Kitchens are the hub of the home and need to be a central place in every home. Do you wish your kitchen had a better connection to the rest of the house or to outdoors? Do you wish you could cook dinner while overseeing homework, watching TV or entertaining?- If these issues sound familiar, your kitchen suffers from lack of flow to the rest of the house, and could be remodeled to open it up to the rest of the house.
Today’s kitchens have become multi-function spaces that allow and invite everyone to hang out or pitch in. Connectedness, or flow, to the rest of the house is essential for this to occur. While newer homes are being built with open floor plans that suit today’s lifestyles, our older homes were more compartmentalized with walls and doorways. There are some really effective options for connecting our kitchens to the rest of the house, including widening openings, removing walls, adding French doors, creating a pass-thru, or expanding in order to add a nook. Even small kitchens have potential to make the connection. An architect or designer with experience in kitchen design would be able to see the big picture and offer expert advice.
Pass-Thru: usually the simplest, least expensive option; a pass-thru connects a kitchen to an adjacent room visually, with a counter/bar and seating on one side, and counter space on the kitchen side. This is a great option for small kitchens with few options.
Today’s kitchens have become multi-function spaces that allow and invite everyone to hang out or pitch in. Connectedness, or flow, to the rest of the house is essential for this to occur. While newer homes are being built with open floor plans that suit today’s lifestyles, our older homes were more compartmentalized with walls and doorways. There are some really effective options for connecting our kitchens to the rest of the house, including widening openings, removing walls, adding French doors, creating a pass-thru, or expanding in order to add a nook. Even small kitchens have potential to make the connection. An architect or designer with experience in kitchen design would be able to see the big picture and offer expert advice.
Pass-Thru: usually the simplest, least expensive option; a pass-thru connects a kitchen to an adjacent room visually, with a counter/bar and seating on one side, and counter space on the kitchen side. This is a great option for small kitchens with few options.
Removing upper cabinets above a peninsula: Of course you would probably need to create additional storage space for the removed cabinet items,but this is another affordable option that can really give a new look to a dated kitchen.
Chimney Removal: in much older homes, chimneys were usually located next to the kitchen, coming up through the house from the basement. With updated furnaces, many chimneys are obsolete, and may be removed (with care).
Eliminate or relocate exterior door: Many older homes have exterior doors that lead from the kitchen to a porch or garage. These were often placed in corners, which interrupt most basic kitchen traffic flow patterns. With careful planning, these can be eliminated, allowing for more counter and cabinet space. This is also a fairly affordable option.
Enlarge opening into kitchen: this is probably the most often used technique in many kitchen remodels. If the affected wall is not load-bearing, this is the next minimally invasive method for opening kitchens up. If it is a load-bearing wall, it will need to be engineered, and a beam will need to be placed.
Remove wall between the kitchen and adjacent room: In order to maximize the flow of the kitchen to the rest of the home, an open-plan will make the most impact. Usually this is the area between the kitchen and dining or family room. Sometimes you may be able to combine the kitchen with an adjacent room, typically a laundry room, powder room or back porch. This will probably require a new beam, and also require relocating cabinets or storage areas. It is best that you consult a design professional when undertaking this type of kitchen remodel.
This is the time to make your home the way you want, and increase it's value.
Contact Rob with your ideas. No charge for initial contact.
Contact Rob with your ideas. No charge for initial contact.