9 Ways to Avoid Kitchen Traffic Jams

Article By: Jennifer Ott

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, it's tempting to try to squeeze in all of the latest and greatest appliances and gadgets — and enough cabinetry to contain them all. But unless you also put some thought into how you, your family and guests will circulate through the space, you could end up with a dysfunctional layout that is no fun to work in — newfangled gadgets and all. I've pulled together some tips to keep in mind when designing a kitchen to avoid traffic jams and poor flow. 

Modern Kitchen by Venice Architects & Designers hughesumbanhowar architects 

1. Optimize the layout. One of my favorite kitchen layouts is an open kitchen with an island and no closed corners. I find having an island that family and guests can easily circulate around, without getting stuck in a corner, greatly reduces kitchen traffic jams. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Annapolis Kitchen & Bath Designers Kitchen Encounters 

2. Provide ample walkways and aisles. Make sure your kitchen walkways are at least 36 inches wide and your work aisles — those spaces in front of sinks, appliances and prep areas — are at least 42 inches wide, or 48 inches to accommodate multiple cooks. 

Those with larger families or who entertain often may want to go as wide as 54 inches for work aisles. This will allow two people to easily pass behind someone working at the countertop, sink or appliance. 

Traditional Kitchen by Seattle Design-Build Firms J.A.S. Design-Build 

3. Consider sitting room. If you plan to have a seating area at an island or a peninsula, think about where the stools will be. Ideally you want visitors to be facing you while you are working in the kitchen, and you want to keep them out of your main work aisles, too. 

Contemporary Kitchen by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Pierce Allen 

If you anticipate stools in a walkway or an aisle, allow for the extra space they'll require when occupied. You'll want at least 36 inches so someone can easily pass behind a stool when it is pulled out. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Venice Design-Build Firms clark kitchens and construction 

4. Pay attention to appliance and cabinetry clearances. While your goal should be to arrange your appliances into efficient work zones, watch for any awkward adjacencies. Avoid placing major appliances directly opposite each other, as this can create a traffic jam if both appliances are being used simultaneously. 

Also, try to keep appliances away from any corners, as corners prevent full access to the appliance, and the adjacent cabinets cannot be opened if the appliance door is also open. 

This applies to your cabinets as well — make sure you can open all of your cabinet doors and drawers without their running into one another. It's tough to avoid this with corner cabinets, but all other cabinets should open freely without banging into another door or a drawer. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Ottawa Home Builders Cedarstone Homes Limited 

5. Don't block kitchen entry points. Leave enough space for someone to enter or exit even if the appliance or cabinet door or drawer is open. 

Contemporary Kitchen by High Falls Photographers Reid Dalland Photography 

6. Give your refrigerator ample space. The area around a refrigerator tends to be a high-traffic zone, so don't crowd it in. Plus, some refrigerator doors are a whopping 36 inches wide — meaning they take up a lot of space when open. If your refrigerator is near a kitchen entry point, add a pantry cabinet to act as a buffer so that the open refrigerator door will be less likely to block someone. 

Traditional Kitchen by Falmouth Interior Designers & Decorators Banks Design Associates, LTD & Simply Home 

7. Give your sink some space, too. Have plenty of countertop space on either side of the sink, and don't cram the sink in between other appliances, with the notable exception of the dishwasher, which is handy to have right next to the sink for cleanup. Avoid corner sinks — they are major culprits of kitchen traffic jams. 

Contemporary Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers Marvelous by Design 

8. Don't fight with a small space. As much as I love an island in the kitchen, I also value space for moving around. If you have a tight kitchen, keep it as open as possible. You can always add a movable island cart that you can tuck off to the side out of the flow of traffic when it's not in use. As tempting as it may be to cram as much cabinetry and countertop area in as possible, it's just not worth it if that makes the space awkward to use. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Decatur Kitchen & Bath Designers Renewal Design-Build 

9. Consult an expert. The best piece of advice I can offer is to engage the services of a qualified and reputable designer who specializes in kitchens. If your remodeling budget is tight and you are going the DIY route, consider finding a kitchen designer willing to consult for a few hours with you for a flat fee. This investment of a few hundred dollars can help you avoid ending up with a dysfunctional kitchen layout — and will save you time, money and frustration down the road.

Smart Investments in Kitchen Cabinetry — a Realtor's Advice

Article By: Tiffany Carboni

The kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to build. The national average cost of a kitchen remodel is $50,000, though the real cost can vary widely, depending on where you live, the scope of the project and the materials you choose. New cabinetry can take up much of that expense. Make the most of this big purchase by treating your new cabinets as an investment. 

Realtor Victoria Gangi offers insider tips on how to get the best return on your cabinet investment, even if you're not moving in the foreseeable future. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Falls Church Kitchen & Bath Designers Cameo Kitchens, Inc. 

Create an optimal layout. Long before a kitchen starts to take actual shape, there needs to be a well-crafted plan for how the kitchen will be laid out to offer maximum benefits to the homeowners and their guests. 

"Layout is the number-one feature home buyers are looking at in a kitchen," says Gangi. "You will lose your audience if cabinets aren't designed in a functional way with good flow." 

Traditional Kitchen by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Kimberly Arnold Fletcher 

A kitchen or cabinet designer can help you get started. Don’t make any rushed decisions in the planning process. 

One way to help visualize a designer's plan is to tape out the dimensions of the new cabinet configurations on the floor and walls. Granted, you're going to need a really good imagination for this to work, but it will give you an opportunity to literally walk through the measurements to see if things feel well spaced. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Vancouver Photographers Heather Merenda 

Invest in quality cabinetry. Once you've got a plan for where everything's going to go, decide on a style and quality that will age well and withstand trends and changing tastes.

Quality cabinets are one of the smartest investments in a kitchen remodel, saysKarl Keul, owner of Cameo Kitchens. "The lesser grades of cabinets tend not to age gracefully and often need more upkeep,” he notes.

Modern Kitchen by Aspen Architects & Designers S2 Architects 

The quality to choose will depend on your long-term plans. “Midrange cabinets are generally a good bet," Gangi says. "If you intend to sell your home, these cabinets will look attractive to buyers, and you’ll likely see a return on your investment."

She adds, "Even if you plan on staying in your home for the foreseeable future, this is still a safe option, because they'll last. Choose top-of-the-line cabinets only if you have the money to create the kitchen of your dreams without any worries of recouping the money.” 

Contemporary Kitchen by Houston Architects & Designers Collaborative Designworks 

Integrate the door style. Choose a door style and color that integrate well with the rest of your home, especially rooms that look directly into the kitchen. If the rest of your house is traditional, you’d be better off steering toward a more traditional or transitional door style than going completely modern, and vice versa.  

Farmhouse Kitchen by Lodi General Contractors WL INTERIORS 

"Don't choose a style that's too ornate or too modern," Gangi advises. "Modern is good; people like clean lines and clean finishes. But ultramodern or any style that's too out of the norm isn't what buyers tend to want." 

Contemporary Kitchen by Austin Architects & Designers Loop Design 

In general the best kitchen designs are those that work in harmony with the rest of the home's architecture rather than try to fight it. A harmonious house is easier for potential buyers to understand and, in turn, to want to outbid each other for. 

A savvy designer can help navigate you toward the best cabinet options that will work for your home and budget.

Contemporary Kitchen by Framingham Photographers Mary Prince 

Choose light colors. Lighter-colored cabinetry will appeal to more buyers. "Dark kitchens are out," notes Gangi. "People prefer light and bright." 

Contemporary Kitchen by Tampa Interior Designers & Decorators Paul Anater 

To integrate the appliances or not? Integrated appliances significantly increase the cost of a kitchen, not only because of the added cabinetry door fronts, but also because the appliances needed to facilitate this option are more expensive.

While this feature may look attractive to some home buyers, especially in a price range where integrated appliances are an expectation rather than an exception, your may not see the return on this high-priced detail in a midrange-price house. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Los Angeles Home Stagers Platform 

According to Gangi, your cabinet investment can be safe even if you don't integrate the appliances. "Stainless steel appliances are still very popular and well accepted by buyers," she says. 

Traditional Kitchen by Raleigh Kitchen & Bath Designers J Maness Designs 

Choose cabinet details that matter. What's inside the cabinet is just as important as what's on its outside. "Buyers are on the lookout for rollout and quiet-close drawers," notes Gangi. "This is where that choice of midrange versus low-range cabinet quality becomes important. Spending the extra money it takes to get good-quality slide rails and quiet-close features will come back to you."

Contemporary Kitchen by Tucson Kitchen & Bath Designers Dorado Designs 

Opt for clean-lined hardware. "Buyers prefer drawer pulls and handles to be just as clean lined as the cabinetry," says Gangi. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Jersey City Design-Build Firms Brunelleschi Construction 

If you like ornate hardware, go for it. However, should you sell your home, expect to replace those fancy pulls with a more streamlined set that will appeal to a broad range of buyers. The good news is that your fancy hardware can move with you.

7 Kitchen Flooring Materials to Boost Your Cooking Comfort

Article By: Jennifer Ott

I love the look of polished concrete floors in kitchens, but concrete — along with other nonresilient floor surfaces, such as stone, ceramic and porcelain tile — can take a toll on your joints. I've heard complaints from many homeowners who regret putting in a hard flooring material in their kitchen because of the subsequent knee, hip or back pain they feel after standing or walking on it for a long period. Fortunately there are plenty of softer, resilient kitchen flooring types available that are as functional as they are good-looking. 

Contemporary Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers Zack|de Vito Architecture + Construction

Cork

Sustainably harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, cork is an excellent resilient floor choice in a kitchen due to its high level of cushioning. It's available in a variety of colors, patterns and textures, and in tile or plank formats. It is somewhat self-healing but can get scratched and dented. You can mitigate this by regularly applying a protective layer of wax or polyurethane and by using protective felt pads on the feet of your furniture.

Material cost: $4 to $14 per square foot 

Contemporary Kitchen by Lexington Architects & Designers Pohl Rosa Pohl

Linoleum

Not to be confused with vinyl flooring, linoleum is made from all-natural and renewable materials such as linseed oil, pine rosin and powdered cork. It's soft underfoot yet quite durable, and it comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. As with cork, applying and maintaining a protective finish will keep it looking good for many years.

Material cost: $5 to $10 per square foot 

Contemporary Kitchen by Palo Alto Architects & Designers Ogawa Fisher Architects

Rubber

This is a bit of an unusual choice in a residential kitchen, but rubber flooring is becoming more common in homes. Soft, springy and durable, it is a terrific choice if you want to stand for hours in your kitchen without bringing on the aches and pains. Rubber flooring is available in tile and sheet formats, and should be sealed after installation and again every year or two, depending on traffic and wear. 

Material cost: $6 to $12 per square foot 

Eclectic Kitchen by Nashville Interior Designers & Decorators Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Vinyl

A popular budget-friendly option, vinyl flooring comes in both sheet and tile formats and in an endless array of styles and colors. I like to have fun with vinyl; I like to use bolder colors or lay it out in an interesting pattern. However, it's not as durable as other resilient flooring options and can get dinged up pretty easily. Therefore, it tends to have a shorter life span than other options.

Material cost: $2 to $10 per square foot 

Contemporary Kitchen by Austin Architects & Designers Merzbau Design Collective

Wood

A favorite flooring material for kitchens, wood is more forgiving on our joints than stone, ceramic, porcelain or concrete. It also looks and feels warmer than nonresilient flooring. Some drawbacks to wood are that it can get scratched and dinged easily, and it also must be protected from contact with water. In kitchens I recommend going with a site-finished wood floor rather than a prefinished floor. Yes, it's a messy business sealing the floor after installation, but by sealing it after installation you also seal up the joints, preventing water and dirt from collecting in them.

Material cost: $5 to $20 per square foot 

Contemporary Kitchen by Charleston Architects & Designers DLB Custom Home Design

Bamboo

Not technically wood — it's actually a grass — bamboo has many of the same advantages and disadvantages as wood. It's a good option if you are looking to use a sustainably harvested material for your kitchen floor. Not all bamboo flooring is the same, however; be sure to look for moso bamboo, as it's considered the hardest and most durable.

Material cost: $5 to $12 per square foot 

Contemporary Kitchen by Lethbridge Interior Designers & Decorators Galko Homes

Laminate

Similar to vinyl flooring products, laminates are a budget-friendly flooring choice and are soft underfoot when compared to rigid flooring materials. They tend to be more moisture resistant than wood floors, but because they are not a solid material all the way through, they can't be refinished if damaged. 

Material cost: $2 to $5 per square foot 

Contemporary Kitchen

Alternate Option: Mats and Rugs

For those who simply must have their hard tile or concrete kitchen floor, there's always the option of placing gel mats or other cushioning rugs in areas of your kitchen where you spend large amounts of time standing, such as at your sink or in front of the range. 

Designing Your Kitchen: Deep Thoughts for Your Sink

Article By: Jennifer Ott

I tend to think bigger is always better. Maybe it's because I live in Texas. So when it comes to working in my own kitchen, I do love having a nice, wide sink. It offers plenty of space for food prep and cleanup, perfect for our two-cook household. But what about bowl depth? Sure, an extra-deep sink is good for hiding dirty dishes, but it can also do a number on your back, especially if you are of a shorter persuasion. 

Here are some tips for selecting the correct sink depth for you and how you use your kitchen. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Portland Design-Build Firms Arciform 

Kitchen sinks have been steadily growing in bowl depth. Most sinks used to be as shallow as 6 inches or less; the average today is 8 to 10 inches, and they can go as deep as 12 inches. If you repurpose a vintage sink, such as the one pictured here, it will likely be on the shallow side. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Other Metro Media and Bloggers Kootut murut 

When to Go Shallow

A shallow bowl depth — say, less than 8 inches — is going to be the most comfortable bowl depth for those who are 5-foot-4 or shorter or who are very tall (6-foot 2 or taller). A shallower bowl depth allows a shorter person to work in the sink without having to lean into it to wash items in the bottom. Taller folks can work in a shallower sink without having to crouch down or hunch over. 

Industrial Kitchen by Burlington Interior Designers & Decorators Joanne Palmisano

Shallow sinks also take up less space in the sink cabinet below them. Not only does this free up storage space, but it also makes it easier to install and access the garbage disposal and the plumbing fittings. Shallow sinks also tend to cost a bit less than deeper versions.

Eclectic Kitchen by Seattle Design-Build Firms J.A.S. Design-Build 

When to Go Deep

For those who, like me, seem to dirty every dish in the house when making a meal, a superdeep sink is ideal. You have plenty of space for prepping meals, and in a pinch you can hide your dirty dishes in there until you are able to wash them. This is a nice sink for bakers or others who are regularly washing large sheet pans and cutting boards, too. A sink depth of at least 10 inches will give you the room you need to wash larger dishes without splashing water all over the floor and surrounding countertops. 

Modern Kitchen by Los Angeles Design-Build Firms KellyBaron 

Keep in mind that if you are going with an undermount sink, you will gain the additional depth of the countertop thickness. You can offset this, however, by using a raised sink grid, as shown here. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Gig Harbor Interior Designers & Decorators Habitations Interior Design 

Try One On for Size

When selecting your kitchen sink bowl depth, it's all about finding one that is just right for your height and how you use your sink. If you can, check out kitchen showrooms that have a variety of sink sizes on display —mounted at the standard 36-inch countertop height — to see what sink depth feels most comfortable.

5 Favorite Granites for Gorgeous Kitchen Countertops

Article By: Charmean Neithart 

Selecting a countertop material for your kitchen remodel or new build is a big decision. I often encounter clients with a mental block when it comes to making a decision on the numerous considerations, like color and edge detail. Additionally, once the countertop hurdle is over, then there is cabinet selection. 

I like granite and use it often for its durability and its earthy colors that add great texture to a kitchen. I have a few favorites that I have worked with over the years. These granite selections get my stamp of approval because of color, movement and their flexibility in complementing different cabinet styles. Take a look at these countertop selections and how they seamlessly blend with either painted or stain-grade cabinets to make winning combinations. 

Modern Kitchen by Falls Church General Contractors NVS Remodeling & Design 

1. Bianco Romano

Bianco Romano with painted cabinets. I suggest this granite when I have a homeowner who wants that classic white kitchen. This granite works great with pure white, warm white or beige cabinets. Additionally, nickel or oil-rubbed-bronze hardware works great with all the colors of the stone, which include white, cream, gray and a deep bordeaux.

Modern Kitchen by Chicago Kitchen & Bath Designers Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab 

Bianco Romano with stain-grade cabinets. Due to the warm white, beige and gray palette, this granite works equally as well with stain-grade cabinets. I have seen it work beautifully with walnut and medium oak. 

Traditional Kitchen by Johns Island Design-Build Firms Solaris Inc. 

2. Seafoam Green

Seafoam green with painted cabinets. This granite is just beautiful. The shade of green is earthy, with gray and brown undertones. There are great markings in the stone that look almost geometric to me. This granite works with painted cabinets and satin nickel hardware. I prefer this stone when it is polished. 

Modern Kitchen by San Francisco General Contractors Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

Seafoam green with stain-grade cabinets. If you are looking for a rustic or earthy feel for your home, this is a great combination. Add oil-rubbed-bronze or copper fixtures for the perfect lodge experience. 

Traditional Kitchen by San Marino Interior Designers & Decorators Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. 

3. Costa Esmeralda 

Costa Esmeralda with painted cabinets. I first came across this granite when I had a homeowner ask me to create an ocean palette throughout the house. This granite is between green and blue, and of course will vary from batch to batch. The green-blue of the stone blends perfectly with sandy white cabinets and nickel hardware and fixtures. 

Traditional Kitchen by Berkeley General Contractors Camber Construction 

Costa Esmeralda with stain-grade cabinets. It's equally stunning with stain-grade cabinets, for a masculine and warm look. This granite works particularly well in light-filled kitchens; the sunlight highlights the stone's complex coloring. 

Traditional Kitchen by Greenville Interior Designers & Decorators Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home 

4. Absolute Black 

Absolute Black with painted cabinets. This is my idea of a classic kitchen. I love this traditional look of white cabinets and Absolute Black granite, which looks great polished or honed. Painted cabinets in many colors pair perfectly with this granite, and nickel, chrome or oil-rubbed-bronze fixtures and hardware look terrific.

Mediterranean Kitchen by Medford Architects & Designers DSA Architects 

Absolute Black with stain-grade cabinets. Another classic look that can feel rustic or modern. I love Absolute Black with medium oak or walnut. Rift-cut oak also has a great transitional look. 

Traditional Kitchen by Chesterfield Kitchen & Bath Designers Beck/Allen Cabinetry 

5. Typhoon Bordeaux 

Typhoon Bordeaux with painted cabinets. One of my favorite granite selections, Typhoon Bordeaux comes in cream, gray, brown or brick red. It's a perfect choice for a light kitchen that has red undertones in the flooring. This granite really can vary by batch, from subtle brick-red veining to strong waves of brick red. Try it with beige or cream cabinets for a warm, light-filled kitchen. 

Traditional Kitchen by Dc Metro Kitchen & Bath Designers Granite Connection, LLC 

Typhoon Bordeaux with stain-grade cabinets. I'm a sucker for warmth, so this combination really appeals to me. The brick red and browns in this granite pair beautifully with walnut, oak, mahogany and cherry cabinets. It works well in Spanish homes that feature Saltillo floors. The deep red and brown in the granite and the rustic charm of Spanish architecture are a match made in heaven.