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Kitchen Contractor Shares Signs of a Cook’s Kitchen

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

It’s almost Thanksgiving and cooks around the country will be heading to the kitchen to prepare the annual feast. A cook’s kitchen is a workspace. Whether it’s a small galley or a spacious open area, it’s a studio for an artist and the medium is food. A kitchen that’s designed for cooking maximizes the space available and is built with efficiency in mind. As you work in your kitchen this holiday season, evaluate your space and see if your kitchen is a cook’s kitchen. According to Inspired Remodels, an Orange County kitchen contractor, these are the signs of a cook’s kitchen.

Don’t Waste Steps

Think about how the space will be used and design accordingly. The cook can grab a quick drink of water when drinking glasses are stored in cabinets next to the sink. Bakers shouldn’t have to walk across the kitchen for a sheet pan or baking tray. Provide storage for these items next to the oven. Install cabinets for dishware and flatware close to the eating area to make setting the table easy or close to the dishwasher to make unloading and stowing easier. Hang a magnetic strip next to the main workspace and store knives safely. Hanging your knives will help keep them sharp. Of course, the kitchen work triangle is still the base upon which all efficient kitchen designs are built.

Use the Right Height

A cook’s kitchen takes into account the height of the cook. No, we’re not suggesting that the countertops, cabinets, and microwave be custom built to the exact height of the cook. But, if the cook isn’t the average size, the kitchen shouldn’t be either. Raising or lowering countertops will make it much easier for an extremely tall or short person to work in the kitchen. Also, keep in mind if kid’s will be using the kitchen on a regular basis. A microwave that’s installed the standard 15 inches above countertop may not be safe for use by kids. A below countertop model make much more sense if kids are regular cooks in the kitchen. A step-stool built into the toeplate of a cabinet is a great way to get kids up to countertop height.

Functional Islands

An island in the kitchen can provide extra workspace and a place to eat. But a skilled kitchen contractor knows it shouldn’t do both. Decide whether you want the primary purpose of the island be to additional eating space or working space. You should not place seating at an island with a cooktop.

Workspace

Cooks need a place to work. That means more counter space. Most cooks want this extra space to be between the cooktop/oven and the sink. Occasional cooks who prepare simple meals don’t want or need as much counter space on which to work. An island without a cooktop can double as workspace and eating space if positioned properly in the work triangle.

Use Cleanable Surfaces

A cook’s mess doesn’t linger. Cooks want surfaces that are easy to clean. Undermount sinks don’t provide a place for crumbs to hide. Smudge-free surfaces on appliances hide fingerprints and matte surfaces don’t show grime as much as glossy ones. Matte surfaces are great for floors. Quartz is an easier care surface than granite and concrete resists heat damage. Solid shelves in the pantry and refrigerator are easier to clean and help keep spills contained.

Let the Light In

Use task lighting to enhance overhead lighting. Light colors make spaces appear larger and dark colors shrink space. Soft shades for the cabinetry visually expands a small room. Shaker and French farm house looks are popular because they can make even the darkest corner look light and bright.

Inspired Remodels – the Kitchen Contractor that Knows Cooking

When you are ready to step up your game and create a kitchen for cooking, contact Inspired Remodels. Inspired Remodels is the kitchen contractor that knows cooking. From designs that combine function and beauty to making the most of the room you have, Jason and Joe Mueller can create the kitchen of your dreams. When you’re ready to start cooking, call Inspired Remodels at (949) 716-1938 to schedule your consultation.

kitchen remodel planner tool makes remodeling easy

Kitchen Remodeler Tips for Functional and Beautiful Kitchens

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

It doesn’t matter how stunning the finishes or amazing the appliances, if your kitchen remodeler didn’t create a functional kitchen they didn’t do the job properly. When you cook, you need a kitchen that is beautiful and functional. Inspired Remodels takes the time to talk to you about your cooking style and needs before they start designing; so you get high function and style. Here’s a few kitchen design tips from kitchen remodeler pros

How Many Cooks in a Kitchen?

courtesy photostock

The traditional kitchen design accommodates one cook. The key players in the kitchen are placed to form a triangle. This design allows one cook to move efficiently in the kitchen between the stove, the refrigerator, and the sink.

Contemporary kitchens often need to accommodate more than one cook. A functional kitchen for more than one cook follows the design of a professional kitchen. The focus is on workstations and not the traditional triangle. So, prep, cooking, and cleanup workstations are organized around the associated appliance with ample room to work.

If you rarely use a full size oven or stove but rely on microwaves and toaster ovens, your kitchen remodeler should take this into consideration as well. What is an afterthought for some can be an important part of your cooking style.

What’s Your Social Style?

If you like to cook while visiting with your guests, an island or bar with seating is a must have function in your kitchen. This allows you to chat, enjoy a beverage, and be a part of the social action while you cook.

If you want solitude while you create culinary masterpieces and a “big reveal” is more your style, all seating will be outside the kitchen. Pass-throughs and how doors function is even more important in this set-up. No one wants to balance a platter and fumble with a doorknob or lever.

Lighting Needs

Kitchen lighting is crucial to function. You can’t measure, read a recipe, or check a thermometer if you can’t see clearly. Ambient lighting is important, but it is just the start. Workstations or task areas should be well lit with additional lighting. Decorative lighting can be incorporated for when the kitchen is not in use. Night lights are great for those late night trips for a snack or drink of water.

Hire a Kitchen Remodeler that Understands Design

Before you hire a kitchen remodeler, make sure they understand the elements of good kitchen design. Pay attention to the questions they ask you. If their only concern is the color of the cabinets and paint then pay them no more attention.

A professional kitchen remodeler like Inspired Remodels understands that great kitchens begin with a great conversation about your needs. Inspired Remodels will take the time to find out about your personal functional requirements as well as your likes and dislikes in finishes, appliances, and styles.

When Inspired Remodels is your kitchen remodeler, you get a kitchen that looks great and functions superbly. Inspired Remodels can turn bathrooms into spas and remodel any other room in your house. Just Contact Us to get started.

Call (949) 716-1938 and schedule an appointment today. You have nothing to lose but an ugly kitchen.

Orange County Kitchen Remodeling Services

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Nothing imparts your personal style like your kitchen. Whether you are an Iron Chef or the Queen of the Microwave, your kitchen should be a reflection of your style. If your ready to let your kitchen reflect your personality, then its time for a professional kitchen remodeling job.

Successful Kitchen Remodeling Job Tips

There’s more to a successful kitchen remodel that wandering through a showroom, picking out some cabinets and selecting paint color. You need to identify what you need, what you want, and your budget.

Dream Book. Start collecting pictures from magazines, on-line articles, and Pinterest. If you are one of the last remaining people that haven’t used Pinterest, now is the time to start. Identify what you like and what you dislike. As you look at pictures note what colors, lines, and textures appeal to you. When you have a dream book, it is much easier to sit down with your designer and communicate your wishes. Speaking of wishes, make sure that you include a wish list. If you have special desires, such as certain cabinet features or countertop height, include those in the wish list as well.

Determine Budget. Know how much you are willing to spend before you sit down with a designer. Don’t be afraid to tell the designer upfront any cost concerns you have. A seasoned designer can work within your budget constraints to come up with a design that meets your needs. But, they need to know the budget upfront. As a rule, you can figure that your budget will be allocated:

30% Cabinets
23% Design and Installation
15% Walls, Ceilings, Floors
12% Appliances
10% Counters
10% Electrical, Plumbing, Ventilation

Your budget will always go further if you keep the existing layout. This stretches the budget because electrical, plumbing, and walls don’t need to be moved.

Pick the Right Kitchen Remodel Partner – Why Chose A Design Build Firm

This is by far the most important step in a successful kitchen remodeling. Instead of hiring a designer and then picking a building contractor, pick a design and build firm from the beginning. In the long run you will save money and have much less stress. A design and build company like Inspired Remodels has the staff necessary to provide the design services to bring your kitchen remodel dreams to life and the construction crew to make it happen.

Inspired Remodels will perform a consultation with you in your existing kitchen. Then taking into account your vision for the completed project and your budget they will artfully craft a design that incorporates colors, lines, and textures to achieve the look you want.

There’s no scratching your head while you look at blueprints when you work with Inspired Remodels. Before you approve your kitchen remodel you will review a CADD design that allows you to view a 3-D rendering of your new kitchen. This 3-D rendering will reflect your kitchen layout and incorporate the cabinet finishes you have selected.

If you are ready for an amazing kitchen, you are ready for an Inspired Remodel. Call (949) 716-1938 or use our Contact Us form.