The Showplace Kitchen
A new kitchen is often the focal point of the house and it can be tempting, if you have the resources, to go all out and create a showplace featuring all the latest design trends, expensive cabinetry and a high level of craftsmanship. In fact, its not unusual for such a kitchen to be built primarily to make a big impression. While creating a showplace kitchen can be an intriguing project its important to stick to good design principles and functional layouts even if you rarely prepare big meals. Inevitably even casual kitchen users become a lot more involved in cooking and entertaining as a result of building a showplace kitchen so its important to make sure the style and design are more than skin deep.
The issue of style brings up choices and decisions that can be extremely challenging. Visualizing colors, textures, lighting and use of space in three dimensions are skills that take professionals years to develop. It is tempting to choose an attractive trend and follow it slavishly. The often unfortunate results are kitchens designs that look like wallpaper showrooms, cabinetry catalogs or a trend look like southwestern adobe that can become dated before the paint dries. Classic design that holds up over time starts with function and architecture, considers ambiance and comfort levels and uses the best materials in an understated, well-crafted manner.
Combining Styles
Each of these specific kitchen types is rare in the real world. Your kitchen is likely to be an amalgam of two or more based on your lifestyle. You may need a utility kitchen during the busy work week that you can still use to prepare a complex meal on a relaxed Saturday afternoon. You may cope with busy family traffic and still need to entertain a large business group on a Friday night. Integrating the various requirements of these kitchen types is a basic aspect of kitchen design. Looking at the needs of each type will give you an idea of what goes into each. They may all contain elements that you want and need in your kitchen.
