The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where you prepare your meals, talk with friends and family, and make simple desserts. Most people today would like to have a “big kitchen.” Unfortunately, recent history shows that most homes in America now have a smaller kitchen than was once the case. They just want a home with a big kitchen.
Recent examples on the Web include an ultra-modern kitchen in Dallas that has a mosaic tile backsplash and custom cabinetry. On the other hand, another Dallas example includes old-fashioned country cabinetry and a “triangle of lights” style countertop. In both cases, the kitchens featured had a minimalist look that included mostly stainless steel appliances, a black stove, and high top cabinets.
Modern kitchens have changed dramatically since the days of the Fudd and Hope layouts. In the Fudd, the work triangle was very small because the cook held the food while making the food. In Hope, the work triangle was as large as one would see in an upscale American Culinary City restaurant. The modern kitchen layout combines some of the best of the Fudd and Hope layouts while minimizing the need for the large work triangle.
In the new kitchen designs of today, the work space is centered around the kitchen island. This work space can be made larger than traditional kitchen layouts by installing bar stools or kitchen carts. In some cases, a bar area is built along with countertops, while other times there is no bar area at all. In other cases, the kitchen design simply uses the island for extra storage and countertop space. The cabinets are usually placed to the side or rear of the island.
Most people think that contemporary kitchen layouts include just the basics, which is certainly true. But there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, many newer homes now come equipped with a second refrigerator due to changes in the way home refrigerators are designed. The older style refrigerator simply held three to four ice trays. The more recent styles feature more space for extra appliances such as a second sink and dishwasher.
If you’re looking for ways to add square footage to your current kitchen without having to completely replace your cabinets, you should look into L-shaped kitchen designs. A l-shaped kitchen layout works great if you need more counter space than you have floor space for. In this case, you can install cabinets on the left side of the kitchen, while the right side is free for other purposes. In the standard kitchen, the cabinets sit on a single line, but in a L-shaped kitchen, the cabinets are able to be installed on an angle, which makes it easier to have enough space on each side. By installing cabinets at an angle in your L-shaped cabinetry layout work space, you not only make more room on each side of the room, but you also create more storage space.