Display

While unwanted clutter is absent in an orderly kitchen, that doesn’t mean the room is void of personality. Open shelves or glass-fronted cabinets can display meaningful items for the client’s enjoyment. Added lighting increases the visual impact.

Cleaning

A stress-free, organized kitchen should be easy to clean. That means lack of grout lines, finger-print resistant surfaces, etc. And there should be an organized way to store cleaning products, such as dedicated baskets under the sink.

Safety

An orderly kitchen offers a number of safety features, such as a dedicated storage solutions for sharp knives, a dedicated space for a fire extinguisher, and integrated child-proof locks for drawers and cabinet doors.

Waste and Recycling

A place for trash and recycling are not afterthoughts in an uncluttered kitchen. They have their own dedicated spaces.

Lighting

Finally, kitchen lighting is a key aspect of any intelligent kitchen design, and it will be presented here in more detail. Proper lighting can not only make a kitchen more functional, but it can also make it more inviting and welcoming. With the right lighting, a kitchen can be transformed into a space that is not only efficient for cooking and preparing meals, but also a place where friends and family can gather. Designer Tarek Dawood³ explains the various types of lighting to consider when designing a kitchen.

Strips of LED lighting in unexpected places—along a countertop base, or inside drawers—add style and safety to kitchen spaces.

Task Lighting provides focused light on specific areas of the kitchen, such as counters and islands. Task lighting can be provided by a variety of sources, such as pendant lights, under-cabinet lights, and track lighting.

Under-cabinet lighting comes in a variety of types, including LED strip lights, puck lights, and florescent tube lights and can impact the way a kitchen looks and feels. Under-cabinet lighting is not a replacement for ceiling-mounted light fixtures. The ceiling lights will still be necessary for general illumination, but the under-cabinet lights will provide the focused light needed for work surfaces.

Accent Lighting highlights specific areas or features of the kitchen, such as a decorative backsplash or a piece of artwork. Accent lighting can be provided by a variety of sources, such as recessed spotlights, track lighting, or even LED strip lights.

Toe kick lights, or plinth lights, can add an extra level of warmth and practicality to the space. These lights are usually LED strips that are installed at the base of the cabinets and can be activated by sensors for convenience and safety.

Channel lighting is installed in a channel that runs along the underside of a worktop. This type of lighting is appropriate for workspaces that are lacking in natural light or have dark corners.

In-cabinet lighting improves the look and functionality of a kitchen. Incorporating LED spotlights or LED strip lights within each framed or frameless glass cabinets highlights the crockery, glassware, and other decorative items. The specification of glass shelves allows light to filter and travel to the bottom shelf. Added dimmers control the intensity of light and create a soothing ambiance in the kitchen.

Open shelves can be illuminated with LED spotlights to highlight key features and favorite décor and to create a warm and inviting space.

Ambient Lighting provides a general, overall illumination to the entire kitchen. It can be provided by a variety of sources, such as ceiling lights, recessed lights, or natural light from windows.

While clutter is hidden thanks to shelving and drawer strategies, LED lighting strips on the side wall of recessed display shelves emphasize the occupant’s treasures.

Tips for Equipping Small Spaces

If the floor plan offers limited kitchen space, space-efficient ideas are key. An obvious way to make the most of space in the kitchen is to optimally utilize walls and cabinets. Smart inbuilt handle-less storage units and sliding doors that open upwards help create effective storage in smaller spaces, while minimizing the noise of handles and knobs, giving the space a more refined and open appearance. Linear concealed appliances such as dishwashers, coffee machines, or touch-to-open warming drawers help create uniformity making a space seem bigger than it might be. Slimmer units of ovens and fridges without protrusions provide a complete solution for seamless movement.

OPTIONS FOR DRAWER AND CABINET ORGANIZATION

A kitchen that is intelligently laid out and properly lit will not function to its highest capacity unless cabinets and drawers are equipped with advanced organizational features. Gone are the days when it’s acceptable to deliver an upscale kitchen with drawers and cabinets bereft of any organizational features. That sent this message to the client: “I made the kitchen look good; you figure out the rest.” Today’s homeowners want life to be streamlined and simplified with integrated storage solutions, not burdened by the hassle of undefined cabinets and drawers.

Drawer dividers.

To design a kitchen with maximum functionality, focus on the homeowner's specific needs. Probing questions can guide the specification of drawer and cabinet organization features.

"When clients first walk in the door, they often have a vision of what their kitchen should look like, but rarely do they have a full sense of what it could feel like," said Maya Nair, Premium Partner, Häcker Kitchens, Greenwich, Connecticut. "Transforming not just the aesthetics of the space but also the functionality gives us the opportunity to introduce new, innovative, and genuinely useful features to clients that they didn't expect and usually don't have with their current kitchen. Our goal is always to make it easier for clients to live in their own home."

Questions to ask homeowners include:

• Do you buy in bulk at big box stores and do you need space for those items?
• Do you buy cases of water?
• Are there small children for which child-proof locks are required?
• What infrequently used appliances would you like to get off the counter?
• Would you like functional access to corner cabinets?
• Would you prefer dinnerware in drawers rather than overhead cabinets?
• What is the extent of your cutlery and do you need organization for it?
• What utensils do you need handy and near the cooktop?
• Would you like a pull-out pantry near the stove for oils and spices?
• What is the extent of your wine collection?
• Would you like to eschew upper cabinets for an open feeling or to leave space for a window?
• Would you like a coordinating sideboard in adjacent living space for a cohesive feeling?
• What is the extent of your under-sink cleaning products?
• Is there space in an adjacent laundry room for more pantry storage units?
• Do you collect recycling and need space for that?
• Do you need special storage solutions for unusual appliances, utensils or food items?

When these questions are asked and answered, and thus guide the kitchen program, the client ends up with a kitchen that feels custom made for them and their families.

Drawer with flexible dividers.