Houzzers Say: Dream Kitchen Must-Haves
by Becky Harris · 17 photos · 77 comments
Pot filler. This handy faucet means no more having to schlep a heavy pasta pot full of water from the sink to the stovetop.
by Karen Viscito Interiors
Walk-in pantry. A good spot to store food, appliances, cookbooks, seldom-used platters and fancy china has always been handy to have.
by Murphy & Co. Design
Hidden sponge storage in front of the sink. Sponges are unsightly; why clutter up sink-side space with them? This use of the often wasted space in front of the sink is very clever.
by Mullet Cabinet
Built-in dishtowel hamper. Sponges aren't the only items you don't want to look at. Today's sleek kitchens have dedicated spots for dishtowels, both dirty and clean.
by Cabinet Innovations
All kinds of appliances. Double ovens, warming drawers, convection ovens and wine refrigerators are on Houzzers' wish lists. Creating a wall for these hardworking units is a contemporary and convenient way to arrange the kitchen.
Read more about today's state-of-the-art kitchens
by Venegas and Company Read more about today's state-of-the-art kitchens
Advanced waterworks. Houzz designer suggestions included a second sink in the kitchen as well as a hot faucet at the main sink. This kitchen has both.
by Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.
Two dishwashers. Sinks were not the only elements you wanted to see two of; Houzzers with two dishwashers could not say enough good things about them. They even take clean dishes straight from dishwasher to table, a luxury that you have when you don't need to empty the dishwasher in order to refill it with dirty dishes.
by Mullet Cabinet
Hidden outlets. The island in the previous image has a well-placed kitchen outlet. Houzzers are tired of the required outlets breaking up their beautiful backsplashes, and who can blame them? Under-cabinet outlets are one smart solution.
by Signature Designs by Bonnie Bagley
This system helps hide the outlets in such a smart way; the core of outlets pushes down into the counter, leaving only a pull tab visible on the surface.
More ways to hide the outlets
by Harrell Remodeling More ways to hide the outlets
S-Box Knife Box [ Link ]
Hidden knife storage. These boxes pop up from the counter. Similar systems exist for storing other items, like herbs and even iPod devices.
by The S-Box
Big cabinet drawers. Houzzers want to make the most of every square inch of storage space. Big drawers, especially those with dish racks and other inserts, maximize bottom cabinets' storage potential.
See items besides dishes stored in these large cabinet drawers
by Woodale Designs - Keith Fennelly
See items besides dishes stored in these large cabinet drawers
Roll-outs. If you like the look of cabinet doors, you can still get drawer function behind your door fronts.
by Al Williams
Upper cabinets for countertop appliances. In the quest for clear counters, Houzzers want cabinets to conceal these smaller applianes.
by Warmington & North
U-Line BI2115S Icemaker [ Link ]
Ice maker in the pantry. No one wants to schlep to the gas station before a party for leaky bags of ice.
by Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS
A dumbwaiter. One Houzzer loves quirky touches like a dumbwaiter, invented by Thomas Jefferson.
by Wendy K. Leigh
Induction cooktops. These energy-efficient appliances have finally made their way stateside from Europe.
by Glenvale Kitchens
A cutting board over the garbage disposal. This is a perfect example of a clever design solution that saves time and effort.
More:
How to Plan a Kitchen Remodel
by Tongue & Groove
More:
How to Plan a Kitchen Remodel
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The other oh-so-simple-but-genius idea is the under-cabinet outlets.
I don't like the cluttered look of small appliances on the counter, but I hate taking them out for every use and wasting precious cabinet space for storing them. In my dream kitchen, there are appliance garages all along the whole counter, but the counter doesn't lose any workspace, because they are deeper to accommodate the garages.
and nothing here is "must have", more like stuff people think they need that costs money and is not practical... who wants a bin full of dirty dishtowels in the kitchen?
in a non-linear tangent, you have inspired me to put a skylight well behind the shelves in the pantry, and back the shelves with glass. It solves a tricky problem of getting sunlight to the bottom floor. Thanks!
Drawers or cabinets with drawers are a great idea. Easy access to the 'things' in the back and a more efficient use of space.
Pot filler? If you've designed your kitchen well, the sink should be so close to the stove, it just doesn't matter. If not your first sink, then the second!
When I redid my kitchen recently, one of the biggest luxuries has turned out to be installing huge garbage bins in a convenient location. I was really focused on this in the planning stage. I found it was getting overlooked by everyone we spoke to, but I knew it was key for overall satisfaction and praciticality. We also love the filtered water just inside the door of our fridge, the built in speakers in the ceiling and a really logical layout for our dishes, cutlery, prep areas etc. I opened our kitchen right up, but kept a generous area for people to congregate on the other side of the prep zone. No one in my zone, but I am still completely engaged with whatever is going on. Also, no sink or cooktop on the island - to me they interupt the look of the island and reduce prep practicality and versitility for entertaining.
I also have to say, I'm surprised no one brought up a composter until the comments section, that is a great suggestion. I also would love to see that integrated in one of these crazy convenient new ways, instead it sitting out on my counter - maybe I could put it in the designated dishtowel hamper spot :)
No schlepping pots of water?
Okay, explain this one to me. i turn on the "pot filler" (a faucet with one and only one very limited function, I presume). I fill the large and heavy le creuset pot with water. i bring the water to a boil. I cook the pasta. And then I drain the pasta —how? The water in the pot is disposed of —how? The heavy pot of water is schlepped where by whom? The heavy pot full of water is emptied miraculously, without having to be schlepped by human hands —how?
Seriously. I'm dying to know. How is this tap anything more than just a cool high end feature? No more schlepping pots of water between the stovetop and the sink...? Please don't insult my intelligence. Puhleez.
Dedicated places to stash those unsightly dishtowels and away? Not only will wet dishtowels get moldy and mildewy in there, rather than drying out in the open air, there are things that I need to be at hand when I need them, not stashed away in a cabinet. Reach, grab, use, get it? There's a point where 'hiding clutter' becomes 'Putting away functionality.'
I do like the sockets that are tucked up under the counter, not because I'm worried about electrical functionality breaking up a backsplash, but because any spills will run down the cords, and away from the sockets.
Dumb-waiters were a solution to an era where the kitchen staff were not to make their presence known. It's a nifty mechanical gadget, which I like. But it's a really cool solution in need of a problem.
I want my kitchen to be a welcoming place, where people feel at home. And so a lot of the neurotic need to hide away the hallmarks of a functional kitchen, seems a little more self-conscious than I'm comfortable with. This feels more like a dressed up impression of a kitchen, than a functional kitchen. I want a kitchen that is clearly designed around the notion that it's a WORK AREA.
I want ease of maintenance. Nothing helps keep a kitchen clean like making it easy. And cleaning out all of those pop-out trays and hidden compartments is NOT as easy as simply wiping down a surface. Within a few months, mildew will settle into the corners of that sponge holder, unless you turn it into a regular chore. That's added work for the homeowner, not added value in the space. How would one clean spilled pancake batter out of that drop-down electrical socket? This is not kitchen equipment.
What do I want to see in a kitchen? What's the next big revolution?
I want to see a designer who's smart enough to consult people who actually cook, host gatherings, and make people feel welcome. I want to hear from professional chefs, food bloggers, bakers, caterers, and Jewish grandmothers. I want industrial sensibility, and work flow that makes sense, instead of expansive spaces that ensure that preparing a meal will require a one-mile walk, in 15 foot increments.
If you really must camouflage everything behind frame and panel drawer fronts, fine. But I would love to see an end to the misguided notion that form is more important than function in a work space.
SmittenKitchen.com is one of the web's best cooking blogs, and the food she pumps out is amazing. And she describes her kitchen this way:
The Smitten Kitchen, in its latest physical incarnation is a 42 square foot circa-1935 sort of half-galley kitchen with a 24 foot footprint, a single counter, tiny stove, checkered floor and a skylight on top a noisy window at the end to the avenue below.
If your kitchen is so expansive, and your workflow so disjointed that you need to incorporate 2 kitchens worth of sinks and dishwashers, extra faucets over the stove, and half a house worth of storage to make it all functional for one or two people, maybe it's not a designer that you need. Spending the money on cooking classes would probably be a lot more fun, and help you make better use of the kitchen that you have.
Or, save the money, rip out the kitchen, and spend the money you save on ordering take-out.
We did not put in a pot filler for all the reasons other people mentioned. If we did do a pot filler, we would have put the prep sink to the right of the cooktop for ease of dumping. Instead, we put the prep sink on the prep island, so I just have to turn around.
We did not put in a dirty dish rag drawer because we put two laundry rooms in the house, one on each level, and the main floor one is just outside the kitchen in the mudroom, for kitchen linens, my toddler's future stinky sports gear and the use of our guests in the first floor guest suite.
A few other things we added and LOVE:
* followed universal design principals so we can age in place. (MUCH cheaper than a nursing home!) This includes wider aisles for wheelchair access, 36" doors, multiple heights for the counters, microwave drawer, levers instead of door knobs, pulls instead knobs on the hardware, touch activated faucets and recycling center.
* installed a vacupan under the prep island, which is connected to our central vac making clean up much easier.
* lowered baking center so I don't have to stand on my tippy toes when I knead dough.
* a command center in a nook of the kitchen for the business of family: meal planning, bill-paying, etc. It's also where my son will do homework when he starts school.
* pull out spice drawer under my cooktop is super convenient
* touch activated recycling center. All of our recycling/trash containers are in one place. The drawer opens with a touch of your hip so you can easily get into it even if your hands are full.
* energy efficient appliances and green building choices: all of our appliances are energy star rated, our faucets are water sense labeled, our quartz counter tops have 24% recycled mirror and glass, and our cork floors are soft, quiet, beautiful and very earth-friendly.
You can take a tour of our kitchen here: http://dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/pre-move-in-kitchen-tour-and.html
Widdow in Bossier City, Louisiana
try one of these for your kitchen accessories
Another idea for the pull out tray for sponges under the sink - We put one under of each of our bathroom sinks for our toothbrushes, etc.(1 for me, 1 for my husband). Very convenient and they get plenty of air from the cabinet below so no worries about toothbrushes staying damp.
My family have now had all their new door cabinets done...I can't believe I haven't seen this on site like these
That's my potfiller in the first photo. I love it. And we usually don't even take the full pot of hot water to the sink to dump. I have a very large strainer/scoop that takes the pasta out when it's done.
Small appliance solution - we have an Appliance Garage 24" wide and it has a blender, electric can opener, sandwich maker and fire extinguisher stored inside. We had an electrical outlet put in the back of the garage so the can opener and blender are plugged in - I open the garage door and pull out the appliance I wish to use and put them back when done. With all of your appliances you may try to get a 36" wide or (2) 24" wide units. You can also get them extra depth if you need, ours is the typical 12" model but you could get one at 15", 18" etc.
counter, and it drips into the outlet slot?
This system helps hide the outlets in such a smart way; the core of outlets pushes down into the counter, leaving only a pull tab visible on the surface.
The wall outlet I was referring to was inside the appliance garage and was a standard wall outlet mounted horiz.
Today if you do not want electrical outlets interrupting your beautiful backsplash you install continiuous wiremold electrical outlkets underneath your cabinets at the back edge of the wall. The task lights are installed underneath as well and the proper way to do the installation is Task Lights are at the front edge and wiremold is at the back edge. Never install task lights at the back edge - your electrician may talk you into for two reasons 1. laziiness or 2. the person does not know how to do proper lighting.
The best installation that I have seen of a hidden electrical outlet is in a bathroom drawer for your Blow Dryer. The top drawer of the base cabinet had an electrical outlet installed at the back of the box drawer so that the blow dryer could always be plugged in; just use and put the dryer back in the drawer. No having to plug in & out every day and wrap up to put away. There is a picture on our facebook page it is one of our absolute favorite ideas that we will surely incorporate into the next bathroom remodeling project we develop.
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenInteriors
The kitchen had a 10'w window installed just inches over the 12'w sink counter leaving little room for code required outlets. GFI in stalled behind cabinet drawer for two 4' wiremold plugstrips on either side of the sink, inset in the 3"h granite tile backsplash did the trick. An old tip from electrician made it seamless. Back 1/2 of plugstrip was installed prior to sheet rock so when tile was installed the faceplate of the strip was flush with backsplash. I spongepainted the strip to match the granite and sealed it so it was virtually invisible under the window sill.
I hate false fronts in sink cabinets and although didn't think to omit when kitchen cabinets built I did omit in the bathrooms. Not only a cleaner look, but much easier under sink access with more light flooding back of cabinet. Installing vinyl floor scraps in kitchen sink cabinet makes wiping up any spills from garbage misses, or leaking cleaning supplies a snap.
I have waited close to 30 years to do my kitchen - we just started this past week, and my mantra is "functional and beautiful". I am thrilled that we have this option for our island because I have always hated seeing outlets all over the sides of (usually) beautiful wood - or all over a gorgeous backsplash. We plan on incorporating two towers (one in island and one in the corner of the countertop), as well as the outlet strips and lighting by Task.
Houzz has been an invaluable resource and I love love love seeing what others have done! Thanks for such a wonderful website.
I also want two raised dishwashers... or maybe one raised dishwasher and one dish washer drawer.
I want wall ovens with pocket french doors. I am short and can't reach the oven racks over the doors. Just so tired of burning The Perky Girls... Thelma and Louise Ladies, I'm sure you get the message here.
I want all the electric outlets fitted not only for appliances but with USB Ports, Retractable Charging Cords,little fold up and down shelves to get all the electronics off the counter without cords hanging down. I want grommets pretty ones through counters with multiple powerstrips that one can hide all the "wireless" (LOL) wires for electronics so there is not the endless spaghetti of wires everywhere.
. I want the toe kicks installed completely open so that a fold out step ladder could be motored in and out and move laterally in the open toe kick area and the ladder would be able to smoothly glide along the floor and be pulled out any where in the kitchen and used and then just slid back for the next time. The toe kick area could be tiled and back lit and of course the ladder would be a stunning but useful architectural fabrication, kinda in the same vein as a Library Ladder. Remember I am short.
I want no extraneous glass that just gets so greasy so fast, smudge free glass in windows with a permanent shine, but just enough real glass area to hold grandchildren's hand prints forever.
I also want enough cabinet space so that heavy baking supplies and mixing bowls never have to be nested!
I want a kitchen towel dryer not just a rack, but a la bathroom towel warmers. I think if towels and dishie cloths are dried soon after use, they don't get sour so fast. Not asking for much am I ????
Pirateroo - you must have a huge kitchen would love to see a photo - I did not realize that you could boil pasta in a steamer. Thanks for filling us in!
I would say walk-in pantries are rather inefficient, since the bare floor portion stores nothing, and the smaller spaces of a walk-in pantry has a LOT of corners per sq ft of space, and corners are the biggest wastes of inaccessible space. I vote for tall deep pullout pantries over walk-ins. Relegate your big bulky items to your corner cabinets that aren't used that often to begin with.