Kitchen Design Ideas, Calgary – Dependable Renovations

KITCHEN DESIGN IDEAS

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Kitchen Design Ideas

Kitchen design has changed over the years—a lot.

For example, kitchens designed in previous decades were small and often had just one window over the sink. Today’s kitchens have large windows to bring natural light into the room and are spacious, with open areas and lots of counter space for cooking and entertaining.

The kitchen truly is the heart of the home. It’s where your family gathers, your friends come to mingle, and where you spend the majority of your time. If your kitchen is cramped and small, awkward to maneuver around, or is simply tired and dated, it is not an enjoyable space to be in.

A kitchen renovation is a lifestyle investment—you will be amazed at what a change it makes to your home, and how much satisfaction it brings.

If it’s a space you spend so much time in, why not make it a place you love to be? Our kitchen remodel clients say it’s the best investment they have made, and some even say their food tastes better when cooked in a beautiful kitchen!

Most modern houses have open-concept main floors. This means that the kitchen, dining area, and living room are all part of the same space, instead of compartmentalized into separate rooms. Open-concept kitchen and living areas fit the majority of today’s families. They allow for more time together in the few hours that families can be together, and they make it easier to entertain. Remodelling your kitchen to get this look can make an enormous difference in your family’s quality of life.

And don’t let loadbearing walls stand in your way of opening up your kitchen. Any wall can be removed as long you put in beams to support the ceiling or second story, so anything is possible when it comes to remodelling your kitchen.

Kitchen Remodel Ideas to Keep in Mind

When designing your space, consider these ideas to help you ensure you get the look you want and that your new kitchen fits with the rest of your home:

Select your appliances before designing your cabinets.
The cabinets must be built to fit the appliances rather than the other way around.
In general, keep small spaces simple, with similar colours and shapes.
This allows the eye to move smoothly through the space, giving the illusion that it is larger than it is. Larger kitchens can take more variety.
Think carefully about lighting.

Under-cabinet lighting makes preparing food easier as it illuminates your countertop and removes shadowed areas. The most common under-cabinet lights are strip lights, or puck lights. Strip lighting is recommended over individual puck lights because you will get “hot” spots under the puck lights and dark spots between the fixtures unless you space them very close together. The lighting should be placed near the front of the cabinet so it illuminates the right area; mounting the fixture at the front will give you good lighting on the whole countertop, not just at the back. Be sure to also discuss a light valance with your designer. This is a small strip of cabinet material that will hide the under-cabinet lights from view so you won’t be blinded with glare.

Consider how you can maximize storage.
Pull-outs that can be easily hidden when not needed, toe-kick drawers added to under-counter cabinets, and drawers with built-in canisters to hold utensils are all great ideas that will help transform your kitchen.
Consider concealing the dishwasher and fridge with custom appliance panels.
Cabinetry appliance paneling creates a seamless look as it allows the entire kitchen to be a consistent finish. Be aware that you must choose specific appliances that allow this application.
Hide the clutter.
Designing a kitchen with dedicated small appliance storage allows you to tuck your appliances away for a cleaner look. Pull-out drawers for toasters and blenders, built-in microwave drawers, magic corners, integrated KitchenAid mixer stands…the ideas are endless!
Add a sink.

Traditionally, kitchens have one double sink that’s used for everything. Today, it’s becoming more common to have a large main sink in the island or perimeter cabinet, with a smaller prep sink installed in a less obtrusive spot in the kitchen. A butler pantry or coffee station is often integrated as part of the design.

A Couple of Ideas for Layout

When planning your new kitchen, you want to make optimal use of the space. Most kitchens have an L or U shape with a large island. Often the island will have bar seating, providing both workspace and gathering space. Keeping the island all one level keeps it versatile.

Layout is determined in large part by the kitchen work triangle. This concept has been around for decades because it works! It involves strategically positioning the sink, refrigerator, and stove in a way that saves the most energy and time. The space between the appliances is supposed to be no longer than nine feet and the total triangle (sum of all sides) should be no larger than 26 feet.

For more ideas, check out our gallery and visit Houzz.com.