We switched from a gas stove to an induction stove. I will never look back! Apart from the safety of it, it's environmentally so much better. And cleanup is soooooo much easier. It is just as responsive as gas and wow, does a pot of water come to a boil fast!
Spend the money on cabinets-I bought store made cabinets and I am an avid cook and they are all trashed from my use. I also made a two person island and wish it was 3-4 seats. I bought Viking refrigerator and 6 burner stove with grill and hood and do not recommend any of them. The stove is difficult to clean especially the burner grates. The refrigerator has had many issues and was completely replaced at 7 years old. I think it is important to know if you have a local company that will be available for any issues. I love my pot racks over my kitchen windows. And my stainless countertops!
We have built a kitchen and renovated multiple kitchens to the studs and back. We like custom Amish kitchen cabinets. Huge choice of styles and finishes but best of all they can be custom sized to the closest 1/4 inch. We have shaker style alderwood finished natural —with hard catalyzed clear matte coating before delivery. We were able to get lots of extra space. Some things that work well for us:
Some of the upper cabinets are an extra inch deep. You would never notice from the outside. Our plates (Juliska) need the extra inch.
We like deep drawers for pots and pans
We borrowed space from the back of a closet for large counter top appliance storage - had a backless cabinet made and counter in the cabin put in even with main cabinets. Appliances are on sliders.
We have 2 skinny floor to ceiling pullouts which hold lots, available space due to custom cabinets
Corner cabinets have lazy susans on each shelf. One corner cabinet is an inch deeper on one side to match the deeper dish cabinet.
We like rollout trash / recycling.
We like back to back cabinets under an island, instead of super deep cabinets. Sometimes have used upper cabinets for that.
We like big radii on corners of counters - better for little kids.
Dishwashers vary a lot in noise. We shop for very quiet ones.
**I went to high school with your dad and his brother and knew of their older sibs and my kids went to elementary school in another state with your cousins (second cousins maybe?) small worldisms!
We have soapstone countertops and they are the BEST. Beautiful but also functional and clean up so nicely with mineral oil. We also have a huge antique cabinet turned pantry that has made cooking and prep so much more enjoyable because you can see everything all at once. Can’t wait to see what you choose!
Lots of good comments here. If you like to listen to music while cooking/baking, think about installing speakers on either ends of the kitchen.. in a soffit if you do one above the cabinets
It’s sounds like a minor thing, but….I designed my pots and pans storage so that they are on pullouts and if the pot or pan has a lid, it sits on its own pot or pan….no more crazy lid storage problems.
Make islands, counters, peninsulas no wider than 36” (arms length) so you can easily swipe clean from one side and can reach all your tools and ingredients.
Having recently renovated a kitchen in Southern Vermont, I recommend that you select appliance brands that can be serviced locally. Also I selected a touchless faucet which requires batteries which has been more of a pain than I realized. We also love our induction range with warming drawer in case you don’t have gas at your home. Best of luck and have fun with the process!
Make sure in functions first and then make it pretty. My kitchen designer made me sit down and tell him what was goin in every drawer and cabinet as we were designing the kitchen. It seemed crazy at the time but it was the best time I spent. My kitchen now is so intuitive. Best of luck. ❤️
This is my advice, also. Renovated 2 years ago - I cannot recommend it enough. Go through every plate, pot, pan, serving utensil, bakeware, etc. Do not worry about it later - worry about it now. Where is it going? My homework, too, was to give the designer a list of what was going in every single drawer and make sure there was a logical place for everything.
Renovated 4 kitchens (yes, I’m old). You look like you have a nice open space- unfortunately, we’ve always been somewhat constrained.
Counter space- duh, you may say. But that may necessitate more cabinets to store appliances you may not use on a daily basis. We have a toaster oven, 2 coffee makers, a panini press (the one thing that keeps my hubby working at home) and my kitchen aide mixer. I do have cabinet space for my food processor, but I wish I could get these things in an accessible place off the counters.
If you are tall, consider deviating from the normal counter height- even a couple of inches. I’m 5’9” and bending over a lot is not fun.
Also - at least 2 drawers for utensils- not counting the silverware drawer. Even with utensil crocks, I could use more space.
With a baby, a low down cabinet or drawer with things she can access safely.
Don’t let your kitchen have space for mail, pens or a landline.
Hope these thoughts are helpful- if you haven’t thought of them already.
Consider a small second sink in a place away from the main sink. It was so worth it. Great for cleaning veggies or just rinsing something off when someone else is at the main sink. For parties, I load it with ice and keep beverages cold. It gets tons of use.
This is wonderful to hear. I have enjoyed content with you since Ina Garten back in the day, then lost kitchen, and getting lost.
I grew up in the Hudson valley and just moved back after 20 years in FL. Just completed a full kitchen reno of our own. Sounds a bit like our projects are similar. Best of luck :)
3. Make countertop 4" deeper, or more, and create deeper splash, perfect for oils, vinegars, vases, s/p etc. Easily achieved, if have space, by pulling standard depth cabinets forward and leaving a gap at back.
4. Full height pantry cabinet
5. Appliance garages great to conceal when not using (coffee, toaster, Mixmaster, etc)
I dithered on the expense of instant hot/cold filtered water tap at the sink. I use it multiple times daily and LOVE it. Some friends have installed it at a bar or coffee second sink area so it doesn’t clutter the main sink
We switched from a gas stove to an induction stove. I will never look back! Apart from the safety of it, it's environmentally so much better. And cleanup is soooooo much easier. It is just as responsive as gas and wow, does a pot of water come to a boil fast!
Spend the money on cabinets-I bought store made cabinets and I am an avid cook and they are all trashed from my use. I also made a two person island and wish it was 3-4 seats. I bought Viking refrigerator and 6 burner stove with grill and hood and do not recommend any of them. The stove is difficult to clean especially the burner grates. The refrigerator has had many issues and was completely replaced at 7 years old. I think it is important to know if you have a local company that will be available for any issues. I love my pot racks over my kitchen windows. And my stainless countertops!
We have built a kitchen and renovated multiple kitchens to the studs and back. We like custom Amish kitchen cabinets. Huge choice of styles and finishes but best of all they can be custom sized to the closest 1/4 inch. We have shaker style alderwood finished natural —with hard catalyzed clear matte coating before delivery. We were able to get lots of extra space. Some things that work well for us:
Some of the upper cabinets are an extra inch deep. You would never notice from the outside. Our plates (Juliska) need the extra inch.
We like deep drawers for pots and pans
We borrowed space from the back of a closet for large counter top appliance storage - had a backless cabinet made and counter in the cabin put in even with main cabinets. Appliances are on sliders.
We have 2 skinny floor to ceiling pullouts which hold lots, available space due to custom cabinets
Corner cabinets have lazy susans on each shelf. One corner cabinet is an inch deeper on one side to match the deeper dish cabinet.
We like rollout trash / recycling.
We like back to back cabinets under an island, instead of super deep cabinets. Sometimes have used upper cabinets for that.
We like big radii on corners of counters - better for little kids.
Dishwashers vary a lot in noise. We shop for very quiet ones.
**I went to high school with your dad and his brother and knew of their older sibs and my kids went to elementary school in another state with your cousins (second cousins maybe?) small worldisms!
We have soapstone countertops and they are the BEST. Beautiful but also functional and clean up so nicely with mineral oil. We also have a huge antique cabinet turned pantry that has made cooking and prep so much more enjoyable because you can see everything all at once. Can’t wait to see what you choose!
If you can squeeze them I have had 2 dishwashers for the last 20 years and would never go back! I also have my stove and a down vent in my island
Lots of good comments here. If you like to listen to music while cooking/baking, think about installing speakers on either ends of the kitchen.. in a soffit if you do one above the cabinets
It’s sounds like a minor thing, but….I designed my pots and pans storage so that they are on pullouts and if the pot or pan has a lid, it sits on its own pot or pan….no more crazy lid storage problems.
Make islands, counters, peninsulas no wider than 36” (arms length) so you can easily swipe clean from one side and can reach all your tools and ingredients.
Having recently renovated a kitchen in Southern Vermont, I recommend that you select appliance brands that can be serviced locally. Also I selected a touchless faucet which requires batteries which has been more of a pain than I realized. We also love our induction range with warming drawer in case you don’t have gas at your home. Best of luck and have fun with the process!
Make sure in functions first and then make it pretty. My kitchen designer made me sit down and tell him what was goin in every drawer and cabinet as we were designing the kitchen. It seemed crazy at the time but it was the best time I spent. My kitchen now is so intuitive. Best of luck. ❤️
This is my advice, also. Renovated 2 years ago - I cannot recommend it enough. Go through every plate, pot, pan, serving utensil, bakeware, etc. Do not worry about it later - worry about it now. Where is it going? My homework, too, was to give the designer a list of what was going in every single drawer and make sure there was a logical place for everything.
Renovated 4 kitchens (yes, I’m old). You look like you have a nice open space- unfortunately, we’ve always been somewhat constrained.
Counter space- duh, you may say. But that may necessitate more cabinets to store appliances you may not use on a daily basis. We have a toaster oven, 2 coffee makers, a panini press (the one thing that keeps my hubby working at home) and my kitchen aide mixer. I do have cabinet space for my food processor, but I wish I could get these things in an accessible place off the counters.
If you are tall, consider deviating from the normal counter height- even a couple of inches. I’m 5’9” and bending over a lot is not fun.
Also - at least 2 drawers for utensils- not counting the silverware drawer. Even with utensil crocks, I could use more space.
With a baby, a low down cabinet or drawer with things she can access safely.
Don’t let your kitchen have space for mail, pens or a landline.
Hope these thoughts are helpful- if you haven’t thought of them already.
Consider a small second sink in a place away from the main sink. It was so worth it. Great for cleaning veggies or just rinsing something off when someone else is at the main sink. For parties, I load it with ice and keep beverages cold. It gets tons of use.
This is wonderful to hear. I have enjoyed content with you since Ina Garten back in the day, then lost kitchen, and getting lost.
I grew up in the Hudson valley and just moved back after 20 years in FL. Just completed a full kitchen reno of our own. Sounds a bit like our projects are similar. Best of luck :)
1. Pot filler at sink, if feasible.
2. Def pull out shelves or drawers.
3. Make countertop 4" deeper, or more, and create deeper splash, perfect for oils, vinegars, vases, s/p etc. Easily achieved, if have space, by pulling standard depth cabinets forward and leaving a gap at back.
4. Full height pantry cabinet
5. Appliance garages great to conceal when not using (coffee, toaster, Mixmaster, etc)
I dithered on the expense of instant hot/cold filtered water tap at the sink. I use it multiple times daily and LOVE it. Some friends have installed it at a bar or coffee second sink area so it doesn’t clutter the main sink
My designer talked me into white cabinets....with three kids and a cat and a dog....they are NEVER white!!