer space in the fall (main plus a deep freeze) because of fall food processing from the garden. If you don’t cook much, then yes haha
@@hsdesignstudio I can totally understand a deep freeze. I just can't see it as part of my kitchen. That's a garage or basement appliance to me!
That’s fair too. Most of the time these are built in and panelled, so they blend in more than two huge stainless steel doors. I still see your point though.
@@kyleg3588 I would love to have a space in my kitchen area for my upright freezer. It is not super huge, but I dislike having to go to another room to get to it. Just personal preference though. No wrong or right way to do it.
We definitely make more garbage now...
That’s my feeling as well…
Yes However back in the day there was not a separate container for recycling. The recycling bin can be equally an eyesore
Agreed. This is why the full depth cabinets that hood two bins are great.
Where I live we it's the number of different bins needed that is the problem. We gave garbage, compost, paper recycling and other recycling. I would love to have a dedicated pullout space for the bins.
@@bethschaffenburg5577 That would help, but it would need to be rather large and compartmentalized.