Home Renovations That Will Turn Your Kitchen Into a Chef’s Dream
Whether you’re an aspiring baker, a professional chef, or a home cook, having a kitchen that meets your culinary needs will make cooking easier and more enjoyable. The problem is not everyone has the budget for a Food Network-level kitchen; as a result, kitchen and home renovations require some careful thought and consideration.
Before you begin your gourmet kitchen renovations, you’ll need to think about functionality and, more specifically, what you want to get out of the space. To begin, start by thinking about the following components:
Lighting
Lighting is a big consideration in any home renovation, but has special importance when it comes to the kitchen. Any cook will tell you that you can’t prepare a meal in a poorly lit space. It’s for this reason that so many gourmet kitchens include task lighting—such as lights under cabinets and pendant lights—to illuminate areas where prep work, cooking, and cleaning takes place.
Surfacing
Gourmet chefs love to be in the kitchen and that means the space needs to be designed for heavy use. Your countertops in particular will get the use by far, and therefore need to be selected carefully. Some popular countertop materials include stainless steel, quartz, natural stone, and butcher block. There are benefits and drawbacks to each (for instance, one surface may be great for chopping and slicing but isn’t ideal for baking or easy to clean) so this decision will depend on your specific needs.
Appliances
Not all of your appliances need to be state-of-the-art stainless steel to have a gourmet kitchen but there may be a few that you’re willing to splurge for. Depending on the kitchen and home renovations that you’re completing and the type of gourmet chef you are, you may want to upgrade your oven to a gas range, or opt for a separate fridge and freezer; different chefs will have different appliance needs.
Organization
Cabinetry and storage is another important aspect to factor into your kitchen renovations. If you go into a high end restaurant’s kitchen, you’ll notice that everything has a specific place. That’s because cooking requires multi-tasking, and multi-tasking is much easier to do when you know exactly where all your tools and ingredients are. Think of it as mise en place for your kitchen!
Flow
It might seem simple, but a better-flowing kitchen can make a big difference. If you’re planning kitchen renovations, make sure that in the layout the major functional areas (ovens, counter spaces, fridge and freezer) are all placed close together and are optimized for your needs.
Home renovations can turn your old, tired kitchen into modern, gourmet kitchen. While you certainly don’t have to be a professional chef to love to cook, having a functional kitchen will enhance your culinary experience regardless of skill set.
