When homeowners along the front range start to plan the kitchen of their dreams, one of the initial decisions that they need to make is the layout that makes the most sense for how they want their new dream kitchen to look, feel and function. Different kitchen layouts offer both advantages and shortcomings. What’s best for you?
U-shaped kitchens feature cabinets, countertops and appliances linking three walls with an open end. Because there are opportunities for cabinetry on three walls, most U-shaped kitchens offer ample storage space for most homeowners. U-shaped kitchens also provide lots of design and layout flexibility. Traditional U-shaped kitchens are closed; they do not connect to other rooms in the house unless you opt to modify the third wall to create an island-breakfast bar combination if space permits. U-shapes make it easy to designate distinct work areas for cooking, meal preparation and clean up, providing enough room for more than one family member to prepare meals or engage in other activities in the kitchen without running into one another.
Corners can be a challenge in U-shaped kitchens because they can be cumbersome to access or require special design elements such as magic corners, lazy susans or other organizing hardware. In smaller spaces, U-shapes can feel cramped. The smaller the space however, the higher the potential for a cramped feeling especially if appliances are close to one another. Additionally, in smaller U-shaped kitchens it may not be practical or even feasible to install an island.
L-shaped kitchens are another favored choice of homeowners in the Denver metro area. As the name implies, L-shaped kitchens feature two walls with cabinetry that form an L. L-shaped kitchens provide homeowners options to create an open-floor plan and easily incorporate an island or peninsula. If you don’t want or need an island, L-shaped kitchens are ideal for families with multiple cooks or who like to entertain because they provide an open, airy space with lots of room to maneuver.
L-shaped kitchen also cater to the way a family cooks, who does the cooking and how often. Appliance placement is key to making L-shaped kitchens function effectively and to make it easier and more enjoyable to prepare meals. Because there is typically more floor and counter space in L-shaped kitchens than in other configurations, there is a higher likelihood of clutter and there is more space that needs to be cleaned and maintained.
The connecting corner can also be a challenge. A professional designer knows how to overcome that challenge with corner cabinets that can pull out or feature a lazy susan or other organizing tools to provide additional storage space.
The Benefits of A Professional Designer
Did you know that 85% of homeowners rely on a professional kitchen designer when they want to create a dream kitchen? There are many good reasons why that percentage is so high. Building a dream kitchen involves numerous processes and details. Principal roles that designers play are that of guide and curator. Homeowners in the greater Denver area spend hours, days, weeks and even months researching options before making an appointment with a designer. We know that the Internet is both our friend and foe. While the Internet provides access to every product and service that you could ever need for a renovation project, the amount of information available online can be overwhelming, is often incorrect, is likely to cause analysis paralysis, contributes to unrealistic expectations and elevates stress levels. That’s where a professional kitchen designer and showroom like Enchanted Kitchens can be your greatest asset. Showroom professionals specialize in making order out of chaos.
Because kitchen designers specialize in kitchens primarily, they not only bring a specific expertise not available from other sources, they also provide homeowners in the greater Denver area fresh perspectives, often providing new layouts, configurations and floor plans that homeowners had not previously considered. These new perspectives often result in a more functional, beautiful and enjoyable kitchen. Providing a new and enlightened perspective is especially important to homeowners because of the multiple roles that kitchens now serve.
Homeowners should expect their showroom professional to narrow product choices based on needs, preferences and budgets. That’s why you should expect to answer a lot of questions during initial interviews and meetings ranging from what you like about your existing kitchen and what areas would you like to improve, what style do you prefer, how often do you cook in your kitchen, how often do you entertain, other than meal preparation what other functionality would you like your kitchen to provide, how do you want your dream kitchen to feel like every time your cross the threshold and on and on.
When you research a potential showroom, look on their website for completed projects that reflect your style, but also look at the different styles that are featured. A range of project types and styles that include traditional, transitional, modern, farmhouse and contemporary reflects that the showroom has not only the skill set to meet different tastes and preferences, but also the flexibility to do so.
When you interview a potential designer, ask how they plan to manage the project, the scope of services that they will provide and how they troubleshoot problems. Given today’s supply chain challenges, you should expect your showroom designer to provide a realistic timeline and suggest alternative options in the event that products that are first choices are not available in the timeline needed.
Always ask to see photos of similar projects that the showroom has designed and don’t be shy about asking for references. Additionally, have realistic expectations. There are unforeseen events that happen on almost every project, especially when renovating existing spaces. That’s why we encourage homeowners to ask during the interview process how a designer troubleshoots problems and responds to unforeseen occurrences.
Which shape is ideal for your dream kitchen? Give us a call at 303-376-7588 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3535 S. Platte River Drive, Englewood, Colorado 80110 to create a kitchen that will be the envy of your neighborhood.