"The Kitchen is the New Living Room" - Ina Garten

Don't you feel like something in the human subconscious motivates us to linger in the kitchen? Even if there isn't a proper place to sit, many people would rather pull up a seat on the counter than make their way over to the living room. It just feels good; to smell the smells, feel the energy, maybe help out with dinner or dishes. It only makes sense that the current trend in home design involves flowing spaces where the kitchen is open to the living room. We are social beings. We want to include the host during cocktail hour as he or she ties up loose ends. We want to help our kids with homework while preparing lunches for the next day. We want to snack while reading a book, the newspaper, or a magazine. So why not bring elements of the living room into the kitchen? Encourage those instincts and create a space that goes out of its way to invite people to get comfortable and stay a while.

Project Team: Greg Kayko, Linda Eggerss, Janice Pattee; Source: NKBA Design Idea Center 2008

This looks so cozy! With the over-stuffed throw pillows and colorful cushions, this banquet feels more like a sofa. The framed family photos and large lamp-shade pendant are also nice touches reminiscent of the living room.

Design: Allison Caccoma; Photography: Jonny Valiant; Source: House Beautiful

This image reminds me on an elegant fireplace. I love the hearth design encasing the hood with the flanking built-in shelving. Just gorgeous! This kitchen looks like the perfect chefs study. Don't you want to just pull up a chair and curl up in front of a fireplace with one of those cook books? :)

Design: Robert Stilin; Photography: Julian Wass; Source: House Beautiful

These images are details from Ina Garten's barn kitchen. Placing a table lamp on your counter is a delightful way to add elements of a living room into your kitchen. The presence of a lamp, plus the warm light filtering through the shade, adds a lovely touch of charm.

And this big basket is so great! In a living room it might be used to store blankets or magazines; but in the kitchen, this deep and wide basket is practical and attractive for storing cookie sheets, cooling racks, and cutting boards.

Design: Susan Serra & Associates

Items like framed art and sculptural pieces, expected in the living room, become an intriguing surprise in the kitchen. These unique touches add personality and calm to a space that can sometimes get hectic as the cook is cranking out the next meal. I love how Susan Serra placed this art in such a place that the person who's actually getting some work done can enjoy it!

If you are interested in a kitchen or bathroom remodel or addition, please visit our website at thekitchenandbathpeople.com

Planning for Your Future with Universal Design : in the Kitchen

Last week I wrote about easy ways to incorporate universal design in your bathrooms. This week I want to expand on the subject and feature ways to make your kitchens more universally friendly. Kitchens have become the hub of our households, a place where members of all generations in the family convene. As such, kitchens should offer a friendly environment to all users. I want to re-emphasize the value added when taking a universal design approach in your remodeling project. Designing for the aging does not have to look geriatric, in fact the best universal design is one that goes unnoticed.

This side-opening oven by Fagor is so cool! (Pictured above are two, side-opening ovens, demonstrating the option for either door swing.) The design was a Merit Award winner in Interior Design Magazine's 2008 Best of the Year Awards. Its ability to install at any height, and the side swing door, keeps users from having to bend over a hot oven, reducing the risk of being burned. When paired with a pull out surface, like this one pictured on the left, moving your heavy casserole dish from the oven to a cooling surface is much easier.

Also, in regards to cooking appliances, consider an induction cooktop in a universal design, for their safety features. Click here to read about the benefits of induction cooking.


Pull down kitchen cabinet shelves are a convenient way to take full advantage of your upper cabinet storage. An accessible handle at the bottom allows you to easily bring those upper shelves down to your level, preventing anyone from having to stand on a chair (or the counter!) to get out the crock-pot, rarely used serving bowls...or whatever else might be storing up there. When the cabinet doors are closed, no one will know there's such a contraption hidden inside. Of course, I would not recommend displaying these behind glass doors.

Anything stored in typical base cabinets is usually going to be difficult to get out. Unless you're about 3' tall, a lot of crouching, bending, and digging is involved when attempting to access items from the depths of those spaces. Drawers are the best solution for the storage below your counters. All things kept inside are easy to find and retrieve. This drawer shown above even utilizes a sort of peg-board and dowel combination to keep things in their places, rather than letting them slide around every time you open the drawer.

Here's one more way to universalize the kitchen; think about integrating a table height surface (28-34" high) with clear space underneath that is at least 18" deep x 24" wide. This creates a useful multi-purpose surface. Not only can it become a place for snacks and homework, it can also function as a countertop where those bound to a wheelchair, or anyone who has trouble standing for an extended period of time, can sit and still help prepare meals.

You can also incorporate this idea under the sink. With a cute curtain draped underneath, you can create a European look and no one will ever recognize the sink to be ADA accessible. Also, notice the lever handle on the faucet (something I brought up when discussing universal bathroom design) and the bar pulls on the drawer. Levers and bars are easier for arthritic hands to grasp, as opposed to a knob shape.

Please feel free to comment on your successes with universal design!

If you are interested in a kitchen or bathroom remodel or addition, please visit our website at thekitchenandbathpeople.com


Photo Credits: Photos 1 & 3 - fagoramerica.com; Photo 6: sachsenkuechen-usa.com; Photo 7: AccessibilityPro.com

Correction!

A few weeks ago I had an entry about Chef-Style Kitchens where I featured this image:
I had claimed this was an image showing Fagor's wall racks and today I realized I had made a mistake. This is actually a detail of a Sachen Kuchen kitchen, showing their wall racks. So as you can see, these innovative wall racks are available through several companies, each with their own spin.

New entry to be posted by this Friday... where I will be showing another Sachen Kuchen kitchen. Enjoy your day!

Planning for Your Future with Universal Design : in the Bathroom

According the the AARP, most Americans prefer living in a familiar place, their home, throughout their later years in life. Certified Aging in Place specialists can help homeowners fold universal design into their home, providing a space that is comfortable and safe and allows elderly to maintain their independence. Universal design is the "green of the future" as it will preserve its value for years to come, adding convenience for all users at any age. Below are some ways to subtly and beautifully incorporate universal design in your bathrooms.

It's a good idea to consider installing a sink in the bathroom that will allow wheelchair access. This wall-mounted sink by Decolav is handicap accessible as well as fashionable and functional with ample counter space and an integral sink basin, making clean-up a breeze.

Here's a more transitional and "homey" look. This custom design uses TOTO's Ryohan sink and looks like a piece of furniture. The open space below conveniently allows for wheelchair access.

Another detail to think about is your faucet's design. The lever handles on these Delta faucets are universally easy to use, for children as well as older individuals with arthritic hands.

It's also smart to consider lever handles for doors, instead of door knobs, throughout your home. This lovely lever handle is manufactured by Rocky Mountain Hardware.

While you may not need grab bars now, if you are remodeling a bathroom, go ahead and have your contractor install blocking needed for the bars to make that addition easier down the road. Now, thank goodness, manufacturers are putting more thought into the design of grab bars, like this one shown above, from Moen.

Check in next week for ideas to "universalize" your kitchen!

If you are interested in a kitchen or bathroom remodel or addition, please visit our website at thekitchenandbathpeople.com


Photo Credit : Photo #2 - Photography by John Ferrarone for Frank Webb Bath Center