Modern kitchen ideas are becoming increasingly popular as the space is special with a host of design-conscious planners taking to it passionately. The design is handled in a way that it gets increasingly participatory. What makes the micro-elements of a design tick is the fact that the basic planning allows user redesign and perfect the environment to suit the tastes that evolve and develop. Designing has to allow for spaces that are not just aesthetic but functional too.
Space planning
Space planning is one of the important factors when it comes to a kitchen, as it is the most function-intensive space in a home. An appropriate balance of functionality and aesthetics makes for an ideal kitchen. Keep in mind the ‘work triangle’ for the key functions of a kitchen, i.e. the refrigerator, hob and sink, as well as, the number of people who would be using the kitchen at a given time. Another aspect that people often ignore is toe space under the kitchen counters, so make sure there is enough space provided when you design a kitchen skirting so that a person can comfortably clean the underneath area.
Consider adding a 3 or 4 inch space underneath the kitchen cabinet, otherwise, the space will be a magnet for dust, errant garlic cloves or other kitchen debris. You could also do without a toe space and increase the counter top overhang by nearly 4 inches!
The more specific and organised the kitchen is, the better it will function, so try incorporating custom kitchen accessories, instead of providing empty cabinets, such as a designated place for aprons, gloves or wash clothes.
Counter top
Granite was considered as one of the most conventional materials for a kitchen counter top due to its hardness and durability. However, now that time and technology has changed, don’t hold yourself back from trying some new materials in counter tops like engineered quartz and Corian. They are available in a variety of colours in good quality and are durable and can work out to be economical too.
Dado
A beautiful dado can enhance the look of the whole kitchen as it is visible at eye level throughout the kitchen most of the time.
Experiment with a wide variety of materials now available for very different looks, such as lacquered glass for pops of bright, glossy colour, ceramic tiles with myriad interesting patterns, or even the same quartz you used as a counter top for a homogenous feel.
Light
Lighting often gets neglected in the kitchen area, despite its functional requirement. In addition to overhead lights, make sure you provide ample lights beneath the upper cabinets. Lights can also be provided inside the cabinets with sensors for their operation, for both functional and aesthetic purposes.
People often have this notion that false ceiling is not for kitchen spaces, but with the proper ventilation and chimney placement, it can be used beautifully to provide uniform lighting.
Appliances
In today’s times, no kitchen is complete without the appropriate appliances. Spend some time doing research on the wide variety of appliances available, and make a list before designing. Make sure you only choose the ones you would use, as other than the basics, not all of them are for everyone. Place the appliances in your kitchen layout based on the frequency of their use.
(The author is Founder & CEO, Bonito Designs)
