One of the most common kitchen problems that homeowners complain about stems from kitchen design issues. If the design of your kitchen is gotten right at the beginning, half of the kitchen complaints that homeowners face will not even exist.
If you work with a good designer, these common design problems will be avoided because they’ll first try to understand how you live in your home; how you use or intend to use your kitchen; your lifestyle, kitchen tastes, and habits. All of this applies whether it’s a new building or a remodeling project. Here are some common kitchen problems that need solutions.
Not Enough Storage
Everyone wants more space in their kitchen. This is one of the most common kitchen design problems resulting from poor planning. Soon, you`ll end up having a cluttered, messy room that can often be frustrating. But with proper planning and by executing a few tricks, you can create more space inside a kitchen of any size.
Kitchen corner units, for instance, can make use of otherwise unused space. Therefore, you can use pullout corner organizers to keep the contents within easy reach. Also, drawers are better storage options than cabinets, as they’re easier to access. If your kitchen is small, you can also consider installing upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling.
Common design problems like these can be avoided by carefully factoring in your storage needs at the beginning of the design process.
Badly Planned Layout and Workflow
Another common kitchen design issue is poor kitchen layout. In this case, you hardly will enjoy working in your kitchen. It’s either you`re constantly bumping into something or your clothes keep getting caught by some devices in your way. Sometimes, the essentials you need every day are not within close reach, whereas, a well-designed kitchen should work specifically for you. The workflow and layout should be designed to cater to your individual needs.
This is achievable, but you must work closely with your designer while planning your layout, regardless of whether you prefer a traditional kitchen design or the modern type,
Insufficient Counter Space
Considering that the counter is needed for almost every activity that happens in the kitchen, we can agree that insufficient counter space accounts for a significant number of kitchen complaints. It is either there isn’t enough space on the countertop or it is not positioned where it is needed.
This concern should also be accounted for at the planning stage of the project by the designer. In essence, a good kitchen workflow also gives you enough space on the countertop to work on. A common mistake in this regard is not leaving enough space next to your fridge or oven. For instance, having space next to or opposite your oven and cooktop is important for safety. This is because you won’t have to carry piping-hot food across the kitchen if the counter was close enough for you to set down the food.
Poorly Planned Outlets and Switches
One of the most discomforting kitchen problems that need solutions include poorly positioned wall outlets. You often don’t realize how important these are until you need them. And if they happen to be poorly positioned, it can be quite frustrating. While a kitchen remodeling would take care of it, your kitchen designer ought to consider this in the beginning and hesitate to articulate your desires either.
Let the designer know if you’d like additional outlets or a particular style of switch/outlet, but this must be established during the planning stage.
Plan for Traffic Through Your Working Area
You might need enough countertop space for up to 2 or 3 individuals to operate in the kitchen at a time. This is also a kitchen design problem, and you should work with your designer to achieve this right from the start. Unless this is addressed at the design stage, you`ll likely get under one another’s feet while working on the countertop, trying to reach the fridge, cooktop, or sink.
In a home with children running around, consider how to create enough space to prevent accidents from happening. These are avoidable through careful planning.
Poor Ventilation
Ventilation is key in the kitchen. This is the only part of the house where it is a must-have at all times. A good range hood will help you achieve appropriate ventilation by removing grease, steam, and odors arising from cooking. If unattended to, these stains can stick to walls, cabinet surfaces, appliances like fridges, furniture, and even your clothes. While planning your kitchen, you should also consider getting the most suitable range hood for your kitchen.
Conclusion
Other kitchen design problems include poor task lighting and lack of planning for waste disposal and recycling if need be. But as already mentioned, all these must be established during planning. Think about how you currently use or would like to use your kitchen space, countertops, and so on.
Looking for a good kitchen designer or remodeling contractor to help you achieve the design you want? Reach out to us today at Cabineteria, and you can become one of our happy clients. With our experience in creating and implementing highly-customized kitchen designs, you can be sure of getting the best services. Simply call us at (708) 78257777 or (410) 8344808.