When Atlanta, Georgia-based designer Kate Dunning of Lathem Gordon and Gordon Dunning set out to remodel the kitchen of a young couple who loves entertaining, she had to start almost from scratch. “It was renovated in the early 1990s, but the kitchen was not functional enough to meet the needs of this young family,” they explain. Here are some clever ideas designers have come up with to perfectly suit this young family of three (+ one dog!). You may want to steal some tips.
make room for guests
Photo credit: Mari Azima
“There are no cabinets outside the kitchen island, just a long row of windows. We built a wall so our guests could gather where they would inevitably gather: by the wine fridge across from the cook. We left it blank,” the designers say. “Blank walls can make a kitchen look small and cramped. Instead, we edited out the original windows to allow the eye to move outside of the space, making the kitchen look smaller and smaller despite the fact that it's small. I wanted it to feel vast.”
Add floating shelves
Photo credit: Mari Azima
“Floating shelves often get a bad rap, being just for aesthetic purposes. While that may be true, they had a few more purposes,” the designer explains. Masu. The first is storage. “This couple is 'Coming in Family.' Friday nights are casual, with people gathered in a full kitchen to sample an impromptu menu. Having food readily accessible keeps the party going.” It will help.”
The second reason is decorative and to add accessories that nod to the family story. “We love using the kitchen as another living space. Gathering in the kitchen shouldn't feel cold and utilitarian; it should feel like part of the home.”
Bonus: The dishwasher is located on the island next to the sink, so it's easy to remove dishes and put them away on floating shelves.
Make drinks and snacks more accessible
Photo credit: Mari Azima
A wine refrigerator was an important addition to the kitchen. The designers installed an island facing a window, away from the workspace, so guests can access the wine without having to interact with the cooks. “It's a great way to keep the conversation going while you refill your drinks,” they say.
That's not all! At the far end of the kitchen is a breakfast garage with two pull-out fridge drawers for mixing coffee or storing the kids' drinks and snacks. “This way, even in the dark of the morning, the creamer is close at hand when making coffee. When having fun outdoors, kids can easily and independently move to the drawer and grab a popsicle.” You don't have to keep track of meal preparation. ”
Use drawers instead of doors in lower cabinets
Photo credit: Mari Azima
“We are big believers in drawers and doors for lower cabinets. Drawers allow users to see everything inside the cavity and access items more easily. Cabinets with doors eliminate blind spots. It tends to occur and requires the user to crouch down and reach for the item, which is necessary for them, but it can be unpleasant when entertaining, not to mention uncomfortable.
We like the smart solution of plates shown here, with oversized pegs to separate different styles and sizes.
Adding a workstation sink
Photo credit: Mari Azima
“We love the workstation sink; we use it in every kitchen we're allowed in, especially small ones,” say the designers. They point out that fitting cutting boards and cupboards inside the sink makes prep and cleanup super (very) easy. “The finish on these accessories also matches the sink, so your kitchen will look polished while in use.”
