Kitchen Design

Kitchen Contractors

KITCHEN DESIGN

So, you've decided to remodel your kitchen. What's next? First, you'll want to obtain a professional kitchen design. This will make or break the look, practicality, and functionality of your kitchen. Because kitchen designs are highly specialized and complex, it is important that you hire a professional kitchen designer who understands how kitchens work. King David kitchen designers are here to help you every step of the way. We think about the little things that can be crucial to the final outcome of the kitchen, such as the size and shape of appliances, and the placement of outlets.

There are four important things to consider in kitchen design:

• Countertops
• Cabinet Design
• Proper lighting
• Floor Coverings

Countertops

You will want to choose a color and texture for your countertops that compliments your kitchen cabinetry, floors, and wall color. Today there are a number of options for kitchen countertops.

Stone

Natural stone, especially granite are the most coveted countertops for the kitchen area. Stone is tough, elegant, and virtually maintenance free. Those who want the very best choose stone for their countertops. Although granite is not as expensive and rare as it used to be, it still runs on the high end, anywhere from $120-200/linear foot. The cost, however, varies based on type, quality, thickness, and edge treatments. The pros for granite are that it is as hard as rock, cleans easily, endures water, hotspots, and sharp knives, and resists most stains. Marble, meanwhile, holds similar qualities to granite, but is more porous and thus stains more readily. It is a beautiful and natural material, available in a large selection of color and figures. Soapstone is another option. It has a clean, flat finish and is more affordable than granite and marble at about $70/square foot. The drawback to stone is that there is a lack of selection because you are limited to what nature creates on its own. However, stone works with a variety of looks from traditional to contemporary to country.

Solid Surfacing

Simply stated, solid surfacing is imitation stone. More specifically, it is a sheet of synthetic material resembling stone that can be molded to fit any layout. Solid surfacing is more resistant to scratches than laminate and less likely to stain than marble. It comes in a wide range of colors from traditional to vivid. Solid surfacing offers more colors and patterns than natural stone and is lighter and easier to work with. Furthermore, it is nonporous and durable. On the downside, knives and hotpots can scratch and burn the surface. The color, however, runs all the way through so most minor damage can be easily repaired with abrasive cleaner. Solid surfacing is comparable in price to granite at about $100-150/linear foot installed.

Tile

Is durable and easy to clean and is inexpensive. It takes hot pans, and comes in a wide range of price, color, texture, and design. The cons include an uneven surface, is easily chipped or cracked, the grout can stain, and custom designed tiles are very expensive.

Laminates

Include such brand names as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart. Laminates are made of plastic-coated synthetics with a smooth surface that is easy to clean. Available in a variety of colors, they are easy to maintain, and are durable and inexpensive. However, they are easily scratched and chipped, which can be nearly impossible to repair, and the seams show.

Wood/Butcher Block

Create a beautiful and warm look. They are easy to clean, create a smooth surface, and can be resanded and resealed as needed. Wood and butcher block counters come in a wide range of colors and finishes, but can be scratched and damaged by water, and stains over time.

Cabinet Design

The cabinetry you choose should fit well with the color patterns of your kitchen, coordinating with wall and floor colors, as well as the overall style of your home. Needless to say, cabinetry is the backbone of the kitchen, and supplies storage as well as the focus of your kitchen's style. For dark areas you should choose soft colors to offset the lack of natural lighting. Remember, choice of wood will make the biggest impact. For a light look, you should choose from woods of the ash, beech, birch, oak, maple, or chestnut varieties. For mid-range stick with cherry with a natural finish, and for a dark look, choose a wood that has little color to it.

Custom cabinetry provides the perfect look and fit for your kitchen; it allows for total personalization based on your style preferences, storage needs, and function. There are two main cabinet door styles: Face frame, in which part of the frame can be seen under the door, creating a traditional look; and full overlay, in which the door covers the entire frame, typical of the European look. Popular trends in kitchen cabinetry include the furniture style, in which built-ins look like furniture pieces like hutches and desks. The furniture style combines painted and stained woods and custom built-ins. Another popular kitchen trend is open shelving for display and storage. This is a popular way to store attractive cookware or display books and collections. Extensive ornamentation and details like columns and elaborate trim are popular trends as well.

Proper Lighting

After determining the overall lighting design of your kitchen comes the daunting task of choosing lighting fixtures. There are myriad options available when it comes to kitchen lighting. The key to good lighting is the type of fixture chosen and the placement of the lights. There are many choices in styles, such as contemporary, country, traditional, and Old World, as well as a variety of materials that include Pewter, polished nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, polished brass, and colored glass.

The Key to Proper Lighting

First you must define the main task and dining areas, and light each area independently. One or two track lights over the sink are ideal. Individual task lighting is critical at the sink and cook top. Dining nooks and islands benefit from pendant lighting. Recessed cans are the least visually intrusive and work well with elaborate designed ceilings. The quality and intensity of lighting in the kitchen should be easily controlled and adjusted with switches. The most common mistake is over lighting the kitchen. The key is to provide moderate and even lighting.

Floor Coverings

The flooring you choose will set the tone for your whole kitchen. Again, there are many choices for floor coverings, making it difficult to choose which flooring type to use. You may have considered linoleum, laminate/hard wood, ceramic tile, or slate/stone.

Linoleum

Is the perfect option for those who want to combine stylishness with a limited budget. Linoleum is inexpensive and comes in a variety of styles and colors. Its pros are that it is inexpensive, comes in a variety of styles and colors, is unlikely to stain, and is easy on the feet. The cons are that it is not very durable, has a limited lifespan of about 10-20 years, and has limited resistance to heat.

Laminate/Hardwood

Offer timeless warmth and appeal to a kitchen. Hardwood flooring can be used in both elegant and casual settings. It comes in strips, planks, or parquets. Strips come in widths of 1 ½" to 2 ½" thickness and can make a room look larger than it really is. Planks, meanwhile, come in thicker strips of 3"-7", creating either a traditional or country look. Parquets are a series of wood pieces that create a geometric look. These come in a variety of design options. When choosing hardwood flooring you must also decide on species and grade, the grade being how clear the wood is.

Laminate flooring offers the look of hardwood, but with less maintenance. It stands up well to children, pets, and other traffic, and is quite stain resistant if you clean spills up quickly. It is, however, susceptible to heat and water damage.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are a premium product and come in many styles. More expensive than linoleum, it is also more durable and can absorb heat. On the downside, ceramic tiles have a somewhat cold feel to them, can absorb stains and sustain chips, and are hard on the feet.

Slate/Stone Flooring

Is durable, but hard on the feet. Slate and other stone will stain unless it is sealed, and can be slippery. While it absorbs heat well, it is also very visually appealing. Slate is especially striking and comes in shades of green, black, brown, and gold.