Your kitchen is the heart of your home, the gathering place for family and friends. A kitchen remodel is a great way to make a big impact on your life.
Read more in Planning the Ultimate Kitchen Upgrade, a new ebook from Atlanta Design & Build.
This month, we’re exploring the trends we’re seeing in the kitchen. This post will focus on the “gourmet” kitchen, while later this month we’ll tackle kitchen remodels for those who don’t want the full-fledged gourmet experience.
To get insight on designing a gourmet kitchen, we talked to two of our Atlanta Design & Build experts – President Dale Contant, MCR, CRPM, UDCP; and Design & Sales Consultant Heather Marcet-Henderson, AKBD.
Defining the needs
At Atlanta Design & Build, kitchens are one of our most requested remodels. Many homeowners desire a gourmet kitchen, but a gourmet kitchen does not mean the same thing to everyone and it is not the answer for every client.
We know that every client has different needs and that is why the most important part of the project starts before construction ever begins. Using our proprietary HOMEStyle System™, we’re going to make sure we understand everything you need and want in your kitchen. We’ll talk about how you plan to use it, what you like about your existing kitchen and what you don’t. Our HOMEStyle System™ ensures we create, in design and in construction, the best solution for you and your family.
“Our process helps the Atlanta Design & Build team focus in on the ‘must-haves’ and the ‘nice to haves’ for each client”, Heather says.
Appliances
The most significant differentiators for a gourmet kitchen are the appliances. Typically, the appliances in a gourmet kitchen will carry a total price tag two to three times the cost of an everyday family kitchen.
A lot of cost difference comes down to advanced technology that is now integrated into appliances. For instance, Bluetooth and wireless technology make it possible for you to access your appliances remotely from your phone. There are also advanced cooking options, such as steam ovens and convection speed ovens available. In our high-end kitchens, we also install cooktop ranges with a double wall oven, built-in refrigerators and coffee and wine stations.
Panel-ready refrigerators and dishwashers, which allow a custom cover matching the cabinetry to be installed over the face of the appliance, are also a popular high-end kitchen feature. Refrigerator drawers can be designed to match the cabinetry, creating a consistent streamlined finish for the kitchen.
Industrial-strength ventilation is a must-have if you’re doing serious cooking. Exhaust hoods can be a decorative feature that match the cabinetry, or other finishes.
Cabinets
Gourmet kitchen cabinet options offer more bells and whistles today. A few of the popular features we are seeing include spice pullouts, double rollout shelves in base cabinets, and two-tiered silverware inserts. Rollout shelves in the pantry storage area make it easier to access food. Extended 54-inch height cabinets offer a nice, clean look for the kitchen.
For blind corners where a lazy Susan-style solution won’t work, a Le Mans shelving system combines a sleek design with ease of access. It’s all about custom storage and organization options that meet your needs!
Surfaces
When it comes to countertops, a lot has changed in recent years. Quartz countertops are becoming standard in kitchens now versus granite or other solutions. We are frequently seeing countertops tie into the backsplash, with the countertop material continuing onto the wall.
Lighting
Across the board, for years homeowners are opting to replace fluorescent lighting with recessed lighting. Pendant lighting over islands is a popular choice, although many homeowners are opting not to install those in kitchens with lower ceilings. Undercabinet task lighting makes it easier to see when working in the kitchen.
Ready to get the kitchen of your dreams? Atlanta Design & Build is ready to guide you through your next home project. Contact us today to discuss your remodeling needs!
Read more about upgrading your kitchen in our new ebook, Plan the Ultimate Kitchen Upgrade.