Things I like to include in kitchen design.

Renovating a kitchen is one of the most rewarding home improvement projects you can undertake. Whether you’re looking to update an outdated space, increase functionality, or simply create a more inviting atmosphere, a kitchen remodel can transform your home. But with so many design options, materials, and budgets to consider, the process can also feel overwhelming. To ensure your kitchen renovation is a success here are some of the things I prioritize when starting a kitchen design.

Incorporate deep drawer storage as much as possible. Dedicated drawers for dishes, pots and pans, and even your Stanley cups simplifies organization and make accessing these items far easier than rummaging through cabinets.

Hide Electrical Outlets

Position your electrical outlets beneath cabinets rather than in the center of your backsplash. I dislike when a beautiful tile is disrupted by an unattractive outlet. Consider adding outlets in unexpected locations and disguising them with covers. Just be sure to allow for enough spacing that your plugs will fit and do a test run before blanketing your kitchen with under cabinet plugs that end up being too close to the cabinets to fit a phone charger.

Reflect on your lifestyle and the storage needs that arise from it. I always ensure there’s a convenient place for paper towels, so they don’t take up counter space. Various options are available, as shown in the pictures below. Consider what else you frequently use—are you a spice enthusiast? Do you need a dedicated spice storage solution? What about coffee? Many families have both Nespresso machines and traditional coffee makers, along with grinders and other coffee essentials. For these users, I recommend an appliance garage that provides a designated space for storage, allowing everything to be plugged in and neatly hidden behind a door when not in use.  You can also think outside the box and investigate a hutch or armoire.  I saw this great design on Amanda Louise Interiors and think it is such a beautiful way to store your coffee maker, microwave and lots of other items in a piece of furniture that brings interest and warmth into the space.   And finally, if your family is always junking up your countertop by charging their phone, iPad, or laptop think about incorporating a charging drawer so they can still charge their devises, but you don’t have to look at them.

Emphasize Layered Lighting

Incorporate dimmable overhead lights, under-cabinet lighting, and hanging fixtures to create a versatile lighting scheme you can utilize in various ways.  Many people who have under cabinet lighting keep it on all night and use at as a home night light without having a blazing light on that bleeds into bedrooms. 

Add Color and Texture

Bring in color through paint, cabinetry, or decorative accessories. Mix different textures, such as wood, metal, and textiles, to add visual interest and a warm ambiance.  For instance in our recent Austin photo shoot, the kitchen banquette has a wood table, gold metal chairs / light fixture and lots of fabrics in the seat cushions and pillows.  This creates such a luxurious feel to the area and allows for lots of colors to be incorporated into the space making it happy and most importantly, comfortable. 

And let me end with this – never do an aisle less then 48” and if you can do 54” that is amazing.  This means your walkways will never feel cramped and you’ll have the room to open the dishwasher and people to walk around it etc.  The standard aisle is 36” but I never, ever go less then 48”. 

Hope these tips help you with your design!