Functional Design....or Not

I was visiting a friend out of town this weekend. And as is always my habit (good or bad) I was viewing her kitchen with an eagle eye. I can't help but always scrutinize people's kitchens and bathrooms. I'm always looking for new design ideas. I also look for installation ideas to pass along to the contractors I work with. More often than not though, I also discover bad design along the way - which I also learn from quite a bit. These design glitches are actually probably more memorable to me.

My friends live in a beautiful turn of the century house which has been fully remodeled. They were lucky enough to have bought the house after the remodel and therefore did not have to live through the dust. The countertops are Paperstone which I had never gotten to see installed as it is difficult to get around here. I then started looking at the cabinets. I couldn't quite determine what kind of wood they were. They were stained like cherry, but the grain wasn't quite a cherry wood. Alder? Not exactly. I opened one of the larger cabinet doors and found that the door was exceptionally light. Hmmmm... I decided to let this go.

I then looked around the kitchen in more detail. Then I saw it...one of my biggest pet peeves in kitchen design: a dishwasher in the corner. Now, aesthetically nobody would notice this as being a problem. Everything looked beautiful. However, I'm sure the homeowners have noticed more than once that when they open the dishwasher, they can no longer reach most of their cabinets to put the dishes away. Now I happen to know that "he" is 6'5" so perhaps when he puts the dishes away he doesn't even notice this. However, his wife is not 6'5" or anywhere close to it and I'm sure she notices. Being 5'2" myself I can barely reach the countertop, let alone the first shelf of a cabinet if I have to reach over a dishwasher.

Some other poor functional design I noticed included not utilizing a corner at all. Now I know, blind corners have always had a bad reputation in the past, but with new pull-out and swing-out accessories, every corner should be easily accessible. Therefore, this homeowner missed out on 13.5 cubic feet of storage in her kitchen.

The last design glitch in this kitchen I actually asked the homeowner about. The original owner had installed cabinets and left about 8" of space above the cabinets to the ceiling. Now I didn't measure anything, so I was just guessing in size, but the wall cabinets were probably 42" tall and the backsplash appeared to be the standard 18". So either they had odd height ceilings or some other measurement was not quite right. So I asked my friend what she thought of this space - as it was just empty. She said "I hate it. It's too short to put anything decorative there, but too tall to look right". She was right. If the wall cabinets are becoming too tall for a space to uphold the integrity of the cabinet, why not just stack cabinets. This can be done decoratively or functionally or both and makes for a great use of space.

Lastly, I finally asked about her cabinets as I was curious about the "wood". I found out that the previous owner has actually bought the cabinets at IKEA! Although I have researched and people seem to be very happy with their IKEA cabinets over the years. I can only guess that the front is not a solid wood. Time will tell how these cabinets hold up in terms of beauty and construction.

Many of these design blunders I have seen over and over again in different kitchens. Think of some of these things when thinking about designing your own kitchen. These are examples of more reasons to hire a professional designer. Your kitchen will turn out beautiful and functional.

Universal Design

A basic understanding of the human body, including its limitations and capabilities, is essential in any space planning, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom. Universal design places equal value on aesthetics and function of a space. It responds to and respects the individual we design for in terms of stature, age, abilities and culture. Universal design encompasses so much more than design with medical solutions for those individuals with access challenges. It is inclusive and equitable to all regardless of your abilities. It will enhance your lifestyle. Universal design is simply smarter design. Let Design Innovations show you how to incorporate universal design strategies in your next remodel to make living that much easier.

The Importance of Using a Kitchen and Bath Designer

Have you ever dreamed of remodeling your kitchen or bathroom? There couldn’t be a better time than now. Updating a kitchen or bathroom is said to return at least 90% of the investment. Many people are making the decision to stay in their home even longer than before making updates necessary for the changing needs of the individual. By using a certified designer, he or she will ensure that your remodel flows smoothly.

I’m sure you have all heard remodel horror stories…the contractor who never shows up, delay after delay because products are on backorder, a finished product that isn’t functional. Design Innovations will make sure all of these things are controlled for before the project even begins.

I will meet with you in your home to go over all the things you want to change and suggest things you never considered to make your new kitchen or bathroom what you always dreamed of. Once the plans are finalized I will help you in specifying all your product choices to bring the whole picture together. I will consult with the contractor and provide a written agreement of all the specifications of your design so there is no room for doubt from anyone along the way. Contact Design Innovations for your free initial consultation about your next remodel project.

The Psychology of Color

Color is widely recognized as having a strong psychological significance. It influences a variety of emotional and physical reactions in people. Oftentimes responses to color are based on past experience, geography or culture. When designing a new space, the expression or mood of the room an individual is trying to cultivate needs to be considered. Different colors create different feelings and moods. These colors or expressions can then be combined in different ways to create varying affects.

Generally, warm colors which include reds, oranges, yellows, and browns are considered to be cozy, comfortable, and pleasant. There is a degree of increased physical warmth and a sense of contentment that occurs in a room filled with warm colors. Cool colors, which include blues, greens, and violets are associated with a calm, relaxation and contemplative experience. Objects of cool color appear to be receding and can often appear smaller that they are. In this same way, cool colors on the wall can make a room appear larger.

As the French artist Henry Matisse stated, “the chief function of color should be to serve expression.” Let Design Innovations help you express your true self through a change in color in your home.