3 Ways to Create a Custom Kitchen Design
Whenever we begin working on a custom kitchen design with a new client, they almost always fall into one of three categories: A) Knowing what they want and relying on us to translate their vision; B) Strong opinions about a couple of crucial areas, but mostly open to any solutions we suggest for their new design; C) Unsure what they want, but the current situation isn’t working. Regardless of where you fall, here are three ways to create a custom kitchen design that feels personal to you and your family.
1. Utilize Custom Cabinet Modifications to Serve Your Needs
Higher quality, made-to-order cabinet lines are going to allow customization to some degree. This customization can be a game-changer for making the final kitchen design feel truly custom since it means we can make the cabinet as specific to your functional, aesthetic, or architectural needs as possible. Few kitchens don’t require at least one cabinet to be modified to maintain the best-finished look.
More often than not, we modify most cabinets to give our clients the best possible design. Modifications can include custom sizes, combining boxes to avoid seams in inset designs, adding unique storage accessories, or finishing the ends in a specific manner, just to name a few. The options are endless.
2. Incorporate A Design Element with A Story
One of the easiest and most satisfying ways to set your kitchen apart from your friends’ kitchens (even if you have the same taste) is to incorporate something personal that tells part of your story. Our clients have approached us with unique pieces to include in their custom kitchen design on more than one occasion. Custom pieces include hundred-year-old barn beams found in an outbuilding on the property, a favorite light fixture that lasted through multiple moves, a custom colored range to match the label of a favorite bottle of champagne, and more. Incorporating these personal touches into our clients’ kitchen designs sets them apart from their neighbors.
We salvaged the vertical beam next to the staircase from an old barn on this couple’s property. Having a piece with a story gives extra life to this farmhouse kitchen.
You don’t already have something you’d like to include in the new design? No problem! Choose one item that has yet to be selected and pick something you love that can act as a statement piece. It can be something semi-permanent like a light fixture, unique cabinet hardware, or backsplash tile, or it could be something you find on your own like vintage stools for the island or a beautiful painting to hang in the breakfast area.
3. Plan Storage to Support Your Daily Habits
Just because you make coffee and take supplements every morning as part of a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean they have to be out on the counter in full view 24/7. Our kitchens are responsible for storing a LOT from everyday dishes to serving pieces, pantry items to charging stations. When everything has a place where it’s easily accessible and hidden from view, you’re able to move more efficiently and feel better in your space without visual clutter. Planning ahead of time, which tasks take place in which zones of your kitchen will help your kitchen designer suggest the best storage solutions to help your day run more smoothly from the get-go.
One of the best ways to make a kitchen more functional is to store items by use instead of similarity. For example: Instead of keeping all glasses and mugs together in one cabinet, store drinking glasses near the refrigerator for access to filtered water and store mugs near the coffee station. Customizing the design for the way you move in and around your kitchen saves time as you won’t be crisscrossing as often while you’re preparing meals, snacks, and everything in between.
We placed narrow, pull-out storage cabinets for cutting boards and spices close to the cooktop for convenient access during prep.
Want to speak with someone about your custom kitchen design? Schedule a call to speak with one of our project developers.