'Cause I want one, too.
I’m remodeling. And, as luck would have it, I have a connection for some kick ass pricing on cabinets, counter tops, etc. So I get to splurge a bit!
Tell me what’s really cool about your kitchen…what tricks should I think about?
Built in spice racks…rotating corner cabinets…faucets over ovens…
Help me dream! 
Thanks,
-D/a
Completely, wonderfully, amazingly awesome.
We just bought our house last summer and we have some long term plans (darker cabinetry, double ovens, built in trash compactor, better sink) but after renting tiny condos for the past 10 years, I just revel in the amazing counter space, the incredible island and the gorgeous view of the backyard. Oh, and the huge walk-in pantry!
We did replace the too-small hood with a built-in microwave since these photos were taken.
we have an in-countertop knife holder. Likethis
It’s great.
Our kitchen isn’t awesome at all. Not much cabinet space, no counter tops, etc. We improved it slightly by adding a stainless steel counter from Ikea (similar to this, but with wire shelves on half the bottom, and an open area on the other half that our recycling bins fit in). At least now we have space to prepare our food on, and it’s really easy to clean up.
One thing I’d recommend is to plan your garbage/recycling corner/cupboard/whatever. My parents re-did their kitchen a few years ago and didn’t plan space to temporarily store paper, plastic or cans until they could be brought out to the larger bins in the garage. As a result, things tend to pile up in one corner of the counter until someone gathers it all up and carries it out while the kitchen is being cleaned up.
The outside walls of our kitchen are made of logs. That’s because we live in a… log house. 
Um…Glory, I don’t think my budget is big enough to make that happen. My kitchen is noticeably smaller, and the backyard doesn’t look nearly as good. I’d have to move a load bearing wall, and get rid of the dining room. I kinda want to do that, but I can’t bring myself to. sigh But that does look amazing, which is what I asked for. 
It does bring up the question of the pantry. I need to talk to my contractor and see if he has any bright ideas
for that.
I really like that idea. Right now I have a magnetic holder. My only concern with the in-countertop idea is that it takes up counterspace. But that might not be an issue. I’ll throw it on the list.
Yeah… I have decent counter space and decent cabinets, but I’m gong to solve both of those problems soon.
Good point. Right now I have two 13 gallon trash cans that sit in the corner - one for trash, one for recycling. I need to do something better. I’ll bring it up with the contractor.
Crafter_Man - you popped in while I was typing. I spent a few days in a (fake) log cabin at Disney a few weeks ago. I really like the look! Don’t think it’ll work in my current place, though… Where are you geographically to have a log cabin?
Does anyone have any cool solutions for a pot rack? I don’t have enough wall space to really put one there…and I have (and want) cabinets over all my counters, so I don’t think I can hang one from the ceiling.
-D/a
Ours is in a fairly out of the way space and not prime real estate.
What’s wrong with an old-fashioned knifeblock? Doesn’t take up space under the counter and you can move it to clean. I never understood magnetic knife racks…those things freak me out.
If you can’t put a pot rack up over an island or part of the counter, how about an in-cabinet one? Here are a few examplesfrom Google. I’ve seen a variant on the tall pull-put pantryin some magazine or other, but I can’t seem to find an image.
Induction cooktop. Seriously, go try one out.
We are building a new kitchen and going for Miele appliances including the induction cooktop
Expanded my wifes small kitchen into a killer kitchen. Moved outside (load bearing) 10 feet. Added an area 10 feet by 24 feet.
Pantry added to kitchen. Double oven. Two sinks. Gas range top. 5’X 7’ island. Storage area under island. Breakfast seats on one side of island with down lights ove each seat. Did not put in a built in microwave, to costly for repairs, built one cabinet with no doors microwave fits in it. Put in electrical outlets every 4 feet or less most are 4 plex rather than 2 plex. Where the frig went furred out wall about 4 inches on each side before putting in cabinets, The front of the frig is even with the front of the cabinets.
We did a recent kitchen reno. My favorite additions:
Mine is only 3mx3m (about 10ftx10ft), and I’ve just remodeled it; it’s tiny, but the square shape means we can have three or four people moving in, out and about without running into each other. Everything is within reach; the fridge is a model with two separate half-size freezers and each of the three spaces has separate temperature controls. Since I can spend months away, this is great because it means I can leave only one freezer working, or arrive and switch on the cooler but not the freezers.
There are enough plugs to have all my permaplug appliances plugged in, plus two extra ones. I’ve been able to place all the frequent-use pots and pans to either side of the stove/oven (they’re separate appliances, but the oven is directly under the stovetop).
There is a corner in the cupboards; it’s not very comfy, but makes a good spot to store extra dishes or those items I use maybe once a year. One of the reasons for the remodeling was that I had a lot of dead spaces, such as the cupboard where the old heater used to be: now I have all my food in the kitchen, and it’s organized by food groups: breakfast stuff is in the extreme of the cupboards, where sleepyheads can reach it from the table; dry goods and cans are above the stove. The old cupboards were 60cm tall (2ft), with open tops that needed to be cleaned periodically; the new ones are 90cm (3ft), with a narrow piece of wood between them and the ceiling: no tops to clean, and I’ve gained all that extra storage.
I would have liked a pull-out divided trashcan, but that would have meant having to send some of the other items to another room; I’d rather have enough storage space in the kitchen and use a regular trashcan. I’ve got my eye on one with three compartments arranged vertically, perfect for such a tiny kitchen.
I’ve also (and before the carpenters came in) changed the wiring throughout the house; both my electrician and the general contractors I spoke with wanted me to add more lights in the kitchen because “it’s fashionable!” but… 3mx3m and with a large window and light-colored walls and closets? No thank you, that single ceiling lamp is enough. I don’t cook at 8am in December, which is about the only time in the year when I’d be overshadowing the stove’s controls (which are lit, anyway).
Both of my brothers have kitchens which are larger than mine but train-wagon-shaped. You just can’t circulate if there’s more than one person in them. The windows are much narrower than mine and the decor is dark: in their case, yes, those lights directly above the stove come handy quite often.
When I planned my kitchen, the Ikea kitchen planning advice was very useful. http://thekitchen.ikea.co.uk/
I second the careful planning of recycling and garbage. It may need to take up 25% of your below countertop cabinetry, depending on how serious you are about recycling. Really put effort into questions like: How unpleasant will be smells, how expensive and available will liners be, can the liners put in the recycling or will I need a place to put stinky used liners, how will you solve the fruit fly problem in summer…all those real life questions that gleaming kitchen pictures seem to forget about.
Rotating cabinet racks are the bomb for you pans. Get a lid rack for the inside of the cabinets. Make one yourself, that is pretty easy.
Create space for awkward stuff like brooms, fire blankets, serving trays, and cutting boards.
Make cabinets all up untill the ceiling. otherwise you will just have an extra useless surface to clean.
Read this book. http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-House-Do-Housework/dp/1558703845/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325234405&sr=1-1
Although it is a rather Precambrian idea, I would nonetheless recommend a countertop-to-cabinet ceramic tile “splash-back” on all kitchen walls.
We remodeled our kitchen. There is probably enough room for a small island, but we elected to keep the middle of the room open. It really improves the flow for parties etc. when people insist on hanging out there.
We bought IKEA Adel cabinets and they rock. We have a bank of glass-fronted ones for storing dishes, otherwise solid fronts to hide the messy miscellany. We also got bottom cabinets with deep drawers instead of doors, and it has made life so much better. No more bending and shuffling things around in dark lower cabinets, just pull open the drawer and boom. All but our largest stock pot fits easily in them. The pneumatic buffers that stop things from slamming are AWESOME.
Not everyone would agree with us, but pantry-wise we think less is more. We have a 24" pantry cabinet and make do with that. As it is plenty of stuff just sits around getting old… more space would just mean more stuff.
We also have Staron countertops (same as Corian) and I prefer them to any type of stone. If a dish slips out of your hand on top of Staron, it isn’t going to chip.
Moving thread from imho to Cafe Society.
Really consider a pantry. Ours isn’t walk-in, merely a closet with shelves, but that frees up everywhere else for dishes. I have my recycling in the bottom of the pantry, and it works fine and very rarely smells. (I do rinse everything out first, though.)
There is a problem in my kitchen, though, for no place for the actual garbage can. It’s weird. There are two entryways into the kitchen, and they literally are the only places for a can, unless you want a small one under the sink or in the pantry, which I don’t. Where I’ve got it now is next to a heating vent, too, which I’m forced to keep closed in the winter unless I want warmed garbage. :dubious: The other entry-path is too narrow and the can is totally in the way.
Good luck with your planning!
I’m remodeling too. Two separate zones, one for cooking and one for cleaning, with prep between at the island. My husband and I can work in the kitchen at the same time without tripping over one another. Heaven.
Of course, we’re in the demolition/mechanicals phase right now, so it’s currently a smoking pit. Hopefully we’ll have cabinets in by the beginning of February.
I know I bring this up in all the kitchen remodel threads, but you really should spend some time at the kitchen forum at Gardenweb, especially during the layout planning. Those people KNOW their kitchens, and will happily spend hours critiquing and re-imagining your space for you until it’s perfect.
My kitchen is awesome. Lots of big drawers, huge single-bowl sink, tons of counterspace, walk in pantry, gas stove. LOVE.
We have a pretty nice kitchen, the two nicest features are: a big pantry, and lots of power outlets. Seriously. We have quad outlets every two-three feet, and while that sounds like a lot, they get used. We have 20 power outlets along the counter, plus four underneath the bar. They do get used.
So, my one recommendation: however many power outlets you plan on putting at counter level, double that. When you have the crock pot on and are making a pot of coffee and need to use the mixer at the same time as the microwave… you need lots of power available. The outlets under the bar are great for plugging in a laptop or the vacuum.
Also, if you have an island, put a quad outlet or two on the island. You will be glad you did.
