If you are building a new home or remodeling your current home you are probably considering kitchen plans and trying to determine how much kitchen you need.
This is a question that has been asked by homeowners for years. In fact, in 1934 Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company released the results of a three year study to help people determine appropriate kitchen size for their family. The theory was that you could estimate the household occupancy based on the number of bedrooms and from that you would know how many people would need to be provided for. The size of the kitchen should relate to the amount of people. They concluded that the actual occupancy should be considered three more people than the number of bedrooms and for each person 6 square feet of wall cabinet shelf area was required. In the standards of modern day this would be considered a small kitchen. So, how should you figure out the right size kitchen for today? Here are some considerations:
Overall Functionality
It is likely you will want to include a refrigerator, stove, oven, sink and dishwasher in your kitchen but what you will need to determine is the correct size of each appliance. Many people focus on the color of the appliance. Will they buy stainless steel, white or black? Really, the size will make the most difference in the functionality of your kitchen. Examine what kind of meals you prepare to determine if a double oven would be beneficial. If you eat out a considerable amount a large refrigerator or warming drawers may not be necessary. It is important to keep in mind your future plans as well, however. You may not be cooking at home frequently now but when a baby arrives that may change.
Ergonomics
Determining kitchen ergonomics can be difficult when you don’t have the actual kitchen in front of you but instead just a concept on paper. Use your imagination to think through the entire process from bringing the groceries into the home, to putting the items away in the cupboard and the refrigerator, to preparing a meal, serving the meal and then cleaning up after the meal. Are you walking long distances with the hot food you just removed from the oven? Are the cabinets for plates and silverware a hike from the dishwasher? Is the kitchen traffic pattern reasonable? You want to think through these details to determine if the kitchen is too big, too small or inappropriately designed for your everyday use.
Storage
Many homeowners dream of extensive cabinet space but it is important consider how many items you have to place in cabinets. You want the right amount of storage for the amount of items you will be storing. You don’t want to wind up spending excessive amounts of time opening cabinet door after cabinet door to retrieve items. It is important to be realistic about what you will really use. If you are considering an island it is also important to consider space requirements. You will need the right amount of clearance around the island or the kitchen will feel overcrowded.
Resale Value
If you may sell the home in the future it is important to consider resale value. You do not want too large or expensive of a kitchen because you won’t get that money back. If your kitchen is not in line with the kitchens in your neighborhood you will lose money when you move. On the other hand, if you kitchen is not up to par with those in the neighborhood you may have trouble finding a buyer or take a financial hit when you go to sell.
At Edgewood Custom Cabinetry we can help you create a kitchen that is the right size for you and your family. Contact us to learn more or request a free quote.
