All about Kitchens with Margaret Macdonald

Another great event at SOFA....

Last week I, along with many others in the design & decorating business attended a seminar by Margaret MacDonald all about  "What makes a Great Kitchen" from a  functional design perspective.  Margaret is a name known as a Kitchen Designer for the past 18 years and has worked with some of the top kitchen & bath manufacturers.

I have written about the types of kitchens we want, however this seminar went deeper into the framework of designing a great kitchen.  So many tips on the key elements of great design were shared, but keeping function and safety in the forefront were extremely important.  One can have a 'pretty or beautiful' kitchen, but if it doesn't function properly or there are safety hazards then it is not a great kitchen.  You must adhere to building code at all times.  This is something designers and decorators who are experienced in kitchen design will know and this is why it is important to work with one.  Margaret gave us a refresher on this by showing photos of the 'blunders' that can occur. We also took a step down memory lane to kitchens of the past and saw how far we have come to today's fabulous kitchens. What a great way to either learn or be reminded of the importance of the design process.

Thanks to SOFA, www.visitsofa.com and AGA/Marvel, www.agamarvel.com who co-sponsored the event.

Below are a few examples of well designed kitchens and not so well designed.  It is not always possible to have the 'perfect' kitchen layout depending on your space restrictions, however keeping a few safety and functional tips in mind will help with the overall success of a kitchen design.

The kitchen below is very nice, however the wooden

columns sitting directly on the counter and beside the

cook top are not to code and could be a safety hazard 

as well as they cut off easy access to the counter beside

This kitchen has the required space beside the

cook top.  The dishwasher are located across

from each other however it appears there is

enough room to open both within the space,            

especially with the over being higher off the

ground but it could be a little problematic if both

were being opened at the same time.

This kitchen has ample counter space on each

side of the range and the cabinetry does not 

go down to the counter, thus meeting code and

still looking beautiful

Kitchens.....

Kitchens, The Hub of the house.....

 

We have all known that the kitchen has and always be the central gathering place in a home.  We have evolved through the years from the old farm style kitchen with the wood stove, table and most probably a sofa and other chairs. Back then they had what we now refer to as an "unfitted kitchen". It was the warmest place in the old farmhouses of days gone by.   

During the mid century period we moved into having more utilitarian kitchens and formal dining rooms for entertaining.  As we moved into the 80’s there was a resurgence of family style entertaining and the focus was on the great room The establishment of a great room by builders was addressing the need for families to be close together as they became very busy with 2 career households and the family activities involved all members.  Great rooms afforded a space to cook, eat, help children do homework, and watch television or play games.  As the boomers were so busy, they approached entertaining as a family affair with guests bringing their children.  This hub was perfect for some group bonding.  

As we approached the millennium we have taken the kitchen even further by opening it up to the living area and in some cases to the formal dining area or even removing the formal dining area for more 'living' space.  When we are entertaining we want our guests to be part of the entire process and we want to enjoy and be part of their conversation while preparing the meal. It has become the gathering place for guests.  We also saw the incorporation of the unfitted kitchen, which is where there are individual cabinet pieces, giving the look of furniture rather than cabinetry. 

Thus the kitchen has evolved again into a sophisticated room and in fact quite a showroom of the house.  Many European kitchen suppliers have become more prevalent in North America and are offering the most state of the art high-end kitchens.  The kitchen is still the gathering spot yet is has become a place of beauty and functionality.   We all know that everyone ends up in the kitchen at parties.

When designing these ultra kitchens, it is important to look at the overall concept and how to incorporate it with the remainder of the house.  Flow is very important as well as ergonomics and optimizing space in creative ways. When utilizing a professional we find them to be more knowledgeable these days and can offer the most appropriate finishes and products for each individual client.  Overall the kitchen must function like a well-oiled machine, yet appear pleasing to the eye. In other words all the “unsightly” paraphernalia in a kitchen must be accessible yet hidden.  We want to enjoy a less formal manner of entertaining, yet maintain a sense of elegance. 

The products themselves must be of the highest quality and withstand the test of time and have the longevity needed and to be worth the large sum of cash required to obtain such a space.  Kitchens can be as inexpensive or expensive as you are prepared to spend and as long as they are properly planned and executed, they will function and be the place you want to spend time in.

 

Here are some beautiful photos of kitchens, reflecting many styles...

 

Kitchens - The Hub of the House....Part 2

We all gravitate to the kitchen. No matter how we live the first thing most people do when they visit friends and family is continue right into the kitchen and perch at the island or kitchen table. Such was the practice of long ago and we cannot change that no matter how beautiful our other rooms are. There is a comfort level to being in a kitchen - relaxed and easy going. No wonder the kitchen renovations and updates bring so much bang for the buck!!    If there is any space that you want to change in your home it should be the kitchen. Whether you are part of a large family with children or an empty nester who likes to entertain, this is the one place you want to work on. An updated kitchen (& bath) will bring more value to your home than any other renovation you undertake. 

These days there are so many different ways to create your own personal and distinct kitchen with a vast variety of materials.  It has become increasingly popular to mix painted and stained wood surfaces.  One of the ways to add a a lot of style is with your back splash.   There is a large selection of products available in all price points and since the area being covered in many cases is small you can go for something a little more upscale to really get the wow factor without breaking the bank. 

Here are some great kitchens...... I have my personal preferences, but there is a kitchen for everyone, no matter what your style is. 

Even the outdoor kitchen is evolving into a gathering spot 

Kitchens - the hub of the house...

We all love kitchens and no matter what goes on we all end up in them. Everybody gravitates to the kitchen.

Recently I was as a new showroom in Burlington, Interior Works Inc., http://www.interiorworks.ca/, located in Burlington,  where you can do one stop shopping for all of your kitchen needs.  Interior Works has formed an affiliation with one of my favourite haunts - The Decorating Centre http://www.thedecoratingcentre.ca/  to offer everything from the planning, cabinetry, counter tops & back splash ideas as well as wonderful hardware choices and of course appliances.  There are a variety of companies represented including Richelieu, Cambria, Goemans; Oatman; Slate Flex, etc.

The warehouse where all the cabinets are created, was as clean as any living room!! What a feat. Besides giving us plenty of great information on what they are offering, we also enjoyed wonderful hors d'oeuvres (I know, I am always going to events where there is yummy food, I have to eat it, can't waste it, what can I say!)

Kitchens are one of the most popular renovations today for both your own enjoyment and resale potential. With all of the wonderful options around, it is quite the undertaking to try to make decisions on your own. That is where your decorator/designer and companies like Interior Works come into play.  We make it happen!!

 Dave Routery, President & his wife Brenda, Interior Design Consultant where the warehouse is kept amazingly tidy and clean!

Representatives from Cambria 

Sara Rooney, District Manager for Cambria

Beautiful Kitchens

Again, here we are smiling for the camera!!