Kitchen
10. Working sinks. Many clients are requesting sinks that double as work stations. These working sinks can be as small as 36 inches wide and as large as 80. Fitted with accessories like cutting boards, colanders, bowls and drying racks, they’re designed to improve function in the kitchen.How to Choose the Right Kitchen Sink
4. Induction cooktops. Induction cooking has been popular in Europe for many years, unlike here in the United States, where cooking with natural gas is preferred. With induction cooking, the energy is generated by a metal coil beneath the surface of the glass cooktop. When turned on, the coil produces an electromagnetic current only when it comes in contact with magnetic cookware. This current heats the bottom of the magnetic pan and cooks the food it contains. Induction is safe — the cooktop is cool to the touch when the cookware is removed. It’s also fast. Water boils in under two minutes. One way to introduce induction cooking into your kitchen is to add a burner or two. This kitchen has a gas range plus a small induction cooktop in the island.
Glassware is commonly stored in the wall cabinet closest to the sink. With less upper cabinetry, the dilemma of where to put the glasses arises. Consider using a drawer or rollout shelf, as seen here. Drawers are overlooked when it comes to glass storage. To make it work, just line the bottom of each drawer or rollout with a nonslip rubber liner.
Pantry barn doors. Here’s a lovely use of the barn door trend: opening a pantry. Because the doors slide on a rail, the kitchen or pantry doesn’t need clearance area for a swinging door, allowing more space for other uses. The wide pantry doors can also be left open for easy access. These barn doors create a pretty design accent with their gray paint and black hardware. Barn doors: custom, designed by Carly Visser, CVI Design; flooring: Santee Oak, Medallion collection, Naturally Aged Flooring; cabinet paint: Baby’s Breath 873, Benjamin Moore; island cabinet paint: SW 0077 Classic French Gray, Sherwin-Williams; wall paint: Passive 7064, Sherwin-Williams; pendants: Elk 66138-1, Elk Group International
Pantry cabinet. This pantry cabinet in Ireland brings a highly efficient storage area into the kitchen workspace. Pantry storage areas like this are seen in the U.K., where it is known as a larder. It often is hidden behind double cabinetry doors in the kitchen rather than being in a separate room. The doors open to a storage system with open shelves on top, spice racks on the doors and bottom drawers or bins. The shelves usually are shallow enough so everything can be seen at a glance. This larder has a pullout work surface and a tall appliance shelf as a stand mixer, turning it into a baking center as well.See more U.K. pantries like this one
Island drinks station. Rather than let the space at the end of the island go to waste, this homeowner installed a beverage refrigerator. Since guests are forever congregating around the kitchen island, this setup makes it easy for them to serve themselves — without getting in the way of the chef. Bar fridge: Vinopazzo, AG International; island cabinetry paint: Kendall Charcoal HC-166, Benjamin Moore; floor tile: Duomo in cream, Midgley West; countertop: quartz; pendant lights: Union Lighting
LOVE
Here are some tips to help you through step 1:Collect images at random. Collect images that speak to you emotionally without thinking about why (at least for right now). Believe me, there's a pattern there — you may not be able to see it at first, but a pattern will show itself. You may find that a whole bunch of your kitchen inspiration images may need to be added to an ideabook for a future farmhouse or weekend getaway, but don't skip over them just because they don't relate to this project, save them for later.Don't edit yourself (yet). Don't make yourself nuts from the get-go by trying to edit as you collect. I really believe in collecting with reckless abandon first and editing later. Editing yourself while you gather inspiration is certain death for creativity.Organize (but only if you want to). It's OK to be unorganized and even a little messy — this is creativity after all! So what if your collections are a bit of a mess with no rhyme or reason. If you are fabulously organized, then you're a step ahead of us, but for those who aren't, don't sweat it. There's time to go back over all this stuff and label it later.Start looking for a pro. This can be a great time to start not...
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