Key Elements of a Kitchen Renovation – Part 5: Special Features

There are aspect of a kitchen design that you’ll be able to customize so completely, that you don’t even have to include them at all, if you so choose. While these top three special features have made it to most home owners’ “must have” lists, how you work them into the project design is wholly up to you and HA Construction.

The Island – Convenience and Extra Space

A kitchen island is a countertop (and usually lower cabinetry) that stands on its own in your kitchen, touching no walls. Best suited for larger kitchen spaces, putting in an island allows you to determine the work flow for your kitchen. Just remember that not every kitchen is suited for an island – you must have at least 36 inches of walk space on all four sides.

Most use an island for extra counter space, something that many kitchens seem to be short on no matter how large they are. Utilizing this centralize counter space makes it easier to reach all other sections of your kitchen, rather than cutting vegetables at one end of the kitchen and then attempting to transfer them to the stove on the other side.

Another option is to place your sink in the kitchen island. This also allows for better flow, since most everything you do in the kitchen either ends up in the sink, or requires you to wash something. Just think about how many times you wash your hands while you’re cooking.

You can also place your range on your island. If you’re one of those gourmet cooks that spend a lot of time stirring things on the stove, this is an excellent feature. If you extend the island to create a bar, then your kids can work on homework or your husband can use the laptop while you cook, making for more family time. Just remember that it’s hard to vent a range in the middle of the kitchen – HA Construction recommends simply going without a vent system – it’s not something so essential that you can’t put the range there.

Regardless of what you use the top of the island for, don’t miss out on the opportunity to get extra storage space by placing cabinets and drawers in the lower portion. Even if you don’t think you need them, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll end up using them shortly after your kitchen renovation is complete.

Family Time in the Breakfast Nook

Again, if you have the space available, then a breakfast nook is a great addition to your kitchen remodel. After all, no one really sits at the dining room table for a bowl of cereal. With everyone in your family scrambling (no pun intended) around to get ready for work and school in the mornings, you’ll appreciate a place to sit together, even if just for a few moments, and enjoy each other’s company.

You could do an inviting bench seat in the corner, nestled up to a window with an old-fashion, square metal table. Or you extend the countertop of your kitchen island and place bar stools under it. You could even go a bit more formal and get a beautiful, round wooden table with matching chairs. What you do with it is completely up to you, in keeping with the style of the rest of your kitchen remodel. Who knows, the breakfast nook may even be the element you design your entire renovation around.

Space to Expand in the Pantry

Storage, storage, storage – you just can’t do without it in a kitchen. One of the best ways to optimize your storage is by having a pantry. After all, you’ve got to find somewhere to put all those cans and boxes of food. Or maybe you use it for other things, like your large (but rarely used) cooking devices (such as the bread machine, popcorn maker or wok).

Whatever purpose it serves, you won’t find many cooks who don’t crave a large pantry they can stand in the middle of and mull over dinner options. Many kitchens are without pantries, leaving home owners to attempt creating a sudo-pantry in the garage or laundry room, which is often inconvenient. Without a pantry, your kitchen cabinets fill quicker with non-perishable food items and you suddenly run out of room for dishes and the like.

Basically, a pantry is a closet, and the size depends entirely upon (again) the space you have available. You can do anything from putting in a large floor-to-ceiling cabinet with rows of shelves, to creating an closeted abyss you can get lost in. Just keep optimal reach and storage options in mind, such as shelves that can handle weight, and don’t require a stool to get things down – after all, most people don’t want to accidently drop a can of split peas on their head trying to reach for the pumpkin.

Let HA Construction Help

These last, but just as important, elements of your kitchen renovation are entirely customizable and dependent upon your chosen design and available space. Andy and his crew at HA Construction can help you determine what your best options are so that you get what you want (or as close to it as possible). Give him a call and get an estimate on your project. It certainly can’t hurt to hear his vision for your space.