A kitchen remodel is often prompted by a failing major appliance. A homeowner may begin to think that it’s time to update the whole kitchen and not just one appliance. Maybe you’ve found yourself saying: “If I am going to spend all that money on an appliance, I would like to have it designed into a more thoughtful, updated plan.”
Whether it’s a practical need or because the timing is right for your kitchen remodel, the appliance list is the first decision to consider. Don’t focus too much energy on brands and specifics at first, think instead about how you cook, bake, roast, store, and clean up.
The following questions will guide you in thinking about new appliances and a well-designed kitchen.
Questions to Guide You in Choosing Your Appliances
- Cooking Surface: Do you need more than four burners for your cooking surface? Would a griddle be well utilized if you had one? Next, investigate the benefits and preferences of cooking with gas or electric. Once the cooking surface is considered, the needs for ventilation can be determined.
- Oven(s): Do you need two ovens? Do you bake often? What types of food do you cook in your oven? Do you want to expand your baking/roasting skills?
- Microwave: Do you use a microwave often and who uses it? Is it used for warming, thawing, or just reheating and popcorn? Would it be better for the users of the microwave to have it below the counter or above the counter?
- Refrigeration: Is the freezer just as important as the refrigerator? Do you buy in bulk? Do you use fresh or frozen more? How much refrigeration do you need?
- Clean-up: When do you run the dishwasher? Do you entertain often? How large are your groups? Do you need two dishwashers?
- Sink options: Is your preference one bowl or more than one bowl? Do you use many large pots, pans, or sheets? Do you cut lots of vegetables? Do you need the garbage disposal in a separate, small bowl?
As you consider these questions to determine your appliance list, you may also want to consider some appliances that may be considered luxuries rather than necessities.
The convection steam oven is becoming more common in residential kitchens as manufacturers have sized them for the home. The idea is to cook with moist heat (like many restaurants do) which keeps your finished meals moist, speeds up the cooking process and re-heats like it was served for the first time.
How about a built-in coffee system? For most of us, coffee is a necessity! A coffee system that is built seamlessly into cabinetry allows you to grind, froth, and make that perfect cup of coffee with very little effort.
As you begin to answer these questions, your kitchen designer can help develop your appliance list and you will have a head start on your new kitchen design.
Disclaimer: Studio 76 Kitchens & Baths is a factory certified installer of Sub-Zero, Wolf, Cove products and also designed a kitchen space in Trevarrow Inc.’s Cleveland showroom.